Technician (Part-time)

To provide specialist technical services to support research for an ongoing project funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) under the supervision of Dr Andriana Margariti in the Centre for Experimental Medicine. The successful candidate will work closely with and support the activities of two post-doctoral fellows employed on the same project.

MAJOR DUTIES:

The technician will continue to build on their existing expertise to provide specialist expertise for a range of ongoing projects, especially those pertaining to in vitro and in vivo models of vascular cell differentiation/reprogramming. The laboratory-based technical input will be diverse with opportunities to build on current/previous experience and learn new technical skills according to the need of the various projects. The post-holder will interface regularly with members of this team to provide technical resource in a range of techniques, especially in the context induced pluripotent stem cell culture and differentiation towards vascular cells lineages such asendothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. There will be a emphasis on imaging technology in pre-clinical models of disease. They may be expected to provide assistance in data analysis and report construction. They will provide detailed guidance and technical support to academic, post-doctoral and PG student colleagues especially in the area of cloning, transfections, virus preparation and titration, luciferase assays, flow cytometer and confocal imaging. Candidates may also require the ability and willingness to interface with local and international collaborative partners on a technical level and to monitor & control stock levels that relate to the post-holders area of investigation. They will also be responsible for contributing to the promotion of good laboratory practice within CEM, helping ensure that all Health & Safety requirements in accordance with established procedures are being properly implemented and undertaking any other reasonable duties, within the general ambit of the post and the competence of the post-holder, in accordance with the changing needs and demands of a dynamic research environment.

Planning and Organising: 

• Prioritise own work within a general plan to meet deadlines. 
• Plan and allocate ongoing work activities of defined work area(s) with CEM to ensure required operational standards are fully met.

Resource Management Responsibilities:

• Assist with general housekeeping / stock control and procurement of core -laboratory supplies and equipment. This includes helping to accurately apportion individual end-user costs and offering assistance in reconciliation of consumable budget(s) and user equipment-related costs to ensure proper and efficient use of resources.
• The technician will provide ongoing specialist technical guidance, support and skills-training to students in various experimental research methods and their application.
• There may be a requirement to develop techniques that are generally applicable to the ongoing research of CEM.
• Responsibility for routine oversight and general maintenance, servicing and repairs to equipment within work area is expected. Where appropriate carry out some training of junior staff.

Internal and External Relationships:

• Daily contact with Supervisor, work colleagues, University staff and students.
• Some liaison with external consultants & company representatives, etc in the normal course of carrying out duties of post.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

• Academic and/or vocational qualifications ie OND/ONC and/or NVQ level3 in relevant subject (or equivalent).
• One years' relevant experience in laboratory research using equipment or molecular biology techniques such as cell culture, real time PCR, western blots, staining.
• Ability to develop, troubleshoot and perform a range of technical duties to a very high standard.
• Must be able to fully understand and construct complex technical protocols.
• Good communication skills, and ability to construct clear data presentation and reports.
• Must have a friendly personality to enable full integration into a close-knit research team.
• Good, well-developed interpersonal skills to facilitate teamwork and communication with local and international colleagues.
• Must be motivated to carry out laboratory-based research to a very high standard and display enthusiasm for scientific pursuits.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA:

• Honours degree in a relevant subject area.
• Experience in molecular biology techniques such as cloning, transfections, virus preparation, titration, RNA extraction and FACs analysis.
• Experience of good record keeping in a laboratory setting.
• Knowledge of ethical and HTA issues relating to research.
• Ability to develop a broad range of high-level technical skills, operate ongoing quality control and provide on-the-job training for junior / inexperienced colleagues.
• Recent hands-on experience with in vitro or vivo models in the context of vascular disease and diabetes (such as angiogenesis and limb hind ischemia).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 15 hours per week. Entitlement to work in the United Kingdom: Please note that the University will not be able to offer a Tier 2 Certificate of Sponsorship for this position.