Senior Laboratory Technician - School of Chemistry

Position Details

School of Chemistry

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £27,511 to £30,046. With potential progression once in post to £33,797 a year.

Grade 6

Full Time

Permanent

Closing date: 15 December 2019

Job Summary

The School of Chemistry is a vibrant and thriving academic community with over 60 academic and research staff, 20 Professional Services staff and over 600 students. The School has ambitious plans to grow research activity; combined with investment from the University for the new Collaborative Teaching Laboratory (opened September 2018) and Molecular Sciences Research Building (opening in 2022), the School is entering an exciting period.

This post holder will have the energy, enthusiasm and the ability to work with confidence to support the delivery of world-class research. The post holder will undertake a range of activities from enabling the laboratory to function efficiently, maintaining and operating laboratory instrumentation as well as leading on health and safety matters in a laboratory environment

The post holder will be responsible for the daily management of the designated research laboratory facilities based in the School of Chemistry. The post holder will provide direct support to the research activities of the groups which will include, maintaining and managing laboratory equipment, specifically chromatography equipment and other instrumentation used for the analysis of polymeric materials.

The post holder will manage and support all technical aspects within the group from technical administration, safety within the laboratories, maintenance of equipment and analysis of materials using a variety of scientific instruments. They will also train users and operate the instrumentation to further support the research needs of the groups where required. The post holder will also manage and support all technical aspects within the group from technical administration, ordering, and safe disposal of waste and general safety within the laboratories.

The post holder will be expected to implement and monitor the compliance of health and safety, estates and laboratory housekeeping matters related to the research laboratories. They will support the management of researchers by monitoring and advising where appropriate, basic housekeeping, Infrastructure and Health and Safety (H&S) matters. The post holder will be required to establish an effective working relationship with the research groups to ensure day to day activities are managed in the most effective and efficient manner. They will be required to utilize University processes in relation to procurement and maintenance.

The post holder will be line managed by the School Technical Manager, reporting locally to a designated research group, and provide support for and contribute to wider School/College activities as required. Such tasks might include, but not be limited to, assistance in other laboratories and with School/College Open Days and Outreach events.

Main Duties

Research Support:

• Will be directly and indirectly responsible for the management of chromatography equipment including size exclusion chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and automated column chromatography.
• Advise, arrange, train, assist and supervise as appropriate academic and research staff and students on experimental and research techniques and technical issues.
• Setting up experiments and acquiring and processing data for use in publications and related activities.
• Support the development of research protocols as well as efficient completion of programmes of work to agreed timescales and project deadlines.
• Responsible for ensuring all items of laboratory equipment are kept in good working order and calibrated as/when required. This would include undertaking maintenance and keeping appropriate records.
• As required, offer advice on the purchase of new equipment, liaise with suppliers to obtain quotes and to notify the School Technical Manager of any foreseeable safety issues or that requires changes to infrastructure.
• Working with collaborators from local industry, other departments and institutions in regard to using the facilities and assessing feasibility of such experiments.

Additionally, requests may be made to analyse samples using a wide range of laboratory instrumentation related to the themes below:

• Rheological/Liquid Analysis: High and Low Temperature Rheometer, Ambient temp liquid and high temp melt contact angle
• Thermal Properties Analysis: High and Low Temperature/ High Pressure ThermoGravimetry, High and Low Temperature Differential Scanning Calorimetry, High and Low Temperature Thermal Diffusivity/Conductivity and Mass Spectrometry
• Sample/Particle Size measurements: Light scattering, X-ray Diffraction and Tomography, TEM/AFM/SEM Analysis, Raman Microscopy and Spectroscopy

General Laboratory Support:

• Responsible for the reporting, monitoring and resolution for any failures of the infrastructure supporting the laboratories and managing/communicating such maintenance/installations to minimise disruption to the research.
• Maintain a record of consumables (including perishables such as liquid N2 and dry ice), placing orders to ensure that stock levels are maintained as appropriate and ensuring storage facilities are used effectively.
• Maintain technical and training logs for instrumentation in the research groups.
• Manage compressed gas cylinder inventory, providing details of cylinders purchased by the group and charge codes to cover rental costs.
• Manage and lead on maintenance of vacuum pumps, solvent purification systems and other small instrumentation within the group.
• Liaising with and chasing up on order with suppliers and sales representatives with regard to chemical and equipment purchasing and maintenance.
• Where required/appropriate provide a service/facility for approving and overseeing purchase orders for research groups. This should include a consideration for sustainability issues and observance of all College/University etc financial rules.
• In liaison with the School Technical Manager ensure an up to date asset register for all equipment located within the group is established and maintained.
• Manage/remove waste from laboratory areas

