Scientist - Entomology in Middlesbrough

Join us as a Scientist and make an invaluable contribution to our Food Safety & Biosecurity! As a Scientist, you will join the Entomology team, where your primary responsibility will be the accurate identification of invertebrates. A significant portion of your work will focus on soil mesofauna, including Collembola and Acari, as well as earthworms, identified to family or species level. In addition, you will contribute to a range of projects across Plant Protection as required. Some activities will be carried out under a Defra Plant Health Quarantine Licence, requiring meticulous attention to detail and strict adherence to established standards and procedures.

What you’ll be doing:

• Identifications of soil mesofauna, earthworms and other insects to family or species taxonomic levels. Training will be given in specific invertebrate groups, including soil mesofauna.
• Working on research projects.
• Delivering entomology work across the team as required.
• Ensure best practice in the laboratory, following Standard Operating Procedures and adherence to quality systems (ISO 9001 and ISO 17025).
• Contribute to writing and reviewing team Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) documents and risk assessments.
• Deliver work across Plant Protection as required.

What we’re looking for:

• Candidates should have a BSc or equivalent level qualification in entomology, zoology, biology or a related biological science. Candidates without these qualifications will need to be able to provide evidence of the required skills and relevant experience.
• Experience in identification of insects, soil mesofauna, earthworms or other small invertebrates, please state any groups in which you have experience of identifying in your CV.
• Experience in the use of dissecting microscope equipment.
• Ability to work meticulously and accurately.
• Experience of working in a lab, prioritising tasks and delivering work to a high standard and to set deadlines in a busy and fluid working environment.
• Well organised, demonstrate attention to detail, and have a flexible approach to changing priorities.
• Experience of working to accredited standards such as ISO 9001 or ISO 17025.
• Experience of working as part of a team but also on their own initiative with minimum supervision; clear and accurate written and verbal communication skills are essential.
• Good IT skills, particularly using Microsoft applications including Outlook, Excel, Word and PowerPoint.

What’s in it for you?

• 25 days’ holiday (rising to 29) with the opportunity to buy & sell extra leave.
• Flexible working hours, on-site gym, restaurant, and free parking.
• The opportunity to take a paid day out of the office, volunteering for our charity partners or a cause of your choice.
• Company matched pension, life assurance, a cycle2work scheme, 15 weeks’ fully paid maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, paternity pay of two weeks…and plenty more.
• Voluntary benefits designed to suit your lifestyle - from discounts on retail and socialising, to health & wellbeing, travel and technology.
• Fera operates a LTIP (Long Term Incentive Plan) under which all employees are awarded points towards shares in the Employee Benefits Trust on an annual basis.

What we hope you’ll do next:

Choose ‘Apply now’ to fill out our short application, so that we can find out more about you. If you have any questions you’d like to ask before applying, you can contact recruitment@fera.co.uk.

We’re an equal opportunity employer, which means we recruit and develop people based on their merit and passion. We’re committed to providing an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment process and working environment for everyone. If you need the job description or application form in an alternative format or if you’d like to discuss other changes or support you might need going forward, please email at recruitment@fera.co.uk and we’ll get back to you.