UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
RECRUITMENT ROLE PROFILE FORM
Job Title:
Research Fellow
School:
School Pharmacy
Salary:
£28,695 - £32,277 per annum depending on skills and experience
Job family and level:
Research and Teaching Level 4
Hours of Work:
Full-time, 36.25 hours per week
Contract Status:
Fixed-term contract for a period of 36 months starting 1 January 2016
Location:
School of Pharmacy, University Park
Reporting to:
Professor Dave Barrett
Purpose of the Role:
To undertake research linked to the BBSRC ‘GASCHEM’
project.
The role will join a team of interdisciplinary researchers at the University of Nottingham applying
metabolic engineering and systems/synthetic biology to produce biofuel and high value chemical
intermediates. The position will be based at the University of Nottingham and the successful
candidate will work in the School of Pharmacy and have close links with GASCHEM researchers in
the School of Life Sciences.
The person appointed will be responsible for the development of new metabolic profiling
methodologies and their application to understanding of key metabolic pathways in C. ljungdahlii
using targetted (LC-MS/MS) and global profiling (UPLC-Orbitrap) methods. He/she will also
undertake subsequent bioinformatic and metabolic pathway analysis. Candidates must have proven
experience in analytical method development and in the design and implementation of
metabolomics experiments.
Candidates should hold a PhD or equivalent in analytical science, specialising in mass spectrometry.
Proven experience in the fields of metabolic pathway profiling, metabolomics or bioinformatics
would be desirable. The successful candidate should possess good project leadership skills and have
excellent verbal and written communication skills.
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Main Responsibilities
Plan and conduct supervised research using recognised approaches, methodologies and
techniques. This will include but is not limited to:
 To develop mass spectrometry methods to profile microbial metabolic pathways
in C. ljungdahlii
 To co-ordinate and conduct targeted and global metabolite LC-MS and GC-MS
analyses of biofluid samples
 To undertake bioinformatic data analysis and metabolic pathway analysis
Develop research objectives and proposals for own and/or collaborative research area.
Analyse and illuminate data, interpret reports, evaluate and criticise texts and bring
new insights to research area.
Prepare research work for publication and/or contribute to the dissemination to
relevant groups including external bodies and conferences, resulting in successful
research outputs. Assist in the preparation of scientific reports and publications for the
grant programme.
Identify opportunities and assist in writing bids for research grant applications. Prepare
proposals and applications to both external and/or internal bodies for funding,
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contractual or accreditation purposes.
Build relationships with both internal and external contacts in order to exchange
information, to form relationships for future collaborations and identify potential
sources of funds and/or opportunities for collaboration.
Co-ordinate the operational aspect of research networks, for example, arranging
meetings and updating web sites etc. and contribute to collaborative decision making
with colleagues in area of research.
Work in conjunction with others in the research team to achieve objectives and make
an active contribution to the success of the team. Provide support, guidance and
supervision to other staff, where appropriate in own area of expertise.
Assist in the supervision of undergraduate and/or postgraduate students projects,
fieldwork and placements, as appropriate. To participate in the assessment of student
knowledge and co-supervise projects at Masters level.
Collaborate with academic colleagues on areas of shared interest for example, course
development, collaborative or joint research projects.
Plan and manage own research activity and resolve problems, if required, in meeting
own/team research objectives and deadlines in collaboration with others.
Contribute to the organisation of research resources and facilities, laboratories and
workshops as appropriate. Undertake general laboratory duties such as ordering of
reagents, equipment maintenance, and laboratory housekeeping.
Contribute to teaching, for example through laboratory demonstrations, lectures to
postgraduate workshops and/or delivery of Level 1 modules.
Person Specification:
Qualifications/
Education
Skills/Training
Essential
1. A 1st or upper-second class honours
degree in biochemistry,
pharmaceutical sciences or a closely
related subject and a PhD in
metabolomics/mass spectrometry.
2. Training in bioinformatics software
relevant to metabolomics
Desirable
 PhD in bioanalysis/analytical
science
3. Excellent oral and written
communication skills including the
ability to communicate complex
information with clarity and write to
a publishable standard.

4. Strong analytical skills including the
ability to analyse and illuminate
data, interprets reports, evaluate
and criticise texts and bring new
insights.
5. Ability to creatively apply relevant
research approaches/models/
techniques/methods and devise and
manage research programmes.
6. Excellent problem solving, IT and
organisational skills including the
effective deployment of resources.
7. Ability to build effective
relationships as part of a team and
collaborate with others, both
internally and externally.
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
Ability
to
interrogate
databases
to
identify
metabolite structures
Ability to automate data
acquisition and analysis
Knowledge of bacterial
metabolic pathways
8. Flexible, proactive and dedicated
approach.
9. Ability to travel within the UK and
overseas.
Experience
10. Proven
LC-MS
and/or
metabolomics experience
GC-MS

Biological mass
spectrometry experience
11. Presenting work effectively to a
variety of professional and academic
audiences
at
meetings
and
conferences.

Pathway analysis and flux
analysis

First author publications in
high impact factor journals.

Previous success in gaining
support for externally
funded research projects.

