Please note that this job is open only to current members of staff of Cardiff University who are eligible for redeployment. Internal Redeployment Only - Senior Technician (Tissue Culture) Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neuroscience School of Medicine College of Biomedical and Life Sciences We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic laboratory technician who will provide technical support for the growth, maintenance, genetic manipulation and differentiation of iPSC cultures. The successful candidate will provide practical day to day assistance with cultures, help develop novel iPSC lines with integrated NGN2 cassettes, support phenotypic assays and plasmid production whilst also ensuring reagents, media and other materials are prepared to appropriate standards. Expertise in mammalian cell culture and/or iPSC culture is essential. Dr Connor-Robson’s group centers on the use of cutting-edge induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models to study the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases with particular focus on endocytic dysfunction. The group study neurons and microglia both in mono and coculture settings. The lab aims to translate the complex genetic landscape of Alzheimer’s disease into a better understanding of cellular and molecular changes that occur during disease. We hope to translate our findings into better drug targets and therapeutic strategies. Dementia is the greatest health challenge of our century. There is no way to prevent it or even slow its progression, and there is an urgent need to fill the knowledge gap in our basic understanding of the diseases that cause it. The UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) is the biggest UK initiative driving forward research to fill this gap. The UK DRI is a joint £290 million investment from the Medical Research Council (MRC), Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK. Centred on the need for innovative, early-stage science to advance our understanding of how dementias develop and progress, the UK DRI’s research will bring new therapies to patients faster. The Institute’s mission is to find new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent dementias, whilst finding better ways to provide care for people with dementia. The UK DRI at Cardiff is one of 7 UK centres bringing together world-leading scientists to deliver a step-change in the scientific understanding of dementia, generating new targets for drug development, reinvigorating the therapeutic pipeline and helping to transform care. For informal enquiries please contact Dr Natalie Connor-Robson via email: connor-robsonnl@cardiff.ac.uk This post is full time (35 Hours per week) and is available immediately and fixed term until 22nd Feb 2027. This post is based at the Hadyn Ellis Building, Cathays campus. Salary: £28,031 - £31,236 per annum (Grade 4). Appointments to roles at Cardiff University are usually made at bottom of scale unless in exceptional circumstances however, for this position, the starting salary is capped at £28,031 per annum due to limited funding. This role is eligible to be offered on a blended working basis, meaning that as well as spending time working on campus you can also choose to spend some time working from another location, e.g. your home. The University is committed to offering this flexibility, wherever the role and business need allows, supporting work-life balance. Cardiff University offers many excellent benefits, including 40 days annual leave (incl bank holidays), local pension scheme, a cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives, annual increments within the pay scale, and more. It is an exciting and vibrant place to work, with many different challenges and is a proud Living Wage supporter. How we will support you in performing in this role – There are some things that you must have before you can start this role (see ‘Essential Criteria’), but other things can be developed either through training, or just by general on-the-job experience. We want to support and develop you once you have started in the role using a combination of the following to get the best out of you: 1. Regular one-to-ones with your manager 2. An experienced and supportive team around you 3. Supporting you through job-relevant training and development that you may require 4. A mentoring scheme Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements. Closing date: Tuesday, 4 November 2025 Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements. Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English. Job Purpose To provide a comprehensive provision of technical support for the maintenance, differentiation and production of novel induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines for studying Alzheimer’s Disease as needed. This includes assistance with cultures and development of novel iPSC lines with integrated NGN2 cassettes alongside supporting phenotypic assays, lab ordering and also ensuring reagents, media and other materials are prepared to appropriate standards. Duties and Responsibilities Key Duties To support a programme of research by growing and maintaining iPSC cultures Provide support in producing novel iPSC lines with integrated NGN2 cassette Maintenance of needed plasmid stocks Carry out and maintain iPSC differentiations to neuronal and microglial cultures Maintaining growth factor and other lab stocks for iPSC culture Take responsibility for stock levels including placing and receiving lab orders, security, maintenance and cleanliness of materials, apparatus and equipment within work area Following established guidelines train technical staff and students in technical procedures and in the use of equipment Set up experimental systems and research apparatus, assisting students and staff in the use and construction of equipment and apparatus and with tests and experiments Operate, maintain, service, adjust, test and repair complex equipment and apparatus Record and perform detailed analysis on data, including responsibility for maintaining databases Support the department in the implementation of new procedures and systems General Duties Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role IMPORTANT: Evidencing Criteria Candidates should evidence that they meet ALL of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable criteria. As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement. Please ensure when submitting this document / attaching it to you application profile you name it with the vacancy reference number, in this instance. Essential Criteria Qualifications and Education NVQ 3/A-Levels or equivalent qualification/work related experience Knowledge, Skills and Experience Substantial experience of working as a technician, and able to demonstrate expertise with culture of mammalian cell lines/iPSC and demonstrable competence with aseptic technique, and Knowledge of iPSCs, iPSC culture techniques and genetic manipulation of cells. Specialist knowledge and experience of maintaining, servicing and using appropriate equipment and apparatus Ability to set up and review standard technical processes and procedures and recommend improvements to the service provision as appropriate. Customer Service, Communication and Team Working 5.Ability to communicate specialist and complex information effectively and professionally to a range of customers with varying levels of understating. Experience of supervising the work of others to focus team efforts and motivate individuals Ability to train technical staff in laboratory procedures and in the use of equipment and instruments. Evidence of ability to explore customers’ needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure a quality service is delivered Planning, Analysis and Problem Solving 9. Evidence of ability to solve problems using initiative and creativity; identify and propose practical solutions and to resolve problems where there are a range of potential options available. Proven ability to work on own initiative, planning, organising and setting priorities for own work appropriately and to plan and manage small projects without close supervision. Desirable Criteria Degree in biological sciences Experience of growing and maintaining iPSC cultures and of iPSC neuronal and/or microglial differentiations; or experience of genetic manipulation of cell lines/iPSC Experience of plasmid production and molecular biology techniques e.g. Western blot, qPCR Experience of immunocytochemistry techniques and fluorescent microscopy Experience of molecular biology techniques e.g. Western blot, qPCR