Senior Research Scholar

at  North Carolina State University

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Relevant Ph.D degree (or relevant terminal degree), with at least 5 years of formal “Post-Doc” training and/or post-degree professional work experience with a demonstrated record of research achievement, or relevant Master’s degree, plus at least 8 years of exceptional relevant professional work experience and a record of research achievements. In rare instances, an individual with comparable professional experience but less than a master’s degree will be considered, on an exception basis. May require terminal degree and licensure.

OTHER REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced knowledge of NMR theory, methodology, and hardware.
• Significant experience in acquiring and processing NMR spectra for small molecule organic structure elucidation.
• Demonstrated ability to develop workflows and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Must possess exceptional communication skills, including written and verbal, be highly organized and detail-oriented.
• Must be able to work independently, use initiative, prioritize tasks, and anticipate potential pressure points in workflows.
• Ability to develop and maintain productive collaborative work relationships with all clients by listening, understanding and responding to apparent and underlying needs and continually seeking to provide the highest quality service to all.
• Must be able to move gas cylinders and large dewars of liquid nitrogen and helium.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Prefer experience with Topspin and Bruker NMR consoles.
• Prefer experience with console, magnet, and workstation maintenance.
• Prefer familiarity with EPR, mass spectrometry, and/or x-ray diffraction.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

As a Senior Research Scholar, this position will oversee and manage the day-to-day functions of the Small-molecule Magnetic Resonance platform in the Magnetic Resonance facility. This includes maintaining instrumentation, performing both nitrogen and helium cryofills as needed, collecting data, and assisting users with experimental design and interpretation. This position will be responsible for providing training to new users, and coordinating and facilitating workshops or other educational opportunities. Additionally, this position will manage the financial and administrative operations of the Small-molecular NMR and EPR platforms by preparing and submitting budget and usage reports, drafting and submitting instrumentation proposals, maintaining up-to- date safety plans, and working with METRIC leadership to ensure facility needs are addressed. This position will also be expected to develop and implement outreach efforts, and work closely with faculty to enhance graduate and undergraduate educational opportunities.

Oversight of Daily Operations:

• Manage the scheduling of instrument time for users, ensuring equitable access and efficient use.
• Maintain records of instrument usage, maintenance activities, and user training.
• Serve as the point of contact for client inquiries in small molecule analysis by NMR and EPR.
• Monitor the operational status of NMR spectrometers on a daily basis.
• Ensure instruments are calibrated and maintained according to manufacturer specifications.
• Troubleshoot and resolve operational issues promptly to minimize downtime.
• Implement and enforce safety protocols related to NMR instrument use.
• Stay abreast of the latest advances in analytical methods and techniques to integrate into research projects.

User Training and Data Analysis:

• Develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) for sample handling and preparation to ensure consistency.
• Provide training sessions for new users on NMR instrument operation, safety procedures, and data interpretation.
• Support users in experimental design, data acquisition, and analysis techniques.
• Collaborate with researchers to optimize experimental parameters for various applications.
• Assist in data interpretation and troubleshooting of experimental results.

Instrument Maintenance and Repair:

• Develop and execute preventative maintenance schedules for all NMR instruments and helium recovery system.
• Coordinate with service providers for regular maintenance and repairs.
• Diagnose and troubleshoot technical problems, coordinating with vendors when necessary.
• Maintain inventory of spare parts and consumables required for NMR and EPR operations.

Administrative Responsibilities:

• Develop and manage budgets related to instrument maintenance, repairs, and upgrades.
• Collaborate with administrative staff to ensure compliance with institutional policies and regulations.
• Coordinate with the operations coordinator to ensure adequate supplies; ensure continuity of operations by coordinating maintenance of major instrumentation and associated ancillary equipment.
• Prepare detailed reports and visualizations of data for internal review, publication in scientific journals, and inclusion in grant applications.
• Ensure compliance with institutional and regulatory requirements related to biosafety, data management, and ethical standards.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

Additional duties as assigned based on institutional needs and priorities.
Qualifications