Laboratory Technical Specialist

Salary: £30,805.00 - £34,132.00  per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 25 May 2025

The Role

Are you excited about scientific research and ready to make a real difference in the world of genetic diseases? 

We’re on the lookout for a driven and experienced individual to become part of our team at the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre. In this 18-month fixed-term position, you’ll dive into a cutting-edge, industry-funded project that explores how non-coding genetic variants influence disease pathogenicity by creating in vitro mini-gene systems.

You will join a dynamic and enthusiastic research team working on an industry funded research project to assess the effect of non-coding genetic variants on disease pathogenicity.  You will be expected to support the project leads in protocol development and carry out data collection for analysis across a cohort of neuromuscular disease patients.   

Reporting to the Institute Technical Manager team, the role will display an in-depth knowledge of technical or scientific practices, methods and procedures gained through either experience and/or formal qualification and will deploy this knowledge to provide a range of technical support activities.

You will be based in the Centre for Life in a large group of researchers and technicians, integrating with the wider research team in the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute. 

Experience on cellular and molecular biology techniques, in particular cloning is essential. Experience handling muscle biopsies is preferred. Excellent team working and organisational abilities, to ensure data is collected, entered and managed appropriately, are key to being successful in this role.

This post is full time for a fixed term of 18 months from 02.06.2025 until 21.08.2026.

For informal enquiries contact: Prof. Volker Straub (Volker.straub@newscastle.ac.uk).

To apply, please complete an online application and upload a CV and a cover letter.  Your cover letter should be a detailed supporting statement outlining why you are a good fit for the role. Please explain how you meet the essential criteria outlined and evidence this with examples. 

Key Accountabilities

• Lead on the preparation of project-related documents, including study protocols, data collection and funder reports. 
• Support the PI to create materials required for ethical approval submissions
• Collect, manage, and enter data accurately using research databases and tools
• Collect human samples in accordance with local rules. This may include saliva, blood, muscle biopsies or other samples as required by the study.
• Liaise with suppliers and manufacturers to resolve both routine and complex problems and investigate replacement options
• By developing local procedures, establish and maintain a safe/compliant working environment
• Hold specific safety responsibilities relevant to the specialism
• Assist with the completion and updating of a wide range of safety paperwork
• Oversee compliance tasks ensuring timely completion and maintenance of appropriate records.
• Complete accident reporting and assist with investigations.
• Maintain in-depth and up-to-date health and safety knowledge relevant to the specialism.
• Schedule, prioritise and monitor work in line with demands and deadlines.
• Hold delegated responsibility from the academic lead for the planning, operation and supervision of laboratory spaces occupied by the specialism.
• Organize and facilitate progress meetings.
• Be a key contributor to specialism development, delivery and planning.
• Contribute to and support change.
• Manage one or more budgets 
• Source and negotiate with suppliers for a range of items including specialist parts/equipment.
• Create, update and implement procedures to deliver an aligned, efficient and effective service.
• Provide general and specialist research support including leading method development.
• Prepare and manufacture specimens/samples requiring specialist skills with limited direction.
• Manage equipment bookings, calculate charges/costs and assist with re-charging
• Design, develop and deliver inductions, demonstrations and training covering complex techniques and specialist equipment.
• Assist managers with the identification of training and development needs.
• Maintain specialist knowledge and skills, sharing with others
• Mentor junior staff
   

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience 
(Essential)

• Demonstrable work experience in a relevant technical role
• Thorough working knowledge of Health and Safety procedures
• Excellent ability to work independently as well as team working skills
• Demonstrates technical and problem-solving capacity
• Demonstrates good organising ability to meet deadlines, with a positive and proactive approach to duties and diligence and attention to detail 
• Substantial experience in cellular and molecular biology techniques in particular cloning, transfection and tissue culture. 

(Desirable)

• Basic knowledge of genomics prediction tools
• Ability to adapt to changes in laboratory research priorities
• Attributes and Behaviour
• Tact and diplomacy and able to handle difficult situations
• Ability to meet deadlines with effective time and resource management.
• Clear communicator and active listener
• Consistent and appropriate approach to staff and situations
• Team player, self starter and able to manage complex workload
• Ability to respond enthusiastically and positively to colleagues, participants and students.

Qualifications
(Essential)

• BTEC  HNC / HND; or A’ level (or equivalent) qualification; or broad work experience acquired through a combination of vocational training and considerable on-the-job experience, demonstrating development through progressively more demanding relevant roles.

(Desirable)

• Professional registration with an accredited professional body (including HEA) or working towards this on appointment.

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a silver  Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 28142