Research Associate, Research Scientist

The University of Sheffield is a world‑class research university offering a supportive environment for scientists. We are looking for an independent and motivated Research Associate to support a Yorkshire Cancer Research funded project on prostate‑bone metastasis.

The role will be based in the laboratory of Dr Mark Collins in the School of Biosciences, collaborating with Professor Janet Brown’s Clinical Bone Oncology and Biomarkers Group. The project involves advanced proteomic methods to understand prostate cancer metastasis to bone and develop predictive biomarkers.

• Design and perform experiments to achieve the project’s objectives, including a MALDI‑IHC workflow for a panel of proteins in bone sections.
• Validate antibody specificity after tagging with photo‑cleavable mass‑tags (PCMTs).
• Generate spatial molecular datasets from MALDI imaging of bone sections using a BBSRC‑funded timsTOF FLEX MALDI‑2 platform.
• Process and analyse MALDI imaging data using vendor and open‑source software.
• Integrate imaging data from lipids/metabolites with protein data from MALDI‑IHC.
• Validate findings from the mouse model in patient‑derived bone sections using MALDI‑IHC.
• Efficiently manage time, materials, finance and equipment.
• Provide support to the Principal Investigator for research proposals and funding applications.
• Supervise or co‑supervise undergraduate, postgraduate and/or PhD students.
• Participate in meetings with project partners, Yorkshire Cancer Research and university seminar sessions.
• Disseminate research findings through papers for high‑quality journals and presentations at national/international conferences.
• Adhere to all health & safety policies, including CoSHH regulations and SOPs for handling human biological samples.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

• PhD (or close to completion) in mass spectrometry or a related field.
• Experience in mass spectrometry imaging and MALDI‑IHC imaging.
• Experience in R programming.
• Experience in tissue sectioning and immunohistochemistry.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, including report writing and presentation delivery.
• Excellent record‑keeping and data management skills.
• Ability to analyse and solve problems with an appreciation of long‑term implications, working flexibly according to experimental demands.
• Ability to assess and organise resources, plan and progress work activities.
• Ability to keep up to date with ongoing research related to current projects.
• Self‑motivated, well‑organised, highly independent, and willing to collaborate with research teams and technical specialists.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and professional communication with colleagues and external partners.

• Grade: 7
• Work arrangement:
  Full‑time (100% FTE)
• Duration:
  Fixed‑term, 24 months, available immediately
• Line manager:
  Senior Lecturer in Biological Mass Spectrometry
• Closing date: 20/07/2026