Research Specialist - Rutter Lab

We are currently looking for a talented, self-motivated Research Specialist for an important role working in the laboratory of Dr. Jared Rutter at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Rutter lab is interested in discovering new ways to understand metabolism and how it integrates with cell behavior. They are currently exploring two central areas. First, as much of metabolic control is enacted at the level of mitochondria—in ways that are mostly not understood—they initiated a project to functionally annotate the eukaryotic mitochondrial proteome. To date, this effort has elucidated the genetic basis of two human diseases and several fundamental mitochondrial functions. Second, they are leveraging this knowledge to explore the connection between metabolism and cellular behaviors. Specifically, they want to determine how alterations in distinct metabolic pathways can impact cell fate decisions both in discrete stem cell niches as well as in human diseases such as cancer and heart failure.

To facilitate this undertaking, they are developing several experimental and computational platforms for the identification and characterization of novel features of metabolism. For more information about the Rutter lab and their work, please visit http://rutter.biochem.utah.edu/  

The chosen candidate will have the opportunity to work within a newly developed platform using mass spectrometry to examine purified proteins and metabolites in order to gain further understanding of how metabolites regulate pathways. More information about this specific project can be found by visiting https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.28.458030v1.

The ideal candidate is an organized, professional scientist with great communication skills who works very well independently, but would equally enjoy working as part of a team within the Rutter lab itself and as part of a larger inter-laboratory collaboration with other groups at the University of Utah and with universities and research facilities globally. The Rutter lab is also open to considering applicants who would prefer to join the team as a Postdoctoral Associate.

Essential Duties:

• Manage, operate, and maintain liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

   

• Coordinate project elements with other labs and collaborators, including refining techniques and finding novel ways to obtain more data from the platform.

   

• Collect, analyze, and present data during regular lab team meetings.

   

• Supervise and train research technicians and other junior-level lab staff as needed.

   

Qualifications:

Education

• A Ph.D. in biochemistry or a related discipline is required. Ph.D. students who are in their final year of study and will be defending their dissertation soon are welcome to apply.

   

Experience

• Demonstrated hands-on experience working in a laboratory environment and analyzing data is required.

   

• Experience with mass spectrometry is strongly preferred.

   

• Experience with protein purification would be a plus.

   

• Experience with enzyme assays/enzymology would be a plus.

   

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

   

• Excellent organizational skills, time management skills, and project management skills.

   

• Excellent attention to detail with high degree of accuracy.

   

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook).

   

• Ability to be adaptable to accommodate shifting priorities and meet hard deadlines.

   

• Ability to take initiative and identify areas of improvement within current processes to increase efficiency.

   

• Ability to collaborate and work effectively with a wide variety of people from all backgrounds.

   

Physical Requirements

Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods of time; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word; ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move about workspace. The position requires mobility, including the ability to move materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet). Work may involve possible exposure to malodorous vapors, low dose radiation, contamination by toxic chemicals and acids and presence of carcinogenic substances.

Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Please Note:

This job description sets forth the job’s principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement, however.  Unless they begin with the word “may,” the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are “essential functions” of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

HHMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer