The Role
We require a technician to join the laboratory of Dr. Viktor Korolchuk at Newcastle University. The role will support an industrial project in collaboration with Procter & Gamble and will join a wider community of technical professionals within the Faculty of Medicine over seen by the Technical Manager of the Biosciences Institute/ School.
The postholder will be required to contribute to a wide range of laboratory activities from generating scientific data using standard laboratory techniques, to everyday management of resources and databases. The role will involve close working and communication with Newcastle NHS Trust colleagues to receive and process tissue samples, and the processing of these samples in the laboratory using Aseptic techniques on receipt.
Research experience in the molecular cell biology/biochemistry lab environment and previous practical knowledge of primary human cell culture and human tissue handling, culture is desirable.
This post is full time, fixed term for a period of 12months.
For informal enquiries pleasw contact: Viktor Korolchuk at k
Find out more about the Faculty of Medical Sciences here:
Key Accountabilities
1. Perform laboratory experiments using cell and tissue culture
2. Liaise with NHS and University staff and transfer human tissue between sites
3. Complete a range of maintenance activities and repairs
4. Liaise with suppliers and manufacturers to resolve problems and investigate replacement options
5. Advise on equipment capabilities demonstrating how results can be achieved
6. By developing local procedures, establish and maintain a safe/compliant working environment
7. Assist with the completion and updating of a wide range of safety paperwork
8. Oversee compliance tasks ensuring timely completion and maintenance of appropriate records
9. Maintain broad and up to date health and safety knowledge providing support/advice to others.
10. Schedule, prioritize and monitor work and performance in line with demands and deadlines
11. Hold delegated responsibility from the academic/technical lead for the planning, operation, and supervision of a variety of laboratory spaces.
12. Work collaboratively with the other areas to ensure efficiency and elimination of duplicated effort
13. Organize and facilitate progress and management meetings
14. Be a key contributor to service development, delivery and planning
15. Contribute and support change
16. Oversee local record keeping, inventory and asset management
17. Monitor resource usage and stores operations
18. Source and negotiate with suppliers for a range of items including specialist parts/equipment
19. Create, update and implement procedures to deliver an aligned, efficient and effective service
20. Provide a broad range of skilled research/teaching support
21. Prepare and manufacture a range of specimens/samples with limited direction
22. Manage equipment bookings and assist with recharging
23. Design, develop and deliver inductions, demonstrations and training covering a broad range of activities (not limited to techniques and equipment)
24. Assist managers with the identification of training and development needs
25. Develop a broad knowledge and skills base, sharing with others
26. Any other duties within the scope and general nature of the grade which may be required
The Person (Essential)
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
27. Demonstrable work experience in laboratory techniques (cell and tissue culture and maintenance)
28. Experience of working with human tissue
29. Thorough working knowledge of Health and Safety procedures within a laboratory environment
30. Excellent team working skills
31. Demonstrates technical and problem solving capability
32. Demonstrates good organising ability to meet deadlines with a positive and proactive approach to duties and attention to detail
33. Contribute to design and specification of research activities
34. Ability to adapt to changes in research priorities
Attributes and Behaviour
35. Excellent interpersonal skills to interface with staff
36. Good interpersonal skills to interface with staff
37. Attention to detail to ensure accuracy and precision
38. Work in a collaborative and flexible way
39. To exhibit University and Faculty values and principles
Qualifications
40. BTEC HNC/HND or equivalent in relevant subject or equivalent experience
41. Professional registration with an accredited professional body (including HEA) or working towards this on appointment (Desirable)
42. BSc in a related field of study. (Desirable)
Success Factors
Team-working (Self)
43. Co-operative
44. Respects the expertise and contribution of others even if own opinion is different
45. Shares relevant and useful information with others
46. Keeps other team members up to date with progress
47. Gets involved with team tasks
48. Willing to help others and share workloads
49. Supportive of team decisions
50. Asks others’ opinion
51. Encourages others to get involved
52. Talks about other team members in a positive way
53. Respects the value that different views bring to the team
Planning and organising (Self)
54. Planning and managing own work
55. Works in a planned and structured way
56. Uses own and others’ time effectively
57. Sets own priorities in conjunction with team and area objectives
58. Plans workload and tasks in a systematic way
59. Ensures that all activities are completed on time
60. Uses systems and tools to ensure records and audit trails are clear and up to date
61. Keeps work systems up to date, neat and tidy
62. Ensures that others know how process and systems work
Delivering services (Self)
63. Getting the job done well
64. Sees others departments and colleagues as “customers” and follows through on their enquiries and requests
65. Keeps fellow team members up to date with progress
66. Co-operates with others in achieving targets
67. Takes responsibility for achieving own targets
68. Has a positive attitude for doing things better
69. Looks for ways to make immediate improvements (quick wins)
70. Pays attention to detail
71. Strives to deliver high quality results
72. Is enthusiastic in getting the job done on time
Embracing Change (Self)
73. Making improvements in your own role
74. Comes forward with new ideas and concepts
75. Anticipates change and prepares for it
76. Accepts change and “runs” with it
77. Willing to experiment, enterprising in approach
78. Builds on others’ ideas and suggestions
79. Willing to change ways and policies in light of new information
Communicating (Self)
80. Clear communicator
81. Is factually correct and gives consistent verbal and non verbal messages
82. Clear and concise; gets the message across to others
83. Chooses communication tools appropriately e.g. selective use of emails and other channels of communication
84. Tailors content of communication to the audience, changing style, tone and format appropriately
85. Uses face to face communication regularly; team meetings, one to ones, informal discussions/chats, briefing sessions etc
86. Can hold attention of others using appropriate techniques; questioning, rhetorical questions, changing tone and pace of voice and animated style.
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 Gold award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a 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: 29038