Vacancy Senior Scientist Metabolomics

Job description

Are you passionate about improving diagnostics and care for people with rare diseases? As a Senior Scientist Metabolomics at Radboudumc, you will develop and apply metabolomics methods to innovate diagnostics and therapy monitoring for rare metabolic and other genetic disorders.

You will be part of a recently established innovation team in our Department of Human Genetics, which has strong connections with laboratory specialists, researchers, and clinicians. The Functional Genomics subteam develops mass‑spectrometry‑based proteomics, glycoproteomics, and metabolomics methodologies for diverse applications in patient care. Metabolomics developments include, but are not limited to, untargeted LC‑MS/MS analyses for metabolic profiling of samples from complex biological matrices such as biological fluids, cell cultures, and organ tissues.

Your key responsibilities include:

• Developing and technically validating new analytical high‑resolution, mass‑spectrometry‑based LC‑MS/MS methods for metabolomics in patient materials.
• Leading and executing innovation projects on metabolomics for functional diagnostics and therapy monitoring of genetic diseases.
• Defining technical validation strategies aimed at TRL 6 to assess clinical applicability.
• Identifying innovation needs from the four diagnostic themes in our department, especially treatable diseases (e.g., treatIMD).
• Collaborating with the computational metabolomics/bioinformatics team and contributing to the development of data analysis workflows.
• Contributing to departmental innovation overviews, technical reports, publications, and presentations.

Place of work

At Radboudumc, you will work in a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary, and international environment. We are a leading European center for genomic medicine and rare disease research, with strong connections to clinicians, patients, and European initiatives such as ERDERA. What sets us apart is our unique position at the interface of fundamental mass spectrometry developments, genome sequencing and patient care. This ensures that your work will have direct clinical relevance and impact.

You will join a group that combines mass spectrometry excellence and functional genomics readouts with method development for clinical diagnostic applications. Our team consists with experts on proteomics, glycoproteomics and metabolomics and will now be expanded with a senior scientist and technician on mass spectrometry methods for novel metabolomics applications. You will have access to unique sample collections, high-end mass spectrometry infrastructure, genome data and advanced computational infrastructure. The mass spectrometry infrastructure consists of several QqQ LC-MS/MS mass spectrometers for targeted metabolite diagnostics, two LC-QTOF systems for metabolomics and intact protein analysis, and two timsTOF systems for proteomics and glycoproteomics. The position is based at Radboudumc in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. 

Profile

You bring curiosity, creativity, and energy to the table. You are proactive, take initiative, and highly value collaboration with team members and colleagues across the department. You are motivated, communicative, hard‑working, and adaptable, while keeping your eye on the team’s goals.

Your Profile:

• A PhD in analytical chemistry, biochemistry, or a related field with a focus on mass spectrometry.
• More than 3 years of post‑PhD experience in high‑resolution mass spectrometry and metabolomics.
• Solid knowledge and understanding of human metabolism.
• A self‑motivated, project‑oriented work ethic with a collaborative attitude.
• Effective communication and presentation skills in English for a multidisciplinary audience.
• Results‑oriented, flexible, and with a team‑first mindset.

Employment conditions

At Radboud university medical center, you build on your future. We are committed to providing the best care, education, and research. And we are true to our word, because we help you develop and seize opportunities and give you the room to grow. As an employer, we believe that employees should feel vital and happy at work in all stages of life. We are also committed to creating a healthy and safe working environment. Our employment conditions contribute to that. What we offer:

• A gross monthly salary between € 3.598 and € 5.669 (scale 10) for full-time employment (36 hours per week). You will also receive an 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and, depending on the position, an allowance of 47% to 72% for working irregular hours.
• 176 vacation hours per year based on a 36-hour working week. 

And there is more..

• An Employment Conditions Selection Model, allowing you to use part of your employment conditions to your choosing. For example, you can use your gross salary to purchase additional vacation hours or hours for providing informal caregiving. Or, for example, you can use your gross end-of-year bonus to purchase a bicycle, so you pay less tax.
• Plenty of opportunities for personal development. You can take a variety of courses in our online learning environment. 
• Your well-being and vitality are a priority. For example:
  • Save time for work-life balance leave. 
  • You can enjoy unlimited access to a variety of activities five days a month and take advantage of all the facilities at Radboud Sport & Culture for only €27.05 per month (instead of €41)
  • Healthy Professionals program to help you manage your energy. 
  • Company Support Team and a personal coach if you are going through a life-changing event.
  • Financially beneficial working less through a Generation Scheme as you approach state pension age.
• Support in achieving a good work-life balance at every stage of your life. Examples:
  • Advice and courses on, for example, 'Millennial dilemmas' and 'Your Career After 57'.
  • Activities at our own mindfulness center.
  • Informal caregiving consultations if you have questions about juggling work and caregiving responsibilities at home.
• In addition to statutory pregnancy and maternity leave, Radboud university medical center offers 26 weeks of parental leave, nine of which are paid. In addition, as a partner you can take a maximum of five weeks of supplementary partner leave. During supplementary partner leave and parental leave, we supplement the UWV benefit up to 100% of your salary.
• Pension accrual at the ABP Pension Fund. Radboud university medical center pays 70% of the pension premium. 
• Discounts on supplementary packages of two group health insurances and ten other types of insurance, from home insurance to legal assistance.
• An allowance for your commuting costs of € 0.18 per km up to a maximum of 40 km one way. If you use public transport to commute, we will fully reimburse the public transport costs (2nd class). If you regularly work from home, you will receive a working from home allowance of € 2.40 per day.

Application procedure

Are you ready to think further for our patients and our care? We would like to receive your application before 19 January 2026. We will then contact you shortly.

Good to know

• This position requires a Certificate of Conduct (VOG).
• You can find more information about our application procedure and frequently asked questions on our website.
• Will you be our new colleague? Then you will be given the time and space to get to know your role, your workplace, and your colleagues. An induction day for all new colleagues is an integral part of your onboarding program. 

We are recruiting for this position ourselves. Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated, but do feel free to share the vacancy in your network!

Contact

Any questions? Or wondering what it is like to work at Radboudumc? Then email to Prof.dr. Dirk Lefeber, Full Professor. Use the Apply button to submit your application.