Assistant Laboratory Technician - RCaH 1610

Updated: over 2 years ago
Location: Harwell, ENGLAND
Deadline: 01 Aug 2021

View Vacancy -- Assistant Laboratory Technician - RCaH 1610
Open Date
07/07/2021, 14:00
Close Date
01/08/2021, 23:55

Research Complex at Harwell
As this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum salary criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK.  At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK.  You can check your eligibility here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y

Research Complex at Harwell is a world-class, science-led national resource with a mission to enable and add value to outstanding new science from co-location with the UK’s large-scale facilities at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) site. Many major advances in science take place at the boundaries between the traditional disciplines, and increasingly utilise advanced technologies available at centralised facilities. The Research Complex provides an environment that brings together leading physical and life sciences researchers alongside some of the UK’s leading research facilities.

The Research Complex houses a number of long, medium and short-term research groups in life and physical sciences who benefit from the proximity of the major facilities and the synergy generated by the multidisciplinary environment. We support a wide spectrum of research, including:

Multidisciplinary approaches to study the molecular mechanism of membrane proteins from pathogenic bacteria, providing understanding to help in the fight against anti-microbial resistance.

The UK Catalysis hub, which focuses on cutting edge multidisciplinary catalytic science including homogeneous, heterogeneous, bio, and engineering catalysis. Fundamental research into catalytic processes and development of new catalysis, will support the capture of CO2, new pharmaceutical processes, water purification, new materials to reduce energy consumption and many other impacts.

The Research Complex is a UKRI and Diamond Light Source (DLS) funded joint initiative, and is run by The Medical Research Council (MRC) on behalf of the stakeholders. 


UK Research and Innovation is a new entity that brings together nine partners to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, more information can be found at www.ukri.org

MRC - 6

Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire

£20,234 per annum

Permanent

Technical & Scientific Professionals

Full Time

Overall purpose:  

This role is part of the User Office and Facilities Team who provide first point of contact, and ongoing support to users, to enable and deliver the internationally competitive science being undertaken at the Research Complex at Harwell (RCaH). It provides high level, day-to-day support, ensuring that the administrative needs of RCaH users are delivered, whilst working with partners across RCaH to understand and deliver user support for the needs of our research.

Main duties:

  • The collection washing and restocking of glassware from various laboratories on the ground and first floors.
  • Carrying out sterilization processes using autoclaves.
  • Biohazard waste sterilization and disposal.
  • Preparing media for use in scientific laboratories.
  • Aseptic dispensing of buffers and media.
  • Monitoring media stocks and the stock levels of some laboratory consumables (gloves, tips, tissues, autoclave bags, etc) to ensure adequate supplies are available and replenished as required.
  • Cleaning of equipment (e.g. water baths and incubators) to maintain high levels of operational cleanliness.
  • Organising the laboratory coat collection for laundry and the distribution of clean laboratory coats.
  • Help with weekly liquid nitrogen fills of two laboratory instruments.

Key responsibilities: 

  • The applicant will have responsibility for supporting a designated area of the Research Complex, assisting the Technician and Senior Technician.
  • Supporting the Technicians and Senior Technicians in ensuring the Research Complex is a safe and well maintained facility

Working relationships:  

The role will be work with the Laboratory Support team in delivering the continuous innovation and improvement of support for the science being delivered at the Research Complex, and will proactively help implement and maintain a good Health and Safety (H&S) culture throughout RCaH.

Equality & Diversity:

The MRC values the diverse skills and experience of its employees and is committed to achieving equality of treatment for all. Our objectives are that all individuals shall have equal opportunities for employment and advancement on the basis of their skills, aptitudes and abilities. The MRC is committed to the engagement and retention of the best possible talent and to creating an environment that encourages excellence in scientific research through good equalities and diversity leadership and management.

Corporate/Local responsibilities & requirements:

The job holder must at all times carry out their responsibilities with due regard to the MRC’s: 

  • Code of Conduct
  • Equality and Diversity policy
  • Health and Safety policy
  • Data Protection and Security policy

Job descriptions should be reviewed on a regular basis and at the annual appraisal. Any changes should be made and agreed between the post holder and their manager. 

The above lists are not exhaustive and the job holder is required to undertake such duties as may reasonably be requested within the scope of the post. All employees are required to act professionally, co-operatively and flexibly in line with the requirements of the post and the MRC.



Education / Qualifications / Training required:

Essential:

  • Educated to A-level or equivalent 

Desirable: 

  • Educated to degree level or equivalent

Previous work experience required:

Essential:

  • Experience of working in a laboratory is not required, but an interest and passion for science is essential

Desirable: 

  • Experience of working in a laboratory environment

Knowledge and experience:

Essential:

  • Be able to learn in the role, with a practical approach to complex physical tasks

Desirable: 

  • Experience of undertaking practical activities in a laboratory environment in support of scientific research.

Personal skills/behaviours/qualities:

Essential:

  • Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively within a team.
  • Good communication skills (oral and written) and able to deal effectively with people at all levels.
  • Ability to deliver to manage a varied workload and prioritise effectively, dealing with conflicting demands.
  • Ability to work under own initiative and to proactively manage own time.
  • Ability to overcome challenges and solve problems in a logical way.
  • Good attention to detail and accuracy
  • Ability to adapt to new systems and processes and modify procedures in response to changing work needs.

The MRC is a great place to work and progress your career, be it in scientific research or the support functions.The MRC is a unique working environment where our researchers are rewarded by world class innovation and collaboration opportunities that the MRC name brings. The MRC is an excellent place to develop yourself further and a range of training & development opportunities will be available to you, including professional registration with the Science Council.
Choosing to come to work at the MRC (part of UKRI) means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement to access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme, as well as the chance to put the MRC and UKRI on your CV in the future.
Our success is dependent upon our ability to embrace diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We welcome applications from all sections of the community irrespective of gender, race, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, disability or age. As "Disability Confident" employers, we guarantee to interview all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.
UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider whether this conflicts with your personal values or beliefs.
We will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as an essential part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check.


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