Senior Research Technician - School of Biosciences - 98265 - Band 500

Position Details

School of Biosciences 

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK 

As this vacancy has limited funding the maximum salary that can be offered is Band 500, salary £23,699.- Pro Rota

Band 500 

Part Time - 27 hours Fixed Term Contract upto 3rd October 2022

Closing date – 25th October 2021

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  

Job context

The University of Birmingham wants to attract outstanding, inspirational, and talented people, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success. Working at the University of Birmingham gives you access to the best financial and physical resources, a beautiful campus and an intellectually stimulating and diverse community. Our sector leading development programmes have made this a place where staff can thrive and recognition by Athena Swan, Stonewall, and Two Ticks demonstrates our commitment to supporting talented people from all backgrounds. The Institute of Microbiology and Infection at the University of Birmingham is one of the UK’s foremost centres for infectious disease research. We are recruiting for a talented laboratory technician to join the newly established group (Tsai laboratory) within IMI. This is a part-time post for 12 months (shorter, if full-time).

Job summary

The successful candidate will have a strong background in microbiology and immunology laboratory research and the desire to contribute to the development of novel diagnostics technologies. The post-holder will work closely with the lab lead (Dr Tsai) to conduct experiments to understand how human fungal pathogens, Candida albicans and other Candida species, interact with their host in both in vitro and in vivo experimental settings. Prior experience of molecular and cell biological techniques including tissue/cell culturing, molecular cloning, DNA/RNA extraction, qPCR, protein analysis by immunoblotting and fluorescent microscopy would be desirable. 

The candidate is expected to develop a strong understanding of the research area and conduct experiments independently after an initial training period. The appointed candidate will also be expected to help with communal tasks shared within the Tsai lab. Such duties will include laboratory health and safety, reagent ordering, maintenance of equipment, and overseeing relevant strain and equipment databases. This post is ideal for someone looking to enrich their research experience and contribute as a co-author to scientific publications.  Strong team skills, an enthusiasm for research and a friendly, outgoing, ‘can-do’ attitude are critical. Candidates wishing to take up the role full-time or part-time are actively encouraged to apply.
The post-holder will also be expected to maintain laboratory equipment, consumables and to write COSHH, risk assessments/method statements where appropriate. The post holder will also provide support for and contribute to College activities under the direction of the Technical Services and Operations Manager as required.

Main duties

•   To culture tissue culture cell lines, primary cells, and the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans and related fungal species.

•   To generate genetically modified fungal strains. 

•   To assist others and/or perform own experiments utilising the lab’s expertise in molecular and cell biology and high-throughput phenotypic and genetic screens. 

•   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.

Health and Safety duties

• 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

• Ensuring all records are accurate and kept up to date.

• Proactively maintain stocks of consumables, and when required generate purchase order requisitions using University systems.

• Receipt and correct storage of consumables/equipment and chemical reagents.

• 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.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience 

•  A BSc or MSc in a Biosciences related subject.

•  Proven laboratory experience in Microbiology, Molecular and/or Cell Biology.

• GCSE level 2 (A*- C) or equivalent level 2 qualification in mathematics and English. 

• In-depth practical knowledge of relevant technical and scientific methods. 

• Extensive experience of similar laboratory based work, together with familiarity with a wide range of laboratory equipment.

• 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 legislation relevant to the role.

• Knowledge of current H&S policies and ability to uphold same.

• Proficiency in commonly used software packages.

• Understands the importance of  equality and diversity in the workplace.

• Ability to identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant policies and procedures.

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.