UConn PMF will be closed Tuesday, Dec 24 through Wednesday, Jan 1 and will reopen on Thursday, Jan 2, 2025.  Please plan all instrument reservations and sample submissions accordingly, as we will not be able to accommodate either of these during this time.  Happy new year and we look forward to working with you in 2025!

PMF is rolling out new rates for analysis and service across all user types (Internal, External Academic (NFP), and Industry).  Current PMF rates were enacted long ago on July 1, 2022 and have not been adjusted since, despite substantial increases in facility-related costs due to inflation.  A new “Experiment Set-Up Fee” will be applied for all assisted and unassisted UPLC-MS/MS experiments.  This fixed fee is proportional to the amount of time required for personnel to prepare the instrument for each experiment type.  User-operated experiments require less set-up time and therefore are subject to a lower set-up fee, whereas PMF-assisted experiments require substantially more set-up time plus sample preparation.  This new fee is designed to recover personnel time spent performing instrument calibrations, preparing fresh LC solvents and equilibrating the instrumentation for project-specific UPLC-MS/MS methods, executing sample dilutions/transfers, and running QC and solvent blank injections prior to each new experiment. As always, you can review our new rates on the facility website (https://proteomics.uconn.edu/facility-rates/ ).  Questions can be sent to the Facility Director.

I am very excited to announce that UConn Proteomics & Metabolomics is growing! In 2025, we are opening a brand new mass spectrometry COR²E laboratory located at UConn Health (Farmington CT) that will further expand our current analytical capabilities. PMF-Farmington will feature the same high quality proteomic analysis you’ve come to expect from PMF-Storrs but with new mass spectrometry instrumentation and expertise accessible directly on-site at the medical campus. As part of the expansion, we are hiring a facility scientist (non-TT) to support daily operations. The successful candidate will have a PhD in a relevant field and at least 3 years of experience with sample preparation and UPLC-MS/MS analysis for a wide variety of proteomic applications. Experience with low input/SCP applications is a plus. We have a great team and are eager to bring a new member of “Team Mass Spec” onboard.  For all information and to apply, see: https://jobs.uchc.edu/CSS_External/CSSPage_JobDetail.ASP?T=20241107205226& 

-Jeremy

I’m happy to announce that PMF has hired a new Research Assistant to expand our analytical offerings.  Sonam Tamrakar, Ph.D. has over 8 years of experience incorporating liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry for the identification and quantification of biologically relevant small molecules present in a wide range of organisms – including wild mushrooms from Nepal (Sonam’s home country)!  Sonam’s sample preparation experience for metabolite extraction and LCMS analysis from various types of tissues and biofluids will be extremely helpful as we begin to roll-out metabolomic analysis as a full service in the coming months.  We are very excited to welcome her to our team.  Her expertise and previous research experience will help substantially expand our metabolomics capabilities.  She will be integrated into small molecule projects and user training exercises moving forward.  Feel free to stop by PBB 511 and say “hi!”

UConn PMF will be closed Saturday, Dec 23 through Monday, Jan 1 and will reopen on Tuesday, Jan 2, 2024.  Please plan all instrument reservations and sample submissions accordingly, as we will not be able to accommodate either of these during this time.  Happy new year and we look forward to working with you in 2024!

UConn PMF will be closed Thursday, Nov 23 through Friday, Nov 24 and will reopen Monday, Nov 27.  Please plan all instrument reservations and sample submissions accordingly, as we will not be able to accommodate either of these during this time.  Happy Thanksgiving to all!

We have opened registration for our 4th Annual Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomics Workshop to be held in PMF on the Storrs campus from January 10-12, 2024.  Come join us and learn the basics of mass spectrometry with respect to proteome analysis, participate in proteomic sample preparation, learn about the advanced instrumentation housed in PMF, and get an introduction to bioinformatics processing of UPLC-MS/MS data!  You can find more information about topics to be covered and register on our Workshops page.

UConn PMF has an immediate opening for a full-time scientist with demonstrated experience in small molecule analysis using quantitative mass spectrometry.  Check out the full job listing below and apply soon.  Applications will be accepted through August 18, 2023.

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JOB SUMMARY

The UConn Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility (PMF) (https://proteomics.uconn.edu) has an opening for a full-time Research Assistant 3 (RA). The Research Assistant will assist the Facility Director with quantitative metabolomics analysis using advanced mass spectrometry instrumentation and leading bioinformatics software.

UConn PMF opened in 2017 as the University of Connecticut’s first fully dedicated proteomics and metabolomics core facility and is housed administratively within the Center for Open Research Resources and Equipment. The laboratory exists to provide fully customized analysis, user training, and educational opportunities in analytical techniques to more than 150 faculty across multiple UConn campuses and external academic and industry research institutions. The position will provide a unique opportunity to work in a rapidly growing and highly productive core facility at a large research university currently ranked in the top 25 of all public universities in the U.S. The diverse research community at UConn participates in both basic science and clinical research that provides opportunities for a wide variety of innovative proteomics and metabolomics analysis.

