Human Biology STP Lead

Human Biology STP Lead

Reports to:
Director of Scientific Technology Platforms (STP)
Contact term:
This is a full-time, permanent position on Crick terms and conditions of employment.

About the Role
We are currently seeking a Human Biology Science Technology Platform (STP) lead to establish and lead a Human Biology platform to provide a dedicated framework to support experimental research in human systems.
The Human Biology STP will build the Crick’s capability and capacity for human research. It will mobilise, and expand, existing infrastructure, skills and expertise required to enable Crick scientists to conduct their research in human samples, human tissue and model systems. The STP will bring together the multidisciplinary research of Crick scientists, which encompasses clinical science, bioengineering, stem cell biology, directed differentiation, and genome engineering expertise required for the effective development of human model systems. The STP will generate a unified and sustainable approach to using human samples, models and data. It will enable Crick scientists to work to best practices ensuring high research quality and integrity of human studies, and ensure compliance with regulatory and legal requirements.

The head of the STP will contribute to strategic planning to ensure the STP develops to best meet scientists’ requirements. They will interact with other STPs to optimise data management, engineering, genome editing, and automation in human models. They will also engage with clinicians, hospitals and Biomedical Research Centres to develop collaborative efforts between Crick scientists and clinicians, and improve access to human samples. The successful candidate will support a large and dynamic group of Crick researchers by fostering collaborations and providing scientific and technical support.

The Human Biology STP, in driving forward Crick science linked to human health needs, will help deliver key outputs to fuel Crick’s vision for translational medicine.

Key responsibilities
Overall, the STP Lead will be responsible for a wide range of linked activities; the successful candidate will be expected to have specific experience in some but not all aspects. They will be expected to be able to coordinate and manage a team spanning a wide range of competencies.

These include but are not limited to:

To lead the strategic direction setting and oversee the day-to-day operations of the STP, including the existing units of HESCU (Human embryo and stem cell services) and Viral Vector services.
To facilitate the use of human model systems for discovery and validation.
To lead a core facility for the maintenance of human stem cells, exploiting the opportunities for standardised protocols and high-level automated platforms.
To supervise a core facility to perform directed differentiation to relevant cell types to support Group Leader’s research programs.
To develop and optimise the use of complex human model systems, including the generation of organoids, assembloids, tissue, organ-on-a-chip.
To encourage knowledge exchange in SOPs and skills across research groups, and to work closely with high content STP to coordinate the adoption of automation.
To facilitate access to clinical cohorts, samples, biobanks, and repositories.
To provide sample handling, sample annotation and sample storage, utilising IT solutions fit for integration into clinical systems to track samples, monitor outcomes and report assays.
To support the application for appropriate research ethics and ensure compliance with the human tissue act.
To set standards and responsibilities for working with human samples dependent on context of use (e.g. establishment of SOPs; working to good clinical practice (GCP)).
To set the standards and responsibilities for the acquisition, processing, storage, handling and sharing of human data.
To provide guidance for the use and handling of human data generated by collaborators, and data from repositories/public domain data.
To ensure a robust approach for data storage and processing of identifiable, sensitive and/or deep phenotypic clinical metadata generated from human studies and set the standards and responsibilities for the acquisition, processing, storage, handling and sharing of human data.
Key experience and competencies
The post holder should embody and demonstrate our core Crick values: bold, open, and collegial, in addition to the following:

Essential

Qualifications, experience and competencies

PhD in molecular biology, cell biology, genetics or related discipline or other equivalent experience.
Experience leading line or matrix teams with a strong reputation of inspiring and motivating high performance
Experience and/or knowledge of;
methods for stem cell culture, (derivation and genetic manipulation, electroporation and molecular biology for CRISPR mutagenesis) and/or a
Thorough understanding of clinical research methodology and biostatistics principles, to assist with experimental design.
Ability to develop processes and procedures compliant with the legislation and best practice and to provide guidance to the team, wider Crick community and external collaborators, supported by excellent knowledge of research ethics and the human tissue act
Experience of acquisition, processing, storage, handling and sharing of human data
Experience of developing long-term strategic plans and objectives
User centric approach in service delivery, with the ability to identify and understand different users’ needs, and reflect those in the STP strategy
Proven ability to build relationships and to collaborate effectively with research groups inside and external to the Crick
Ability to communicate well with colleagues at different levels, being able to engage meaningfully with both scientific community and operational staff
Ability to adopt and leverage rapidly advancing, new technologies to promote strategic aims.
Ability to demonstrate senior management and leadership capability and skills
Ability to carry out goal-driven technological development projects while maintaining an excellent level of support to institute researchers
Find out what benefits the Crick has to offer:

For more information on our great pay and benefits package please click here: https://www.crick.ac.uk/careers-and-study/life-at-the-crick/pay-and-bene... />
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:

We welcome applications from all backgrounds. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, pregnancy, age, disability, or civil partnership, marital or family status. We particularly welcome applications from people who are Minority Ethnic as they are currently underrepresented in the Crick at this level.

Diversity is essential to excellence in scientific endeavour. It increases breadth and perspective, leading to more innovation and creativity. We want the Crick to be a place where everyone feels valued and where diversity is celebrated and seen as part of the foundation for our Institute’s success.

The Crick is committed to creating equality of opportunity and promoting diversity and inclusivity. We all share in the responsibility to actively promote dignity, respect, inclusivity and equal treatment and it is our aim to ensure that these principles are reflected and implemented in all strategies, policies and practices.

Read more on our website: https://www.crick.ac.uk/careers-and-study/life-at-the-crick/equality-div...