Flow Cytometry Deputy Manager | PNAC | Flow Cytometry | LMB 2271

Overall purpose: The post holder will deputise for the Head of the Facility in providing a high‑quality sorting service to all scientists using the Flow Cytometry Facility at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB). You will join an established team of expert flow cytometrists with particular strengths in cell biology. Duties will include daily instrument QC, operation, maintenance and work scheduling. The post holder will also train the staff and users of the facility and will contribute to day‑to‑day management of the facility by supporting scientists using a wide range of cytometers and cytometry techniques. Overall the post holder will be expected to be a source of expertise in flow cytometry and play a major role in the technological development of the facility which includes consultation with scientists and advising on experimental design and data analysis. The goal would be to ensure that the equipment and techniques generate qualitatively reproducible data for the users of the Facility.

Main duties/Key responsibilities:

• To support the work of the Head of the Flow Cytometry Facility in providing a reliable cell sorting and analysis service for researchers.
• To execute the daily operation, QC and maintenance of cell sorters and flow cytometers including the ThermoFisher Bigfoot, Beckman Coulter CytoFLEX LX, Sony ID7000 and Synergy, Beckton Dickinson Fusion and Fortessa and Miltenyi TytoLux.
• To support the Head in contributions to the drafting of standard operating protocols, risk assessments and grant proposals.
• Contribution to the day‑to‑day management of the facility including scheduling time sensitive experiments and coordinating with service engineers, biotechnology sales representatives and application specialists in the field of flow cytometry.
• To train post‑doctoral scientists, students and research staff in state‑of‑the‑art cytometric instrumentation and techniques.
• To provide consultation and advice on flow cytometry experimental design and data analysis.
• To keep up to date with developments in the field and to propose or implement changes as necessary. This will include attending commercial tutorials, scientific meetings and/or conferences and academic seminars.

Working relationships: The post holder will report to the Head of the Flow Cytometry Facility. They will also work closely with users of the facility including facility staff, post‑doctoral scientists, graduate students, research support personnel, work experience students and external collaborators and colleagues. The post also requires some interaction with external service providers.

Person Specification:

Education / qualifications / training required:

• Essential: A degree in a scientific subject, with relevant work experience.
• Desirable: PhD in a relevant scientific field, or equivalent work experience.

Previous work experience required:

• Essential: Experience of working in a research laboratory with flow cytometer analysers and cell sorters.
• Desirable: Previous experience in a similar role within an academic core facility.

Knowledge and experience:

• Technical Knowledge/Experience:
• Essential: Theoretical and practical background in flow cytometry, including running and analysing samples on a sorter and analyser. Experience in understanding and interpreting the technical requirements of users within a scientific research environment. Experience with flow cytometry instrumentation computer software.
• Desirable: Experience with operating and troubleshooting jet‑in‑air cell sorters. Experience with high‑dimensional spectral cytometry or imaging cytometry. Experience in analysis of complex datasets using software such as R, Python, viSNE, OMIQ or FlowJo.

Independent working:

• Essential: Experience of working with little supervision. Good judgement in assessing when to seek support. Ability to act independently in solving technical problems.
• Desirable: Willingness to contribute to applications and methods development.

Verbal and written communication skills:

• Essential: Excellent communication skills, verbal and written, with the ability to convey complex technical issues in an accessible way. Experience in giving presentations or teaching/demonstrating technical subjects.
• Desirable: Experience with grant and proposal writing.

Personal skills / behaviours / qualities:

• Essential: Awareness of health and safety issues. Ability to manage time and work to strict deadlines. Able to take initiative, focused and well‑organised. Methodical and thorough, well organised and diligent. Good organisation and adaptability to regularly changing workloads. Ability to remain professional under conflicting demands.
• Desirable: Experience working in a Containment Level 2 (CL2) laboratory. Comfortable working under pressure. Interest in the development of pedagogical practices to improve understanding and practical knowledge in state‑of‑the‑art flow cytometry instrumentation and techniques.

Additional information: Flexible hours can be negotiated within reason and the needs of the Facility. Some degree of flexibility at either end of the normal working day would be very desirable.

Corporate Responsibilities: Code of Conduct, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy, Health and Safety policy, Data Protection policy. Job descriptions should be reviewed on a regular basis and at the annual appraisal. Any changes should be made and agreed between you and your manager. The above lists are not exhaustive and you are required to undertake such duties as may reasonably be requested within the scope of the post. All employees are required to act professionally, co‑operatively and flexibly in line with the requirements of the post, the MRC and UKRI. The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re‑run security clearance as required during the course of employment.