Research Technician

Salary: £30,805 to £31,637 with progression to £34,132 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: 26 March 2025

The Role

We are looking for an individual to provide technical, laboratory instrumentation and infrastructure support for the research activities of the NUCancer solid tumour target discovery group. Ideally, with experience from a pathology background.

The role will include providing specialist support for the Aperio imaging system for other members of the NUCancer and Faculty of Medical Sciences. Further responsibilities include training users in the use of micro-dissection of samples using laser capture micro-dissection, fluorescent and immunohistochemical microscopy analysis, cell separation methods for isolating circulating tumour cells and circulating DNA from patient blood samples with urological cancers and the construction of tissue microarrays from tumour biopsy material. 

You will organise the collection of tumour specimens, input and recording of samples into the NUCancer Achiever database according to HTA regulations, sample processing, assay development and expression analysis of specific tumour markers using molecular biology techniques. 

You will also provide input into experimental design, planning and progress of work along with quantitative and qualitative analysis.

To apply for the position, we will need your CV and ideally a covering letter outlining how you are suitable for the role, using examples to highlight how you meet the essential criteria as listed in the job description.

This role will report to the Institute Technical Manager. 

This is a full-time post offered on a fixed term basis to 31.03.2026.

Please note, if you are successful, you will be required to complete a medical clearance, including a Research Passport. 

For informal enquiries please contact Craig Robson: c.n.robson@newcastle.ac.uk 

Key Accountabilities

• Complete a range of routine and complex maintenance activities 
• Liaise with suppliers and manufacturers to resolve both routine and complex problems and investigate replacement options
• Advise on equipment capabilities demonstrating how results can be achieved
• 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, prioritize 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 monitoring resource usage
• Source and negotiate with suppliers for a range of items including specialist parts/equipment
• 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
• Contribute to building work affecting the area occupied by the specialism
• Manage local security and access control arrangement
• 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

• Suitable extensive experience working under laboratory conditions is required
• Experience of pathology techniques, molecular biology, microscopy, tissue culture techniques, GMP practices
• Experience of the Aperio Imaging system and laser capture micro dissection microscope
• Knowledge of HTA regulations and their application
• Demonstratable of the Achiever database system
• Up-to-date knowledge of health and safety regulations and University policy
• Good IT skills and ability to learn new systems
• Ability to integrate well into a Team
• Proven technical, analytical and problem solving capability

Desirable

• Demonstrates good organising ability to meet deadlines, with a positive and proactive approach to duties and diligence and attention to detail 
• Contribute to design and specification of research activities 
• Ability to adapt to changes in laboratory research priorities 

Attributes and Behaviour

• Tact, 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
• Use of feedback for process improvement and staff development
• Team player, self starter and able to manage complex workload
• Ability to respond enthusiastically and positively to undergraduate students

Qualifications

• Minimum BTEC  HNC / HND; or A’ level (or equivalent) qualification in relevant subject; 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: 27926