Job Number
BU04024
School/Department
School of Computer Science & Engineering
Grade
6
Contract Duration
until 31/12/2026
Responsible to
Reader in Nuclear Engineering
Overview
The city of Bangor is located in an area of outstanding natural beauty close to the mountains of Snowdonia and the beach resorts of the North Wales coast and offers a quality of life that surpasses that in most regions of the UK. Lying on the Euroroute to Ireland, Bangor is served by fast train services to most major cities and excellent road connections via the A55 expressway to the motorway network. Manchester and Liverpool's airports are within 90 minutes away by car.
Bangor University was established in 1884 and currently has around 10,000 students. It comprises 12 Academic Schools, grouped into three colleges. The College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at Bangor University is one of the leading centres in the UK for teaching and research in biology, environmental sciences, geography, ocean sciences, chemistry, computer science and electronic engineering. The University was awarded a Gold rating in the recent UK Teaching Excellence Framework.
The Nuclear Futures Institute (NFI) was established through the Sêr Cymru programme by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government. It aims to establish "a world-leading capability in nuclear engineering, which establishes North Wales as a global centre, delivering international partnerships and opportunity from a rich mix of existing and new talent, leading the UK new nuclear agenda and rejuvenating the UK and Welsh nuclear sector."
The NFI has two laboratories for the manufacturing and characterising materials, containing a suite of systems able to work with uranic materials, ultra-high temperature ceramics, alloys and glasses relevant to the nuclear industry. We also have laboratories and facilities at the Menai Science Park (M-SParc) on Anglesey in the area of thermal hydraulics, which the post holder will be responsible for. The two facilities are the Thermo-Hydraulic Open-access Research (THOR) rig a pressurised water loop, and the Bangor University Lead Loop Erosion-corrosion Test (BULLET), a molten lead loop.
The Project
This position is part of the expansion of Bangor University's research capacity in Nuclear Engineering. The University and UKNNL recently renewed a memorandum of understanding representing an extension to their strategic collaboration partnership, and this appointment provides a unique opportunity to work in the University’s Nuclear Futures Institute (NFI), an established academic nuclear research centre with links to leading industrial partners and researchers worldwide. We expect the successful candidate to help the NFI in achieving its goals of becoming a world-leading centre of excellence in nuclear research and support the activities under the Bangor University/UKNNL strategic partnership.
Purpose of the Job
This role will support the Nuclear Group within Bangor University's Nuclear Futures Institute (NFI), and the strategic partnership between the group and UKNNL. The Senior Laboratory Technician will directly participate in the research projects and will provide support for training and technical assistance for students, postdoctoral fellows, and researchers visiting the facility. The successful candidate will also carry on methods development in relation to the ongoing projects and in phase with the strategic orientations of the facility. The candidate must be able to work reliably, efficiently, and independently and be able to provide support for several projects in parallel. The candidate must be able to climb ladders to reach work areas, be able to move and transport items below 25 kg (e.g., pipe section), and able to use mechanical tools.
In addition, the Senior Laboratory Technician will work with the Chief Technician and NFI group to ensure the general organisation of the laboratory, including the management of the different equipment. Involvement in the maintenance of reagents and protocols databases will also be required.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Research support:
1. Support the Chief Technician in the maintenance, safety, security and operation of thermal-hydraulics facilities.
2. Expertise in relevant equipment and instrumentation.
3. Actively engage in the building of equipment designed by the research team.
4. Active role in basic scientific measurements using research-related equipment and methods.
5. Key role in using experimental equipment, including helping to set up equipment (for example, pressure, temperature, cameras).
6. Key role in training and supporting the facility users, including visiting researchers such as UKNNL staff.
7. Assist in scheduling maintenance of equipment and organising consumables required for research in the facilities.
8. Ensure safe working conditions are adhered to in the facilities.
9. Undertake calibration of equipment; preparation of standard specimens.
10. Key role in manufacturing components (such as test sections for THOR).
11. Engage with relevant UKNNL technical staff and technicians to share learning and experience.
Other Duties and Responsibilities
12. Training and development of technical staff.
13. Attend laboratory management meetings.
14. Liaise closely with other members of the project team.
15. Arranging for engineers to deal with more complex problems where required.
16. The post holder will be expected to participate in performance review and developmental activities.
17. The post holder will be expected to comply with the University's equal opportunities policies, Dignity at Work and Study Policy, the University's Welsh Language Policy, and the Welsh Language Standards.
18. The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for themselves and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by their actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
19. The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their post.
Person Specification
Qualifications/Training
Essential
20. 2 AS Levels or 1 A level or NVQ level 4 in a relevant subject area
or
21. Level 5 IVQ Advanced Technician Diploma.
Desirable
22. An undergraduate degree (e.g. BSc/BEng), or equivalent, in engineering, physical sciences or a similar related subject.
23. A relevant technical or laboratory safety qualification.
24. Hold a valid Mobile Vertical (3a) licence.
Experience/Knowledge
Essential
25. Knowledge of process control equipment (valves, pumps, data acquisition equipment, flow and temperature measurement equipment, etc.).
26. Have experience of working with sensing equipment (e.g. temperature, pressure), rotating equipment (centrifugal pumps), and high-temperature or high-pressure equipment.
27. Demonstrate experience of working in a laboratory or process plant situation.
28. Write standard operating procedures and risk assessments.
29. Demonstratable knowledge and experience in the relevant area, ability to follow problem-solving directions in a laboratory, calibration of machinery.
Desirable
30. Knowledge of thermo-fluid dynamics.
31. Experience working in a process facility.
32. Demonstrate competence in specific software use (e.g. Labview).
33. Knowledge/experience preparing COSHH assessments.
Skills/Abilities
Essential
34. Excellent verbal and written communication skills to communicate with scientists and engineers within a laboratory environment.
35. Ensure safety standards are maintained within the laboratory spaces.
36. Be able to support the manufacturing of components required for the experimental facilities.
37. Demonstrate the ability to prioritise workload and work to deadlines.
38. The candidate must be able to climb ladders to reach work areas, be able to move and transport items below 25 kg (e.g., pipe section), and able to use mechanical tools.
39. Demonstrate an understanding of the bilingual nature of the institution and area.
Desirable
40. Proven project management skills.
41. Demonstrate ability to work as part of a team.
42. The ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh is desirable for this role. If applicants are not able to speak/write in Welsh at present, there are many opportunities to learn if the successful candidate wishes to do so.
General
We are a member of Advance HE's Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Silver award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University's policies, practices, and culture. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.
All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact.
All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.
Disclosure & Barring Service
This post is subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check.
As Bangor University meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions. DBS checks will be updated every 3 years.