Position Details
School of Biosciences
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £28,397 to £30,210, with potential progression once in post to £33,938
Grade: 5
Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to September 2029
Closing date: 25th November 2024
Role Summary
The post-holder will provide technical support to maintain a functioning laboratory environment for research in the Daphnia Facility. The Technician will work closely with the Facility Manager and other lab users, including students, to support the research and teaching projects undertaken in the facility. In addition to performing key technical tasks, including but not limited to animal stock culture maintenance, algal feed production, and medium preparation, the post-holder will also be required to perform various tasks that support the functionality and development of the Daphnia Facility, including training and induction of new staff and students.
To ensure adequate support for Daphnia Facility users, the post-holder will be expected to follow core working hours of 9am – 3pm. Additional contracted hours can be agreed outside of these core hours at the discretion of the post-holder.
Main Duties
The post-holder would be expected to carry out the following duties with minimal supervision:
* Animal husbandry of both experimental and natural strains of Daphnia
* Maintain algal cultures of suitable quality for experimental and Daphnia culture requirements
* Develop Standard Operating Procedures for Daphnia husbandry and experimentation, and perform laboratory tasks in accordance with these procedures
* Accurate record-keeping of various types of data (e.g. Daphnia and algal health records, growth medium chemistry, equipment logs, chemical inventories) on Microsoft Office programs and LIMS/ELN software
* Maintain a clean and functional laboratory environment for research and teaching activities:
o Management of space and equipment, including general upkeep of the laboratory areas, sterilisation of glassware, overseeing health and safety, and equipment calibration
o Management of reagents and other consumables, including stock-taking, ordering, collection, and receipt of consumables
o Demonstrate technical competence in the use of basic instrumentation and laboratory equipment (e.g. pH meter, optical microscope, spectrophotometer, centrifuge)
o Forward planning and effective time management supporting recurring tasks, e.g. equipment servicing and repairs, water chemical testing, culture maintenance, etc.
* Maintain a safe laboratory environment for research:
o Understand and follow risk assessments, including COSHH
o Manage and control laboratory waste, assist laboratory users with safe disposal of waste according to the University’s policies and procedures
o Understand and follow procedures for the correct handling and disposal of hazardous substances
* Work safely through understanding and compliance with the University’s safety policy and procedures for general workplace health and safety; laboratory health and safety; fire and electrical safety; manual handling
* Engage with Estates and other campus services to support the Daphnia Facility as necessary
* Coordinate internal and external requests for shipping and receiving Daphnia
* Offer guidance to users of the Daphnia Facility, as required
* Personal responsibilities:
o Time management - set own deadlines and priorities for dealing with day-to-day workload
o Proactive reporting to Facility Manager regarding progress and problems
o Effective communication with all team members via emails, Slack, MS Teams, and Zoom
o Assess problems and implement changes within area of expertise
o To actively engage in the Personal Development Process
The post-holder would be expected to carry out the following duties with moderate supervision:
* Support experiments and generate protocols for research that contributes to Daphnia Facility objectives
* Modify and suggest new approaches for routine laboratory tasks and experiments, as appropriate
* Offer induction and training for users of the Daphnia Facility, as required
* Investigation into and procurement of new equipment for the Daphnia Facility
* Contribute to internal and external audit procedures, and to regulatory inspections
The post-holder would be expected to carry out the following duties under direct supervision:
* Assess problems outside of area of expertise
* Assist with developing long-term objectives and priorities for the Daphnia Facility
Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience
* BSc degree in Biology, Biochemistry, or similar degree; or extensive relevant workplace experience
* Proven laboratory experience working with Daphnia or any other aquatic species/small invertebrates
* Competent animal husbandry and animal handling skills, including the ability to assess sex, developmental stage, and health condition of Daphnia (after on-the-job training during probation period)
* Good working knowledge of technical and scientific methods used in animal biology; some working knowledge of technical methods used in algal culture
* Knowledge of current relevant H&S policies
* Proficiency in commonly used software packages (e.g. Microsoft Office), and ability to maintain accurate electronic records of inventories and data
* Ability to organise, manage own workload, and demonstrate flexibility in terms of work practices and requirements
* Ability to work independently but also function as part of a team
* Courtesy in working with others; understands the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace
Informal enquiries to Luisa Orsini, email: l.orsini@bham.ac.uk
We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
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