Senior Technician - School of Biosciences - Band 500 - 97858

Position Details

School of Biosciences

University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £23,699 to £25,458. With potential progression once in post to £29,471 a year

Band 500

Part time 0.7 FTE

Fixed term contract until 29th February 2024

Closing Date: 15th August 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 summary

You will provide technical expertise, support and guidance in either teaching support or research support. You may supervise a number of technical staff but even where you do not directly supervise staff you will still be expected to act as a role model and coach others as appropriate.

If you are in a research post you will need an in-depth understanding of the research questions, techniques and experimental protocols. You will be able to use your in-depth knowledge to advise on procedures, diagnose and resolve problems, and proactively suggest solutions to issues which arise. You may need to operate out of normal working hours to accommodate experimental procedures.

If you are in the teaching laboratories you will need a significant understanding of the requirements to deliver undergraduate classes, an in-depth understanding of all main subject areas, the ability to respond quickly and positively to changes in protocols, and troubleshoot problems, and optimise protocols to ensure a positive student experience. You may need to operate out of normal working hours to accommodate classes.

In order to flexibly use resource you may be offered the opportunity to work in different areas of the department or wider university.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Research duties

Research:
The main duties of the post holder will be to support research in the group as designated by the principal investigator. This will include but not be restricted to:
•Basic biochemical methods including assays such as PCR, western blotting, enzyme assays and immunofluorescence staining.
•RNA binding and methylation assays using 32P labelled probes.
•Making and purifying recombinant proteins in bacteria.
•Identifying recombinant clones and making DNA preps.
•Tissue culture for maintaining cell line stocks and setting up experiments with these cells such as transfections and optical manipulations.
•Drosophila behavioural assays.
•Maintenance of laboratory Drosophila stocks in appropriate good health conditions and with careful record keeping.
•Making fly-food plus associated tasks should the need arise.
•Analysing and preparing data to help with publication of research results.
•Analysing and presenting data / work in the form of short written reports or orally within the group at internal meetings.
•Training students and new members of the group in basic tissue culture and laboratory techniques.

Quality
• Produce reliable, accurate data and keep accurate records of laboratory work undertaken and results.
• Understand and follow quality procedures to meet the requirements of quality standards relevant to their work.
• Perform laboratory tasks following specified methodologies, such as Standard Operating Procedures.
• Demonstrate technical competence in the use of specified instrumentation and laboratory equipment, preferably an understanding or familiarity with specialist instrumentation, especially microscopes such as Zeiss Axioplan, Tessovar and others used in the School, Molecular Biology equipment such as centrifuges, PCR machines, incubators, shakers, gel apparatuses and power supplies

1. You will be responsible for assisting in managing the experimental and laboratories.
2. 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.
3. You will need to be able to diagnose and resolve problems and suggest solutions in regard to techniques and experiments.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Ensure compliance with legislation relevant to the area of research/activity.
7. Comply with and promote the operating procedures for the area, including the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures regulation.
8. You may contribute to internal and external audit procedures and to regulatory inspections.

Teaching duties
1. If in a supervisory position, you will supervise the day to day activities of a number of other technical staff.
2. You will provide support and guidance, and work closely with your staff in relation to working requirements, working environment, staff wellbeing, identifying any training requirements as appropriate.
3. Even if you are not in a supervisory position you will still be expected to act as a role model and coach staff in the locality.
4. You will discuss the daily programme of work with your manager and other technical staff in the area to ensure the daily programme of work, session protocols and outcomes are clear.
5. You will plan, based on the available timetabling information, the most efficient/effective means to turnaround the daily classes.
6. You will research, design, trial & modifying practical protocols for class teaching.
7. Support the teaching laboratories managers where required and to deputise for them in their absence.
8. Keeping the teaching laboratories manager informed as to changes to protocols/sessions, content of any discussions with academic session leads and other matters relating to the teaching laboratories.
9. Initiate discussion with the teaching laboratories manager on any issues that may compromise the core function of the laboratories or for information that is related to the core functions of the teaching laboratories.
10. Instruct and provide high level technical support for students in the correct and safe handling of laboratory and fieldwork equipment including preparation of samples, analysis methods and preparation techniques.
11. Preparation of a diverse range of materials used during practical sessions, to be able to calculate and prepare a wide range of laboratory reagents (stocks and working solutions), be able to accurately and reproducibly dispense reagents (using aseptic techniques where necessary) and provide a consistent results delivery service.
12. Prepare and support open day, Applicant Visitor Day events, Continuous Professional Development and other external requirements within the laboratories or other areas as and when required.
13. Oversee that the laboratories are suitably prepared for practicals and the setup/takedown of equipment/materials used during sessions.
14. Check practical layouts prior to classes and ensure that all requirements are in place.
15. Be familiar with the use of a broad spectrum of general laboratory equipment and specialised equipment.
16. Demonstrate equipment use, high level techniques and procedures to staff and students.
17. Trouble-shoot and respond to problems, which may occur during practical sessions, using your in-depth knowledge and your ability to diagnose/resolve problems and suggest solutions.

Health and Safety duties
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Ensuring that regular maintenance processes are carried out and that appropriate records are maintained.
4. Reporting any breaches or non-compliance with H&S procedures to the relevant manager(s).
5. Upholding the correct waste disposal stream as governed by College and local policy for laboratory.
6. Upholding the correct waste disposal stream as governed by College and local policy for the laboratory.
7. Postholders may be asked to undergo training as a First Aider.

General Administration and Organisation
1. Ensuring all records are accurate and kept up to date.
2. Proactively maintain stocks of consumables, and when required generate purchase order requisitions using University systems.
3. Receipt and correct storage of consumables/equipment and chemical reagents.
4. Ensuring that the facilities are maintained in a clean, functional and safe condition, reporting any problems through the appropriate channels.
5. Ensuring that PAT testing, calibration of equipment and locally and centrally held equipment inventories are up to date and maintained.
6. Adopt a proactive attitude to assisting with and implementing carbon reduction and energy saving measures.
7. 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.

Other Duties
1. In collaboration with the relevant manager the post holder will take an active role in the training and mentoring process for junior or newly appointed staff.
2. Supports equality and values diversity, moderates own behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others.
3. Any other duties as may reasonably be required.

Person Specification
• MSc degree or equivalent professional qualification in an appropriate Life Sciences discipline.
• Extensive relevant workplace experience, equivalent professional qualification or degree in an appropriate subject.
• 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

Dimensions

You will provide specialist expertise in your area and provide advice and support to a range of customers. You may supervise staff; even where you do not have supervisory responsibilities you will be expected to act as a role model for other staff. You may be involved in budget monitoring.

The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice, therefore all associated pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.