For more information regarding the Center for Open Research Resources and Equipment (COR²E) please visit https://core.uconn.edu.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Master’s or doctoral degree in chemistry, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, or a related field
2. At least two years of experience implementing sample preparation techniques and tandem mass spectrometry for metabolite identification and quantification.
3. Extensive familiarity with operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) instrumentation.
4. Publication history that demonstrates the successful application of UPLC-MS/MS methods for targeted and/or untargeted quantitative metabolomics.
5. Proficiency with commonly used metabolomics software platforms for compound identification and quantification such as Progenesis QI, Metaboscape, XCMS, or MetaboAnalyst.
6. Clear communication skills and the ability to effectively inform researchers with varied scientific backgrounds about analytical techniques and informatics methods.
7. Desire to work and train scientists in a highly collaborative environment that emphasizes comprehensive analysis and one-on-one consultations with researchers.
8. Competency in lab management including product and consumable ordering, meticulous record keeping, and outstanding organizational skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. Previous experience with highly collaborative projects and/or work experience in a core facility setting.
2. Operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting experience using Bruker timsTOF, Waters Synapt G2Si HDMS, and/or Xevo G2-XS mass spectrometers with Waters or Thermo Scientific UPLC instrumentation.
3. Experience with UPLC-MS/MS-based lipidomic analysis.
4. Familiarity with common techniques used in modern day proteomics analysis including sample preparation, UPLC-MS/MS methods for peptide sequencing, and current bioinformatics tools.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a 1 year, full-time position with an anticipated start date of August 13, 2023. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

TO APPLY

Please apply online at https://hr.uconn.edu/jobs, Staff Positions, Search #497693 to upload a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three (3) professional references.

This job posting is scheduled to be removed at 11:55 p.m. Eastern time on August 18, 2023.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

All members of the University of Connecticut are expected to exhibit appreciation of, and contribute to, an inclusive, respectful, and diverse environment for the University community.

The University of Connecticut aspires to create a community built on collaboration and belonging and has actively sought to create an inclusive culture within the workforce.  The success of the University is dependent on the willingness of our diverse employee and student populations to share their rich perspectives and backgrounds in a respectful manner.  This makes it essential for each member of our community to feel secure and welcomed and to thoroughly understand and believe that their ideas are respected by all.  We strongly respect each individual employee’s unique experiences and perspectives and encourage all members of the community to do the same.  All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

 The University of Connecticut is an AA/EEO Employer.

Are you interested in the analysis of peptides and/or oligonucleotides?  Want to meet our local Waters mass spec and LC sales representatives?  Join us in Pharmacy/Biology Building room 131 on Wed, July 19th from 9.30 to 2pm!  Waters will provide several seminars on LC and MS applications for biomolecule separation and identification.  Free food too!  Register here to save your spot ASAP: www.waters.com/UCONNJuly2023

We’ve recently added to our fleet of advanced analytical instrumentation housed in UConn PMF!  Installation updates on several new technologies can be found listed below.

Bruker timsTOF HT & Thermo Scientific Vanquish Flex & Neo UPLCs: In early 2022, UConn PMF was granted funds from the UConn OVPR to acquire a brand new state-of-the-art mass spectrometer that will provide substantially improved analytical capabilities for both proteomics and metabolomics applications!  These funds allowed us to purchase a brand new Bruker timsTOF HT plus 2 new UPLCs (nanoflow + analytical flow).  We’ve completed installation of this new instrumentation in Spring 2023 and are currently in the midst of method optimization studies prior to opening the instrument up for new user experiments.  Stay tuned for announcements about new functionalities, a summary of instrument performance, and user access details!

Biognosys Spectronaut v17 DIA analysis software: We’ve recently purchased a perpetual license for the Spectronaut software program, which allows us to expand our acquisition method options to include Data-Independent Acquisition (DIA) MS for deeper proteome coverage and greater quantitative reproducibility across proteomic experiments.  We are also working on a post-Spectronaut statistical analysis platform for UConn PMF users in partnership with UConn Statistical Consulting Services (https://statsconsulting.uconn.edu/).  We will provide more information on this new tool very soon!

Waters Corporation Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange (HDX) capabilities featuring Trajan Scientific Automation: In late 2022 we were awarded a College of Liberal Arts (CLAS) Shared Equipment Award to purchase HDX hardware to install on our existing Waters Synapt G2Si TOF mass spectrometer.  We have recently installed the Waters UPLC pumps and are awaiting delivery of the Trajan robotics system to allow fully automated HDX-MS analysis for the first time at UConn!  We anticipate that this new technology will be available for users beginning in late Summer 2023.

Stay tuned for more information and announcements regarding upcoming seminars, during which we will formally introduce our new analysis options!