Do you want to be part of a team safeguarding standards of animal and plant health and welfare? If so, why not join us and make a difference.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and works on behalf of the Scottish Government and Welsh Government. Our diverse teams of over 3,000 skilled and committed professionals come together to provide research, advice and support to UK Government for safeguarding animal, public and plant health for benefit of the environment and economy.
APHA is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, because it helps us be more innovative and make better decisions. We are dedicated to being an inclusive employer, offering equitable opportunities for all individuals. Our goal is to build a diverse workforce, and we hope to attract applications from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups.
The Science Directorate (SD) delivers high quality, high impact and highly relevant multidisciplinary science. Our People are diverse, talented, engaged and inspired to deliver innovative outcomes.
The Virology department is a multi-disciplinary team with a statutory remit in named reportable, endemic, notifiable and exotic diseases for the delivery of research, diagnostic services and surveillance programmes. We currently have two laboratory scientist positions available in the Influenza and Avian Virology Workgroup; one in the Outbreak Response team and the other in the International Reference Laboratory (IRL) for avian influenza, swine influenza and Newcastle disease. As a Laboratory Scientist you will conduct diagnostic testing to support outbreak response, as well as commercial and statutory diagnostics for a broad range of viruses, including avian and swine influenza viruses, and Newcastle disease virus. This position offers the opportunity to engage in test development and optimisation, as well as applied research activities, with potential to present findings at scientific conferences and contribute to peer-reviewed publications. Work will be conducted within biological containment level 3 (CL3) facilities, with full training provided.
In the outbreak response team, you will assist in the frontline diagnostic delivery for diseases such as avian influenza, carrying out molecular and serological diagnostics, test development and fitness for purpose testing. You will also be involved in the reporting of negative and positive report cases. As a Laboratory Scientist within the IRL, you will contribute to the delivery of international research projects and support our commitments to various international partnerships and projects, maintaining the laboratory’s virus repository, and contributing to the production of commercial reagents.
Main areas of work will include:
* Conduct and support experimental laboratory studies involving a variety of veterinary viral diseases, but particularly avian and swine influenza viruses, and Newcastle disease virus.
* Conduct sequencing and bioinformatics analysis with a variety of viral veterinary pathogens.
* Assist with the maintenance and management of the conventional and molecular test portfolio for viral diseases.
* Conduct experimental and diagnostic work, some of which could involve the handling and sampling of laboratory animals.
* Establish new techniques, write and implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and maintain, troubleshoot or improve existing methods.
* Manage and maintain viral repository and stocks of antigen/antisera reagents.
* Maintain Safety standards while working in Biological containment level 2 and 3 facilities, including writing and implementing risk assessments.
* Act as Quality liaison officer assisting the department in maintaining an efficient and effective quality management system meeting the requirements of ISO9001:2015 certification and ISO17025 accreditation.
* Prepare written reports for inclusion into manuscripts, publications and project reports.
* Be part of the Core capability team to support other groups within the Virology department to perform serological/molecular diagnostic tests in the event of a veterinary disease outbreak.
* Manage junior staff and train new staff members, visiting scientists and students as required, including providing training to international visiting scientist.
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