Health and Safety/Environmental Issues:

[University Policy states that Academic staff hold ultimate responsibility for health and safety within their areas of work. The tasks below are designed to assist Academic staff in meeting this obligation]

• Responsible for ensuring all research and support staff comply with basic housekeeping policies. This would include the establishment of appropriate rotas for the upkeep of communal areas and compliance monitoring.
• Responsible for managing all aspects of basic H&S, including chemical safety, relating directly to the activities of the research groups.
• Responsible for ensuring that the following safety paperwork is in place and remains up to date, being reviewed at least annually where required: Risk assessments; Standard Operating Procedures and Emergency Shutdown notices; Student/staff training records; Notifications of experiments to run out of hours; Emergency contact information for all members of the group.
• Monitor that Standard Operating Procedures and the control measures specified in risk assessments are being followed. This will include ensuring that laboratory equipment is operated in a safe manner.
• In relation to regular inspections, ensure that as requested:
• All items recorded on the University Insurance register are inspected annually or following a modification.
• Conduct routine checks on the Oxygen Monitoring Systems and Engineering Controls such as Local Exhaust Ventilation system, Glove Box and Fume cupboards, Fixed gas lines and compressed gas systems (regulators/hoses).
• Assist with weekly/monthly fire checks as required.
• Assist with PAT activities as required.
• Responsible for continually monitoring compliance of all local, School and University Health and Safety, Fire Safety and laboratory housekeeping policies within the research group and taking any necessary action.

Other Duties:

• Take on designated health and safety as required and commensurate with grade and experience, for example function as a fire warden, first aider and/or member of the School Health and Safety Committee.
• To support the School Technical Manager and, at times, deputise as appropriate.
• To undertake any other tasks, across the College of Engineering & Physical Sciences as a whole that might reasonably be asked and are suitable by way of knowledge and experience, or can be achieved by a programme of re-training. Such tasks might include, but not be limited to, assistance in other laboratories and with School/College Open Days and Outreach events.
• To carry out such duties and responsibilities as may be required from time to time and which are commensurate with the grade and nature of the post.

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications and Experience Required

• First degree in Chemistry
• Experience of practical and theoretical chemical knowledge of a range of analytical techniques and instrumentation
• Experience of preparation of data for presentations and reporting
• Experience of designing, contracting and modifying of experimental apparatus
• Experience of hands-on experimental work
• Experience in working in a laboratory
• Proven ability in managing research laboratory facilities
• Proven ability to maintain laboratory equipment
• Full demonstrable understanding of current relevant health and safety legislation
• Excellent communicator with a proven ability to persuade, negotiate with and influence others
• Demonstrable ability to act as a positive role model regarding professional service delivery and behaviour
• Proven confidence to challenge inappropriate lab working practices
• Demonstrable good organisational and time management skills
• Ability and willingness to undertake training in other activities and skills
• Demonstrable ability to instruct and demonstrate analytical techniques to staff and research students
• Proficient in Word, Excel packages etc and an ability to understand and interrogate data relating to research grant expenditure
• Proven experience of managing administrative systems including database management
• Proven ability to structure own workload to meet expectations and deadlines
• Proven ability to absorb and apply knowledge of University structures, systems and procedures required to design, choose and put into place administrative management systems to support the research groups

Desirable

• Proven experience with H&S aspects of a chemistry laboratory (desirable)
• Proven experience of polymer characterisation (desirable)
• Proven experience in chromatography specifically size exclusion chromatography (desirable)

Informal enquiries to Professor Andrew Dove, a.dove@bham.ac.uk or Professor Rachel O'Reilly r.oreilly@bham.ac.uk or telephone 0121 414 2768

We value diversity at The University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community

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