Main Purpose of the Job

The Laboratory Technician should provide a high standard of technical support to academic and research staff in the Quadram Institute.

The post holder will maintain working areas following protocols, good laboratory practice and to support the ‘Food Structure and Bioaccessibility Facility’. They will be involved in analysis of food samples, including metabolic analysis, biophysical analysis, particle size distribution measurements, and texture analysis. They will also be providing general support for in vitro digestion and fermentation experiments, maintain and calibrate the equipment and liaise with the Lab Manager regarding equipment maintenance and service.

The post holder will need to be able to understand and conform to Health and Safety requirements, write standard operating procedures, and train staff to use the equipment.

Key Relationships

The appointed Laboratory Technician will report to Lab Manager, Andrea Hinkova, and will be part of a broader team of laboratory technicians/attendants fulfilling different roles within the Quadram Institute. They will also work with other scientific researchers including PhD Students, Postdoctoral Researchers and Group Leaders to support delivery of scientific objectives. Some aspects of the role will require the post-holder to engage with external service providers, including, for example, working with engineers for maintenance and troubleshooting of specialist scientific instruments.

Main Activities & Responsibilities

Percentage

Management of Food Strcuture and Bioaccessibility Laboratory Facility 

25

Routine operation, maintenance, calibration of and record-keeping for laboratory equipment

25

Ensuring the laboratory is kept in good order and work adheres to health and safety regulations

10

Working with scientists, providing training on operation of specialised scientific equipment

10

Write and maintain standard operating procedures and risk assessments for laboratory equipment

10

Liaise with engineers for equipment maintenance, troubleshooting and calibration

5

Undertake data collection, data processing and support the scientific research process as agreed with scientists and line manager

5

Monitor and maintain gas cylinders

5

Responsible for maintaining adequate stock levels and identifying items for purchase to maintain agreed stock levels

5

As agreed with line manager, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the role

Education & Qualifications

Requirement

Importance

BSc/MSc in Biochemistry, Food Science, Chemistry or related area

Essential

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement

Importance

Ability to solve problems and troubleshoot

Essential

Experienced user of MS Office

Essential

Knowledge of biochemical and/or structural analyses

Essential

Relevant Experience

Requirement

Importance

Experience working in a laboratory environment

Essential

Previous experience with quality control processes and reporting

Essential

Operation and/or maintenance of scientific instruments

Desirable

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Requirement

Importance

Excellent organisation and time-management skills

Essential

Good interpersonal skills, with ability to work as part of a team

Essential

Good communication skills, both written and verbal

Essential

Additional Requirements

Requirement

Importance

Attention to detail

Essential

Able to present a positive image of self and the istitute, promoting both international reputation and public engagement aims of the institute

Essential

Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviours of all staff at the Institute, ensuring it is a great place to work

Essential

Accurate working and record-keeping

Essential

Willingness to work outside standard working hours when required

Essential

Promotes equality and values diversity

Essential

Quadram Institute Bioscience

The Quadram Institute is at the forefront of a new interface between food science, gut biology and health, developing solutions to worldwide challenges in food-related disease and human health.

We are engaged in fundamental and translational food and health research, alongside clinical studies, endoscopy and industry, working together to become a leading international hub for food and health research, combining scientific excellence and clinical expertise, delivering impacts on patient care and accelerating innovation.

The Quadram Institute is a diverse and multicultural scientific community. We thrive on our international and European links, appointing staff from across the world. Any candidate who would like further information on current or anticipated immigration requirements can contact the HR Team on +44 (0)1603 450888 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk.

For more information about working at Quadram Institute Bioscience, please click here.

Department

Food, Microbiome and Health

Group Details

The technical support will be part of QIB Science Operations whcih help enable scientific research project work.

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Laboratory Technicians

Applications are invited for an enthusiastic and motivated Laboratory Technician/Assistant to join the Technical Support Team at Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), based in Norwich, UK.

Background:

The Technical Support Team is part of QIB Science Operations which helps enable scientific research project work. They will work with other scientific researchers including PhD Students, Postdoctoral Researchers and Group Leaders to support delivery of scientific objectives. Some aspects of the role will require the post-holder to engage with external service providers, including, for example, working with engineers for maintenance and troubleshooting of specialist scientific instruments.

The role:

The post holder should provide a high standard of technical support to academic and research staff in the Quadram Institute, and will maintain working areas following protocols, good laboratory practice and to support the ‘Food Structure and Bioaccessibility Facility’. They will be involved in analysis of food samples, including metabolic analysis, biophysical analysis, particle size distribution measurements, and texture analysis. They will be also providing general support for in vitro digestion and fermentation experiments, maintain and calibrate the equipment and liaise with the Lab Manager regarding equipment maintenance and service. The successful candidate will need to be able to understand and conform to Health and Safety requirements, write standard operating procedures, and train staff to use the equipment.

The post holder will be expected to work flexibly, which could occasionally include out of hours/weekend work.

The ideal candidate:

Candidates should have at least a BSc in Biochemistry, Food Science, Chemistry or related field. An MSc would be advantageous, but is not essential. The ideal candidate will be organised, show attention to detail and be able to work independently, with excellent team working and communication skills. Recent experience of working in a multiuser biological research laboratory and experience with quality control processes and reporting is essential to this role.

Additional information:

Salary on appointment will be within the range £27,750 to £34,500 pro rata depending on qualifications and experience. This is a part-time post of 13 hours for a contract of 32 months.

This role meets the criteria for a visa application, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply.  Please contact the Human Resources Team if you have any questions regarding your application or visa options.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sectors of society.  The Institute supports equality of opportunity within the workplace and expects all employees to share and display these values.  To support our commitment, we have a range of family, faith and diversity friendly working arrangements to help all staff achieve excellence in their area of work.

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy.

About the Quadram Institute:

The Quadram Institute is a new interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to understanding how food and microbes interact to promote health and prevent disease. Its mission is to deliver healthier lives through innovation in gut health, microbiology and food. A partnership between Quadram Institute Bioscience, the University of East Anglia, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and BBSRC, it brings together scientists and clinicians in a state-of-the-art building on the Norwich Research Park. This is one of Europe’s largest centres of life sciences and home of the John Innes Centre and The Earlham Institute. (https://quadram.ac.uk/).

The closing date for applications will be 29 April 2024. We encourage early applications as we reserve the right to close this advertisement early depending on the volume of applications received.

The Quadram Institute Bioscience is a registered charity (No. 1058499) and is an Equal Opportunities Employer.