Training and/or supervision
of staff or students.
12. A consistent track record of
published research in peer-reviewed
journals and writing high quality
reports and papers for publication.
Statutory/legal
Due to the requirements of the UK Border and Immigration Agency, applicants who are not UK or
EEA nationals and whose immigration status entitles them to work without restriction in the UK will
be considered on an equal basis with UK and EEA nationals. Other non-UK or non-EEA nationals
whose employment will require permission to work subject to a resident labour market test may
only be considered if there are no suitable UK or EEA national candidates for the post. Please visit
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/ for more information.
Informal enquiries may be addressed to Professor Dave Barrett [david.barrett@nottingham.ac.uk],
tel 0115 951 5062) or Dr Klaus Winzer (klaus.winzer@nottingham.ac.uk, tel 0115 823 2247).
Please note that applications sent directly to these email addresses will not be accepted.
Equality and Diversity
The University of Nottingham has a range of policies to promote equality and diversity in the
workplace which are fully supported and promoted by the School through its Equality and Diversity
Committee. The School welcomes applications from all candidates and you can read more about our
commitment to equality and diversity at http://tiny.cc/UoNPharmEandD
Background to project:
GASCHEM: Optimising industrial gas fermentation for commercial low-carbon fuel &
chemical production through systems and synthetic biology approaches
A multidisciplinary project involving four postdoctoral researchers and up to 10 PhD
students.
Acetogenic Clostridium species, such as C. ljungdahlii, are able to capture carbon (in the form of CO
or CO2) through anaerobic gas fermentation. As such they are able to grow on a spectrum of waste
gases from industry (eg., steel manufacture and oil refining, coal and natural gas) as well as
'synthesis gas' (CO and H2) produced from renewable and sustainable resources, such as biomass
and domestic/ agricultural wastes. This enables low carbon fuels and chemicals to be produced in
any industrialized geography without the need to consume valuable food or land resources.
Working with an industrial leader in the field, LanzaTech, we plan to use metabolic engineering to
both better understand and thence optimize and extend product streams through a combination of
systems and synthetic biology approaches. The exemplification of the Nottingham's pivotal gene
technologies in C. ljungdahlii, coupled with LanzaTech expertise in gas fermentation now provide all
of the necessary elements to undertake the following objectives.
OBJECTIVE 1: To take a systems approach to understanding the metabolic pathways leading from
gas uptake to its conversion to metabolites, focusing on the pathways that lead to ethanol (EtOH)
and 2,3-butanediol (2,3BD) formation (Systems Biology: Year 1-3).
OBJECTIVE 2: To use metabolic engineering to manipulate products streams to maximise either
EtOH or 2,3BD for alternative jet fuel or chemical applications (Bioenergy: Year 2-4).
OBJECTIVE 3: To extend the product range to more high value fuels and chemicals using a
synthetic biology approach, initially focusing on iso-butanol and succinate (Synthetic Biology: Year
3-5).
OBJECTIVE 4: To evaluate the modified strains in laboratory, pilot, and eventually, demonstration
scale systems at LanzaTech facilities (Industrial Biotechnology: Year 4-5).
These objectives will be progressed through a combination of disciplines (molecular genetics,
biochemistry, fermentation technology, mathematical modelling) and will draw on the participation
of a team of investigators expert in clostridial molecular genetics (Minton), clostridial fermentation
and physiology (Winzer), systems biology (Hodgman) and mathematical modelling (King), analytical
metabolomics (Barrett) and chemistry (Thomas).
The outcome will be both to improve the commercial yields of existing fuels, (EtOH & 2,3BD) and to
extend the versatility of the system through the sustainable production of non-native C4 products
from pyruvate, specifically iso-butanol and the chemical building block succinate.
Metabolite Analysis (main role for advertised position)
Quantitative intracellular measurements of key metabolic pathway intermediates will be monitored
under steady-state fermentation conditions using controlled cell lysis by freeze-thaw methodology
to release intracellular metabolites and eliminate analytical crosstalk from extracellular components.
The pathways involving polar (non-volatile) metabolite intermediates (to include the ‘one carbon’
metabolic pathway from CO/CO2 via THF to 5-methyl THF, acetyl CoA, pyruvate, acetolactate, 2ketoisovalerate, L-valine, succinate and TCA cycle metabolites) will be monitored using a specific,
targeted liquid chromatography electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method by
means of alky chloroformate derivatization or similar methodology. A robust and versatile
derivatizing process will be developed capable of reacting with a wide range of chemical functional
groups (amine, carboxylic acid, thiol, and hydroxyl) under aqueous conditions resulting in
metabolite derivatives which have an excellent response in positive electrospray ionisation mass
spectrometry. The Barrett group has recently established methodology to profile central metabolism
E. coli and this analytical approach will be adapted for specific use in C. ljungdahlii metabolite
profiling. Volatile fermentation products and intermediates (to include acetic acid, ethanol, 2,3butanediol and isobutanol) will be measured in the extracellular growth medium using gas
chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Where observations are required of any wider effects
on metabolic pathways as a result of metabolic engineering (eg bottlenecks and competing
pathways) then global metabolic pathway profiling methodology (metabolomics) will be used. An
established ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) method coupled to accurate mass
(orbital trap mass spectrometry) will be used to identify perturbations to intra- and extracellular
metabolite pools. Reference to an in-house accurate mass database of Clostridia primary and
secondary metabolites will aid in the rapid identification of these perturbed pathways.