ABOUT LGC NATIONAL LABORATORIES:

LGC’s National Laboratories deliver a range of expert science functions and services in partnership with the UK Government, business, healthcare, and academia. We manage and operate several national laboratories on behalf of government agencies, such as the UK National Measurement Laboratory (NML), MHRA Laboratories Team and National Reference Laboratories, as well as hosting the unique function of the ‘Government Chemist’.

As home to many world-leading scientists, LGC’s National Laboratories provide a wide range of expert analytical science services and subject matter expertise to a broad spectrum of customers, stakeholders, and global forums. In addition, we undertake contract research and development projects for a range of customers in both the public and private sectors. Our work addresses fundamental and emerging measurement challenges, helping to foster innovation and promoting productivity and economic growth.

In regards to the location of the role, you will initially be based at the Teddington site. However, the Company is planning to permanently relocate its National Laboratories, Teddington operations to The Priestley Centre, Surrey Research Park, Guildford around Autumn 2024. Therefore, please consider this when applying for this role.

LGC provides a range of measurement products and services which underpin the safety, health and security of the public, including reference materials and proficiency testing, genomics solutions, services and instrumentation, and expert sample analysis and interpretation. Our customers are across a number of end markets including Government, Academia Pharmaceuticals, Agricultural Biotechnology, Food, Environment.

The Protein Mass Spectrometry team delivers high quality research projects to meet current and future analytical challenges as part of the LGC’s international role as the UK’s National Measurement Laboratory and Designated Institute (DI) for chemical and bio-measurement. The team is equipped with a broad range of separation sciences and mass spectrometry instruments to underpin standardisation of measurements in the clinical, food and bio-pharmaceutical areas.

This is a great career opportunity for a mass spectrometry specialist to work alongside a small team of doctoral, post-doctoral and other researchers developing accurate methods that help enable the structural characterisation of proteins as well as purity determination of protein and peptides, and their quantification in complex matrices (clinical or food), traceable to the International System of Units. Complementary developed materials will be used as calibrators for these reference measurement procedures, especially in plasma, serum and cerebrospinal fluid (for application areas including neurodegenerative and cardiac related diseases) and in food matrices (for application areas including allergenicity).

This role is a great opportunity for experienced candidates looking to progress their career as a science leader. The successful candidate will therefore have experience in protein quantification and structural characterisation by mass spectrometry and in bringing a group of scientists together to deliver work for our stakeholders and customers, within time scale, quality specifications and budget. Candidates may have equivalent industrial experience and wish to deepen their knowledge in analytical chemistry, metrology and further develop as a scientific leader.

Key Responsibilities

• Overseeing delivery of our core protein and peptide metrology projects, including purity determination and quantification in complex matrices
• Training, mentoring and line managing a team of researchers and PhD students
• Presenting results at national and international conferences, preparing technical reports, writing and reviewing peer review publications
• Building relationships with external stakeholders/collaborators, developing and extending metrology networks to underpin the UK national measurement system
• Delivering ad-hoc research commercial projects and reporting results.

The successful candidate is expected to have:

• PhD
• Post-doc and/or industrial experience in protein/peptide structural characterisation and quantification in complex matrices
• In-depth knowledge of MS techniques coupled with different chromatography platforms
• Troubleshooting and method development skills
• Experience in mentoring a group of researchers to support their career development within a Metrology environment
• Experience of planning and managing complex long and short-term research projects, working within deadlines and reporting
• A sound appreciation of quality and safety.

Preferably, the candidate will also have:

• Knowledge of traceable measurement and measurement uncertainty (metrology).

Person Specification

The role requires an enthusiastic scientific leader who will contribute to the successful delivery of analytical R&D projects. You will be expected to promote your achievements with appropriate scientific publications, reports and presentations.

The following person specifications are therefore required:

• Good presentation skills, both oral and written
• Being able to work on long term and short term projects
• Enthusiastic and innovative scientist
• Self-reliant and self-motivated team player
• Good interpersonal skills.

The job holder will be able to demonstrate the following behaviours in line with LGC’s values:

Passion, Curiosity, Integrity, Brilliance, Respect

ABOUT LGC:

LGC is a leading, global life science tools company, providing mission-critical components and solutions into high-growth application areas across the human healthcare and applied market segments. Its high-quality product portfolio is comprised of mission-critical tools for genomic analysis and for quality assurance applications, which are typically embedded and recurring within our customers’ products and workflows and are valued for their performance, quality, and range. 

OUR VALUES

• PASSION
• CURIOSITY 
• INTEGRITY
• BRILLIANCE
• RESPECT

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES 

LGC strongly believes that every job applicant and employee should be valued for their individual talents regardless of age, disability, race, color, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion, or belief. Short listing, interviewing and selection will always be carried out without regard to gender, sexual orientation, marital status, color, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, age, or trade union membership.

For more information about LGC, please visit our website www.lgcgroup.com

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