Research Technician

Technical Services

The above full-time fixed term post is available for 3 years in duration in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences.

The post

The Faculty wishes to recruit a talented individual to support our research team lead by Associate Prof. Matt Winter and Prof. Charles Tyler based in Biosciences. The role will provide direct support to an exciting research project with a major industry partner  using the zebrafish for drug target validation and drug safety assessment. The post holder will work closely with the team to support and deliver cutting edge techniques including the design and application of CRISPR reagents, delivery of established functional phenotyping assessment, confocal and light sheet microscopy, molecular analyses, image and data analysis, and data reporting, as required. In addition, they will be responsible for contributing to zebrafish brood stock management and basic laboratory technical support, such as overseeing and ordering lab stock reagents and consumables. The post will, therefore, provide the opportunity to develop skills in a wide range of state of the art methods that are applicable to many areas of biological and medical research. The successful applicant will also be part of a large vibrant research team in which the researchers and technical support team study a very wide range of topics in biological and environmental science. pers.

The post holder will be based at the University of Exeter working as part of a large team researching into a great variety of projects in environmental and medical biology. The techniques employed in the research team are also wide ranging, specialising in whole organism physiology, and including molecular and imaging methods and studies on behaviour. As such there is a very rich learning environment and the post will offer great opportunities for gaining skill training in the very latest  methods and in-life studies focused in environmental and medical research

Specifically, the post will include the following duties: 

• Executing laboratory based in-life studies for drug target validation and drug safety assessment.
• Undertaking various bioassays as part of functional phenotyping assessments that include application of various imaging methods (e.g. confocal and light sheet microscopy) and gene expression studies.
• Be responsible for zebrafish brood stock management
• Provide basic laboratory technical support, including overseeing and ordering lab stock reagents and consumables.
• Support in experimental design and data analysis and report andresearch paper writing;
• Presentation of research findings to various audiences including at partner meetings as appropriate;
• Communicate effectively with research project supervisory team and partners;
• Support the Exeter project team more widely as required.

About you

The successful applicant will be proficient in laboratory work and willing to learn, able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically and prepare proposals and applications to stakeholders.

Applicants will be educated to first degree level or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study or equivalent experience and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes. Ideally, applicants will hold a Fish PIL (Modules 1-3), and have experience in some of the techniques of  micro injection, CRISPR gene editing, in vivo zebrafish research, assessment of whole animal physiology, fluorescent microscopy, and the accurate and safe handling and preparation of test substances and reagent solutions.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role by clicking on the attachment.

What we can offer you

• Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research;
• Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly
• An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development
• Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career

• A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon.

The University of Exeter

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024).  We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.

Our world-leading research impact has grown more than any other Russell Group university in recent years, and we are home to some of the world’s most influential researchers, seeking to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today.  More than 99 percent of our research is of international quality and 47 percent is world-leading (2021 Research Excellence Framework).

We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community. 

With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer.

We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from service people.

Further information

For further information please contact Dr Mathew Winter email [email protected] , or Professor Charles Tyler, e-mail [email protected] .