Senior Technician: Molecular Biology in Sheffield

Overview

As a Senior Technician you will work as an integral member of the School’s existing technical team.

Reporting to Technical Managers or Specialists, you will contribute to the planning, design, and execution of a range of experimental procedures predominantly in the field of molecular biology and genomics, in addition to the maintenance and evaluation of a range of specialist equipment to support research activities.

You will provide technical expertise to undergraduate projects, postgraduate projects and to colleagues, alongside administration duties such as record keeping and ordering consumables.

You will adopt high working standards to ensure the School’s technical team continues to be recognised for its service excellence and exemplary Health and Safety record.

This will include maintaining a detailed awareness and full commitment to the relevant regulations and providing timely safety information and updates, carrying out and documenting risk assessments.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Provide a comprehensive, enthusiastic and high-quality molecular biology service to staff and students within the School, using specialist molecular biology techniques and genome editing tools such as CRISPR to support research activities.

Support the daily running of School laboratories, to ensure continued safe and reliable service excellence.

• Provide specialist advice, training and guidance to develop a level of consistency and reproducibility in molecular biology techniques to staff and students as required to support research and teaching activities within the School.
• Develop, perform and refine research experiments as required. Troubleshoot current protocols and procedures and advise on alternative methods for experimental design.
• Present data and results to academic research groups and wider audiences as required.
• Plan and perform general laboratory maintenance, including ordering, routine maintenance of equipment, consumables, stocks, etc.
• Maintain comprehensive, accurate and tidy records of research work, financial data, cell line usage etc to meet internal and external requirements and legislation.
• Provide a high-quality, detailed and effective technical service across the School.

Liaise with colleagues regarding potential work, provide guidance, and carry out experimental procedures.

Where required provide cost estimates and timescales for work and work materials.

• Provide detailed training and instruction on equipment and techniques to staff and students across the School, ensuring a strong emphasis on Health and Safety is maintained throughout.
• Undertake short term project management within own work area or contribute as part of larger School-wide project teams, to support the achievements of project objectives.

Provide detailed technical input to ensure technical considerations are considered through the lifespan of the project.

• Provide a high standard of customer service to staff, students, and visitors. Make suggestions for improving service and refer customers to senior colleagues as appropriate.
• Use, monitor and maintain a range of general and specialist technical equipment to meet the needs of the School with regard to teaching and experimental work, ensuring minimum impact is caused by faulty equipment, be involved in the development, testing and construction of new equipment and/or techniques, including installing, monitoring and maintaining technical equipment and systems.
• Maintain a detailed awareness of and full commitment to the relevant Health and Safety rules and regulations.

Provide safety information to staff and students.

Carry out and document risk assessments on student and staff activities, maintain training records and liaise with the Divisional Health and Safety Officer to ensure compliance with legislation and University policies.

• Attend training and further education, including Continuous Professional Development activities, when applicable and commensurate with continued job developments and breadth of skills training.
• Work collaboratively across our School providing support, advice and guidance when required.
• As a member of our professional staff you will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to the professional behaviours set out in the Sheffield Professional Framework.

Please follow this link for further information: Sheffield Professional Framework.

• As a member of staff you will be encouraged to make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University sustainability strategy into your working activities wherever possible.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

• Have a good honours degree or Higher National Diploma (or equivalent experience) in a relevant scientific field.
• Extensive laboratory experience in the field of molecular biology, with a breadth and depth of knowledge in a wide range of highly specialised molecular and cell biology techniques including CRISPR-Cas9 cell culture, sequencing, western blotting, q PCR and associated equipment.
• Extensive experience of providing an effective and efficient technical support service.
• Experience of training staff and students at all levels in relevant molecular biology procedures, including troubleshooting and data analysis.
• Detailed awareness of and full commitment to relevant Health & Safety regulations and processes.

Responsibility for or extensive involvement in designated Health & Safety processes (e. g. risk assessments, Co SHH).

• A high standard of communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to communicate to academic, research and technical staff at all levels within the organisation, report writing skills and experience of delivering presentations.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills with experience of responding efficiently and effectively to enquiries.
• Ability to develop creative approaches to problem solving and to advise others, with an appreciation of longer-term implications.
• Ability to assess and organise resources, and plan and progress work activities independently and in a timely manner with high quality output.
• Technical Professional Registration or the willingness to work towards it.
• Experience of developing and maintaining a network of contacts.

Benefits

• A minimum of 38 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Technical Career Route.
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
• paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
• support for those going through the menopause
• paid time off and support for fertility treatment
• and more

We are a Disability Confident Employer.

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