Research Technician - Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy - 100172

Position Details

Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy 

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £24,291 to £26,0294, with potential progression once in post to £30,207.

Band 500

Full Time, Fixed term contract up to 6 months 

x2 Positions available 

Closing date: 21st August 2022

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. 

The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site.  On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens. 

Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham .

Role Summary

The post holder will be based in the groups of Prof Paul Moss in the Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy; working on a Department of Health and Social Care funded project aimed at investigating SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell responses in various cohorts, particularly those living and working in the care home sector.. The post holder will make a significant contribution to the study principally through processing blood samples and by performing Elispots and other T cell-based assays. This post will entail working closely with scientists and clinicians to support high quality research using a variety of techniques.  The post holder will also be responsible for taking a lead role in the day to day running for the lab, including the safety and maintenance of equipment and stocks within the lab.

Main Duties

• You will be responsible for assisting in managing the experimental and laboratories.

• You will use your in-depth knowledge of methods and procedures to advise on techniques and experimental procedures being used by researchers and/or students.  This will involve communicating with colleagues at a range of levels and inexperienced students. 

• You will need to be able to diagnose and resolve problems and suggest solutions in regard to techniques and experiments.

• Carry out specialist technical and experimental procedures which will need you to use your judgment to assess the correct technique to use, and to consider how these may be improved, referring to your manager for approval on any proposed changes.

• You will need to maintain accurate records of all techniques and experimental procedures you carry out, and for any other research activities you may be involved in including results. 

• Ensure compliance with legislation relevant to the area of research/activity.

• Comply with and promote the operating procedures for the area, including the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures regulation.

• You may contribute to internal and external audit procedures and to regulatory inspections.

Research - 75% 

• Preparation of blood mononuclear cells from whole blood sample

• Liaising with study teams to access sample

• Isolation of T cells and T cell subsets from peripheral blood mononuclear cells 

• Setting up and maintaining cell lines; including LCLs

• Isolation and culture of primary cells from blood samples

• Performance of immunological assays including Elispots, cytokine stimulation assays and immunostaining of cells for flow cytometry (both surface and intracellular)

• Performance of multi-colour flow cytometry, including designing and setting up new panels as well as basic maintenance of the flow cytometer

• DNA extraction and PCR

• Keeping accurate records of all experiments, evaluating and interpreting results.  Modifying experiments and suggesting new experimental approaches as appropriate

• Keeping accurate records of patient and healthy donor samples

Health and Safety/Environmental Issues - 10% 

• Enabling staff and students, working within the area of responsibility, to comply with all basic University / College Health & Safety policies. This will include compliance by all staff with current rules governing work with COSHH, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), biological samples, human tissue, radioactive materials and schedule 5 toxins etc. Ensure all required assessments are in place approved and up to date.

• Maintaining records both paper and computer based as appropriate.

• Carrying out regular maintenance processes such as flushing eye wash stations as appropriate and ensuring records are maintained.

• Reporting any breaches or non-compliance with H&S procedures to the PI, Technical Manager, Laboratory Manager or College Safety Adviser.

• Upholding the correct waste disposal stream as governed by College and local policy for laboratory, recycled and general waste 

• Adopt a proactive attitude to assisting with and implementing carbon reduction and energy saving measures

• Proactive support for health and safety within the laboratory.  This may include being required to look after a communal area as part of your duties.  Comply with all current rules and ensure all required assessments are in place, approved and up to date.

• Fully understand the safety aspects of equipment operation and be able to demonstrate/train staff (at all levels) on the correct usage of the equipment.

• Ensuring that regular maintenance processes are carried out and that appropriate records are maintained. 

• Reporting any breaches or non-compliance with H&S procedures to the relevant manager(s).

• Upholding the correct waste disposal stream as governed by College and local policy for laboratory.

• Upholding the correct waste disposal stream as governed by College and local policy for the laboratory.

• Postholders may be asked to undergo training as a First Aider.

General Administration and Organisation – 8%

• The post holder will assist with the daily administration and organisation of the work area. These duties include:

• Maintaining stocks of consumables, if necessary, creating purchase order requisitions for the College finance office or via web based ordering system

• Receipt and correct storage of consumables and chemical reagents.

• Ensuring that the facilities are maintained in a clean, functional and safe condition, reporting any problems through the appropriate channels.

• Ensuring the best use of equipment through booking systems, if appropriate

• Reporting any problems with equipment or services to the line manager as appropriate.

• Any other duties commensurate with the grade and skill base of the post holder as directed by either the Principal Investigator for research based activities or the Technical Managers for non-research based activities

• Ensuring that the facilities are maintained in a clean, functional and safe condition, reporting any problems through the appropriate channels.

• Ensuring that PAT testing, calibration of equipment and locally and centrally held equipment inventories are up to date and maintained. 

• Adopt a proactive attitude to assisting with and implementing carbon reduction and energy saving measures. 

• Maintain a technical support based teaching laboratory website (how to guides for the preparation of materials, practical setup guides), and keeping these up to date as and when session requirements or protocols change or maintaining relevant research lab databases/records.

Other Duties – 7%

• In collaboration with the Laboratory Manager or supervisor the post holder will take an active role in the training and mentoring process for junior or newly appointed staff/students

• To actively engage in the Personal Development Process 

• To contribute at a level appropriate with the grade, to internal and external audit procedures, and to regulatory inspections.

• Assist Technical Managers and/or Laboratory Managers in identifying and tracking items held on the University asset register.

• In collaboration with the relevant manager the post holder will take an active role in the training and mentoring process for junior or newly appointed staff.

• Supports equality and values diversity, moderates own behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others. 

• Any other duties as may reasonably be required.

Person Specification

• Have or studying for a BSc or equivalent professional qualification in an appropriate subject

• GCSE (A*- C) or equivalent in mathematics 

• In-depth proven practical knowledge of technical and scientific methods stated above and Good Laboratory Practice gained through extensive experience and formal qualification

• Extensive experience of similar laboratory based work particularly of isolating human PBMCs and T cell assays.

• Positive service attitude and shows courtesy in dealing with others

• Ability to organise and manage own work load and demonstrate flexibility in terms of work practices/requirements

• Ability to work under minimal supervision but function as part of a team 

• Knowledge of current relevant H&S policies
  Proficiency in commonly used software packages including flow cytometry analysis software

• Willingness to work towards professional registration

Further particulars can be found here: http://www.download.bham.ac.uk/vacancies/jd/MDSFPs.pdf

Informal enquires to Rachel Bruton, email: [email protected]

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment

We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.