At a Glance
- Tasks: Develop innovative tools for mass spectrometry imaging and collaborate on exciting research projects.
- Company: Join the Rosalind Franklin Institute, a cutting-edge technology hub transforming healthcare.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, generous pension, flexible working, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Work in state-of-the-art labs with a supportive and inclusive team.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in healthcare research while building your scientific independence.
- Qualifications: PhD/DPhil or equivalent experience in mass spectrometry or related fields.
The predicted salary is between 37500 - 37500 £ per year.
The Rosalind Franklin Institute (the Franklin) is a technology institute established by the UK Government as a unique centre committed to advancing tools that are needed to transform healthcare in the future.
The Institute brings together researchers in life and physical sciences, and engineering, to develop a spectrum of tools which we will use to image, interpret and intervene in biological systems.
These insights will speed up the discovery of new medicines, help find new diagnostics and contribute to a deeper understanding of human health and disease.
Our Science Strategy seeks to focus the Franklin’s research and unite our researchers around our Technology Innovation Challenges and Life Science Challenges.
For more information on the Franklin’s Challenges click here.
We seek to recruit a postdoctoral research associate to undertake research in native ambient mass spectrometry imaging.
The ideal candidate will have experience in at least two of the following: native mass spectrometry, top‑down mass spectrometry, mass spectrometry imaging, ion source development, instrument development.
As a Research Associate at the Franklin, you will bring scientific knowledge and skills to deliver a specific research project and/or you will bring independent, creative science, or specific skills to a team delivering a project or program.
Through this work, you will build scientific independence, develop new science and leadership skills and establish a growing reputation externally.
In this role, you will be responsible for developing tools for native ambient mass spectrometry, including nano–DESI and related techniques, and integration of NAMS with other structural biology techniques.
You will collaborate closely with internal and external stakeholders to develop innovative solutions for improved mass spectrometry imaging of intact proteins and their assemblies in tissue and advancing integrative spatial and structural biology.
The project will be hosted in the new Rosalind Franklin Institute facilities at Harwell but will also involve working with investigators across the Franklin, collaborator laboratories and with member institutes.
Key Responsibilities
- * Develop new tools for native ambient mass spectrometry imaging.
- * Design, model and construct new instrumentation to enable chemical imaging.
- * Collaborate with biological and MS experts at the Franklin to optimise MSI conditions and methods for specific collaborations and challenges.
- * Adapt to working across multi-modal instrumentation and collating multiomic and imaging data from diverse sources and scales.
- * Investigate the use of cutting edge instrumentation to explore key scientific challenges such as sensitivity and spatial resolution.
- * Plan and conduct experiments, analyse and interpret results and supervise delivery of outputs (e. g. research report, patent application) in a scientific or technology area of interest.
- * Work within a project team, contributing to wider projects around Franklin’s key Challenges.
- * Lead major contributions to outputs from research including papers, patents and both internal and external presentations.
- * Support and develop others including day‑to‑day supervision of students or visitors in areas related to own research.
- * Have supervised, staged progression to first stages of scientific independence with opportunities to further develop science and skills/experience.
- * Enhance your research through collaboration with other researchers and make active contributions to exchanging of ideas through your own network.
- * Be able to understand, interpret, create and communicate appropriately within a research context.
- * Develop search and discovery skills and techniques.
- * Be supervised by a Scientist/Senior Scientist in delivery of research outputs, either in the context of a project or Challenge or as an early career development fellow.
Before submitting your application please ensure you read the Job Information Pack for full details of this role.
This job description sets out the skills and experience we believe are needed to be able to do this job but, research also tells us women are much more likely than men to take this list of requirements as absolute and self‑select out of the process.
If you think you can deliver this role then we want to hear from you, regardless of the boxes you did not tick.
Whilst the role requires candidates to hold a Ph D/DPhil (or equivalent), we may consider candidates who have submitted their Ph D/DPhil thesis, in which case the initial appointment will be made at £37,500 per annum (to be increased on completion of the Ph D/DPhil qualification).
Benefits
- * 25 days holidays plus bank holidays and Christmas holiday shutdown
- * Generous pension scheme (employer’s contribution currently up to 18%)
- * Group Life Assurance (also known as Group Life Insurance or Death in Service)
- * Buying and Selling Annual Leave
- * Workplace Nursery Salary Sacrifice Scheme
- * Hub building with state‑of‑the‑art laboratories
- * Hybrid and flexible working
- * Training and development opportunities for staff at all levels
- * Bus pass discount scheme and good transport links to Oxford and surrounding areas
- * Cycle to Work Scheme
- * Access to employee discount platform (Perkbox)
- * Occupational Health and wellbeing support including Employee Assistance (24/7 support and counselling)
- * Health Cash Plan
- * Subsidised canteen and food outlets on campus
- * Free on‑site parking
- * Campus location in beautiful countryside with social and sports clubs open to staff
We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where every applicant has an equal opportunity to showcase their talents and abilities.
This includes making adjustments for candidates with specific needs.
Please contact us at recruitment@rfi. ac. uk to discuss your requirements confidentially.
At the Rosalind Franklin Institute we also welcome applications from all around the world!
How to Apply
To be considered for this role, please upload a CV and cover letter explaining why you think you are the right person for this job.
The link to apply is provided at the bottom of this page.
Interviews will be held w/c 10th August 2026.
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Contact Details:
The Rosalind Franklin Institute Recruitment Team
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Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Research Experience:When applying for a full-time role in scientific research, make sure to emphasise your research experience prominently in your CV. Share specific projects you’ve worked on, the methodologies you used, and any significant findings. If you’ve published papers or presented at conferences, definitely include that too – it shows you’re on it in the academic world!
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Research Area:Your cover letter should reflect your passion for the specific area of research at The Rosalind Franklin Institute. Mention relevant experiences that align with the organisation’s goals or projects. This shows that you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in the position – plus, it helps us see how you’d fit into the team dynamics.
Showcase Your Data Analysis Skills:In scientific research, data analysis skills are a big deal! Make sure to detail any relevant analytical tools or software you’re familiar with, like R, Python, or statistical packages. Employers are keen to know you can handle the data-heavy elements of the role, so add specific examples where you’ve used these skills effectively.
Discuss Your Future Research Goals:In your motivation section, it’s a great idea to talk about your future research goals and how they align with the work being done at The Rosalind Franklin Institute. This shows that you’re not just looking for any job, but rather a chance to contribute meaningfully to the field. We love to see applicants who are forward-thinking and enthusiastic about their research journey!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Rosalind Franklin Institute
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In scientific research, it’s crucial to demonstrate your ability to design and conduct experiments. Come armed with examples of past projects where you've developed hypotheses, collected data, and analysed results. Be ready to discuss any specific methodologies or tools you’ve used, like PCR techniques or statistical software.
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Expect some technical questions specific to your field. Make sure you're up to speed with recent advancements in scientific research related to the role at The Rosalind Franklin Institute. Brush up on concepts relevant to their projects and be prepared to discuss how you would approach a specific research problem or challenge they might face.
✨Know Your Publications
If you've authored or co-authored any papers, be prepared to discuss them! Highlighting your contributions to published research can really set you apart. It shows not only your expertise but also your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly, which is key in scientific research roles.
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