Research Technician in Cell Culture, Imaging and Sample Processing

Research Technician in Cell Culture, Imaging and Sample Processing

Department/School: School of Clinical Dentistry

Contract type: Fixed-term until 30 June 2029

Overview

We have an exciting opportunity to join the Mechanisms of Health & Disease research group within the School of Clinical Dentistry. The role is part of a major new externally funded interdisciplinary programme led by Dr Thomas Paterson, bringing together bioengineering, microbiology, neuroscience and translational neurotechnology.

The programme will explore whether engineered fungal networks can be developed as controllable bioelectronic interface materials. Fungal networks offer a distinctive biological platform: soft, three-dimensional structures that can be grown, modified and tested as part of future bioelectronic interface systems.

As Research Technician, you will contribute to a programme developing candidate fungal biointerfaces and evaluating them against safety, control and functional criteria as part of a large multidisciplinary team. You will provide day-to-day technical support for mammalian cell culture, biological assay setup, staining, imaging preparation, sample processing and laboratory organisation. The role will support neural, glial, immune, endothelial/BBB-relevant and other in vitro models used to assess fungal candidate compatibility, toxicity, inflammation, barrier effects and interface function. You will also support ordering, stock management, reagent preparation, data organisation, sample tracking and routine maintenance of culture and assay workflows.

This role would suit someone with strong hands-on laboratory skills in cell culture, biological sample processing, microscopy preparation, staining, histology support or related biomedical research workflows. The focus is reproducible assays, well-organised sample handling, accurate records and reliable support for the wider research team.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Provide dedicated technical support to the funded fungal biointerface programme, working under the direction of the principal investigator, work package leads and senior research staff.
• Maintain and support mammalian cell culture workflows, potentially including neural, glial, immune, endothelial or other project-relevant in vitro models.
• Prepare media, reagents, buffers, coatings, plates and assay consumables required for biological compatibility, immune-response, BBB/vascular and neural-function experiments.
• Support fungal exposure experiments in cell and tissue culture models, including setup of parental, engineered, live, arrested, non-viable and conditioned-media conditions under approved protocols.
• Assist with viability, cytotoxicity, immunostaining, inflammation, microscopy, imaging and sample-processing workflows.
• Prepare samples for fluorescence/confocal imaging, histology, immunocytochemistry, immunohistochemistry, endpoint analysis or external/core-facility processing.
• Assist with routine image/data organisation, sample labelling, experimental tracking and preparation of data for review by research staff.
• Support ordering, receiving, storage and tracking of cell culture consumables, antibodies, stains, reagents, plastics and other laboratory supplies.
• Maintain relevant project required culture facilities, incubators, microscopes and routine laboratory equipment in good working order, escalating issues to senior technical staff where needed.
• Maintain comprehensive, accurate and tidy records of protocols, cell passage, sample processing, reagent preparation, imaging runs and experimental support activity.
• Work with fungal engineering and bioelectronic interface teams to ensure biological assays receive standardised candidate materials and appropriate controls.
• Follow mandatory Health and Safety policies and procedures, including COSHH, biosafety, biological-material handling, waste disposal, cell culture requirements and standard operating procedures.
• Contribute to preparation and updating of SOPs, risk assessments and technical documentation for the project.
• Work collaboratively with research staff, technicians, facility staff and collaborators, while maintaining the post’s primary focus on delivery of the funded research programme.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

Essential or desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

A Degree, HND, National Diploma or equivalent experience in a relevant scientific field such as biomedical sciences, biological sciences, neuroscience, immunology, cell biology, microbiology, biotechnology or a related discipline

Essential

Application

Experience providing technical support in a research laboratory, cell culture laboratory, biomedical laboratory or related technical environment

Essential

Application/interview

Practical experience of aseptic technique and preparation of biological media, reagents or samples

Essential

Application/interview

Experience with mammalian cell culture, biological sample processing, staining, microscopy preparation, immunoassay support, histology support or related biomedical research workflows

Essential

Application/interview

Knowledge of safe working practices and experience applying Health and Safety procedures in a laboratory environment, including accurate record keeping

Essential

Application/interview

Ability to organise laboratory resources, maintain stocks, prepare supplies, track samples and progress routine work accurately against deadlines

Essential

Application/interview

Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly with research, technical and academic staff

Essential

Application/interview

Ability to work well within a team while also carrying out routine tasks independently and reliably

Essential

Application/interview

Experience with neural, glial, immune, endothelial, BBB-relevant, primary, iPSC-derived, organoid, co-culture or ex vivo tissue models

Desirable

Application/interview

Experience with fluorescence/confocal microscopy, immunostaining, cytokine/toxicity assays, live-cell imaging, calcium/voltage imaging, or supporting interdisciplinary biological research involving microbial or fungal materials

Desirable

Application/interview

Further Information

Grade

5

Salary

£27,319 - £31,236 per annum with the potential to progress to £33,951 through sustained exceptional contribution

Work arrangement

Full-time

Duration

Fixed-term until 30 June 2029

Line manager

Research Manager

Right to work in the UK

This role does not meet the criteria for Skilled Worker sponsorship under the UK Visa & Immigration points-based system. Information on alternative visa options is available on www.gov.uk .

Our website

www.sheffield.ac.uk/dentalschool

For informal enquiries about this job contact Dr Thomas Paterson, Lecturer in Biomaterials and Bioelectronics, at [email protected].

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place approximately two weeks after the application submission deadline. This will consist of an interview and presentation. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage within two weeks of the closing date. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process, please contact [email protected].

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.