Laboratory Scientist FTA (CR1883)

Do you want to be part of a team protecting Great Britain from exotic notifiable diseases? Do you want a role safeguarding standards of animal and plant health and welfare? If so, why not join us and make a difference.

More than ever before the health of our environment, plants, animals and bees matters. Do you wish to be part of our diverse team on the frontline in researching, investigating, and acting to protect the UK’s animal, plant and bee health? You will be helping to make a difference to the UK and contributing to global efforts to control and eradicate disease in plants, animals (such as Avian Influenza) and protecting global biodiversity.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and works on behalf of the Scottish Government and Welsh Government. Our diverse teams of over 3,000 skilled and committed professionals come together to provide research, advice and support to UK Government for safeguarding animal, public and plant health for the benefit of the environment and economy.

APHA is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, because it helps us be more innovative and make better decisions. We are dedicated to being an inclusive employer, offering equitable opportunities for all individuals. Our goal is to build a diverse workforce, and we hope to attract applications from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups.

The Science Directorate (SD) delivers high quality, high impact and highly relevant multidisciplinary science. Our People are diverse, talented, engaged and inspired to deliver innovative outcomes.

We’re recruiting a Laboratory Scientist to support and develop anti-coccidia product testing services and research for both internal and external customers, in line with regulatory guidelines. This post is on a fixed-term basis.

In this pivotal role, you will design and conduct in-vivo scientific procedures using a range of avian laboratory species. This includes techniques such as oral gavage, requiring expert animal handling, restraint, and the use of specialised equipment. You will also be responsible for sample collection and analysis, including the identification and quantification of coccidia (e.g. oocyst counts), ensuring robust and reliable outputs that meet customer requirements.

Responsibilities:

• Maintenance of viable Eimeria sp strains in liquid nitrogen.
• Assisting Study Directors with the management of commercial studies and other contracts, including liaison with customers, sub-contractors and other people in APHA.
• Undertaking laboratory tests for parasites, esp. the identification and quantification of coccidia.
• Animal handling & observation and attending/performing post-mortems of poultry.
• Preparing parasite standards and reagents.
• Maintaining an awareness of new scientific and technical developments, which may be relevant to the work of the team, in particular developments in the field of Coccidiosis.
• Holding & maintaining a Home Office Personal License under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 for the purpose of animal studies.
• Managing the laboratory phases of GLP, GMP, GCP (vet) and ISO17025 studies to ensure the work is undertaken reliably and accurately, within budget and in compliance with the relevant quality scheme.
• Quality control testing of APHA products as required.
• Preparing and checking Certificates of Analysis and Study Reports.
• The maintenance and validation of equipment, reagent stocks, etc.
• Writing, reviewing and updating Standard Operating Procedures.
• Writing reviewing and updating Risk Assessments.
• Validating test methods and Standard Operating Procedures and writing validation reports.
• Representing APHA at meetings with customers and at seminars, scientific meetings, industry shows, etc. as appropriate.
• Training and supervising visitors and students.
• To carry out all actions and responsibilities for safety management as detailed in the APHA Health and Safety Policy.