Apprentice Research Technician - College of Engineering and Physical Sciences - 97897

Position Details

School of Chemistry, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
 
Full time starting salary is £16,390 with progression once in post for 12 months to £20,488 a year

Apprentice Band 400

Full time - Fixed term contract for 2 years

Closing Date: 14th November 2021

Apprenticeship standard: Laboratory Technician

The training provider for this apprenticeship is Solihull College and University Centre.

Our offer to you
 
People are at the heart of what we are and do. 
 
The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university.  We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success. 
 
We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential.  With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University. 
 
We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate.  We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work. 
 
Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working.  In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries. 

Apprenticeship summary

Chemistry is an exciting and rapidly changing subject, which is crucial to our understanding of many of today's global issues. In the School of Chemistry we carry out globally-recognised research into a wide range of topics and teach hundreds of Undergraduates per year, achieving exceptional student satisfaction rates in the National Student Survey. The School boasts two Nobel Prize winners, most recently Professor Sir J. Fraser Stoddart, a former Head of School, who was awarded his medal in 2016.
The Analytical Facilities play a crucial part in supporting the research taking place in the School of Chemistry by enabling separation and identification of chemical species. The facilities also serve the wider University community, as well as some external customers. The facilities encompass a wide range of techniques including mass spectrometry, chromatography (HPLC and GC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), elemental (C, H, N, S) microanalysis, X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. In some cases, instruments are user-operated, with facility staff providing training and maintaining equipment, while in other cases samples are run and data analysed on a service basis.
During this apprenticeship you will learn to provide technical support to research activities as required, utilising your technical skills and a wide range of techniques. You will also be expected to ensure your working area is safe and support others in following health and safety instructions.   In order to flexibly use resource you may be asked to work in different areas of the department or wider University. 

The apprentice will work under supervision of the Facilities Manager, although members of the Facility team will undertake day-to-day supervision as appropriate. The apprentice role will be to provide support to the work of the facility through running of samples with associated data interpretation, maintenance of instrumentation, user support and general laboratory management. This will involve a wide range of practical activities including, but not limited to working with chemicals, instrumentation, computers, cryogens and laboratory equipment. The role will be very varied and diverse, and you will work alongside a range of staff and facility users.

Main duties

The apprentice will be learning and developing skills in the following areas:

During this apprenticeship, you will learn the basic theory and practical application of the majority of the techniques that are part of the Analytical Facilities. From the start you will be supporting the wider facilities, to begin with solely in terms of laboratory management and user support. For the more in-depth training one technique will be covered at a time, with topics covered being chromatography, which is used for the separation of complex mixtures, elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, diffraction and NMR. 

Research duties 

You will learn to:

1.    Carry out techniques and experimental procedures as required by research staff, students and Principal Investigators, designed to contribute to a specific research project or projects.  
2.    Resolve problems in your area of expertise but also to recognise when problems need to be referred to more senior staff.
3.    Maintain accurate records of all techniques and experimental procedures carried out, and of any other research activities you may be involved in, including results. 
4.    Comply with any legislation relevant to the area of research/activity.
5.    Comply with the Standard Operating Procedures for the activity.
6.    Demonstrate techniques to other staff and/or students on the area of expertise as required.
7.    Contribute to internal and external audit procedures and to regulatory inspections.

Health and Safety duties you will learn

1.    You will be expected to uphold compliance with all University and local Health & Safety policies, including risk assessments and manual handling, reporting any breaches or non-compliance to the relevant manager.
2.    You will be expected to manage the safe handling and disposal of all materials used in practical classes or research laboratories, including hazardous materials.
3.    If required, assist with or prepare risk assessments and keep these up to date.
4.    You will need to maintain all records as appropriate.
5.    Carry out regular maintenance processes as appropriate.

Administrative duties you will learn

1.    You may be required to assist with PAT testing and calibration of equipment, and with updating equipment inventories.
2.    Maintain stocks of consumables and, if necessary, creating purchase order requisitions.
3.    Receipt and correct storage of consumables and chemical reagents.
4.    Ensure that the facilities are maintained in a clean, functional and safe condition, reporting any problems.
5.    Reporting any problems with equipment or services which cannot be resolved to the line manager as appropriate.
6.    Adopt a proactive attitude to assisting with and implementing carbon reduction and energy saving measures where practicable. 
7.    Supports and values equality, diversity and inclusion moderates own behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others. 
8.    Any other duties commensurate with the grade and skill base of the post holder.
9.    You may need to operate out of normal working hours to accommodate classes or research activity.  

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience 

•    A level 3 (A*- C or 4-9) or equivalent in Chemistry.
•    Basic understanding of the purpose of a laboratory based teaching or research environment; 
•    Ability to organise and manage own workload after consultation with manager.
•    Proactive approach to Health and Safety matters, together with the communication skills to interact with a range of people, including students.
•    Ability to be flexible to meet deadlines.
•    Good IT skills
•    Understands the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
•    Ability to identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant policies and procedures.

This apprenticeship would suit:

This post would suit someone with a keen interest in the physical sciences. You will be ambitious to develop a technical science career and keen to work for a leading University. 

You will be enthusiastic and motivated to take full advantage of the apprenticeship experience and will be punctual and reliable with excellent levels of learning and engagement.

Career Pathway

If successful in this apprenticeship you will be able to apply for roles as a teaching and/or research technician. 

We are only able to accept applicants who meet the government’s eligibility criteria for an apprenticeship.  

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