Salary: £31,236.00 - £34,610.00 per annum Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you. Closing Date: 06 March 2026 The Role We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Laboratory Technical Specialist to join the Transplant Group in Newcastle University. This is a dual-role post, with approximately 50% of time dedicated to experimental development and testing of a novel bioreactor-based medical device for cellular therapy delivery, and 50% supporting the operational activities of the Institute of Transplantation Human Tissue Biobank. You will play a central role in delivering an MRC IAA-CiC–funded programme to test and validate a medical-grade bioreactor system, working towards regulatory approval of this novel medical device. Working within the Transplant Immunology Research Group, you will perform complex in vitro experiments using this bioreactor-based device, therapeutic cells, and human-derived materials, generating high-quality data for device optimisation and regulatory submissions. Alongside this, you will provide essential technical and operational support to the IOT Biobank, ensuring that human tissue and perfusate samples are processed, tracked, and released in full compliance with ethical, HTA, and governance requirements. This work supports nationally significant transplantation research and collaborations through the NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit. The role requires strong independent technical skills, experience with sterile technique and complex in vitro systems, and adherence to detailed standard operating procedures. You will also contribute to regulatory documentation, quality management, and project reporting. This position demands excellent communication, attention to detail, and a proactive, collaborative approach. Occasional out-of-hours work may be required. You should hold a relevant BSc or equivalent qualification, or have substantial relevant experience in laboratory-based biomedical research. This post is based within the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, with additional work at the Institute of Transplantation (Freeman Hospital). The IOT Biobank underpins world-leading research in transplantation immunology and organ preservation. You will also contribute to the NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Organ Donation & Transplantation (BTRU), co-hosted with the University of Cambridge. The BTRU is dedicated to improving donor organ assessment and maximising graft survival, providing an exciting and collaborative environment at the forefront of UK transplant research, ( https://odt.btru.nihr.ac.uk/ ). This provides an exciting environment and supportive collaborative community. Further details about the group can be found on: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/people/profile/billscott3.html This is a fixed term position available for the duration of 24 months. For informal enquiries please contact Debra Jones ( DEBRA.JONES@NEWCASTLE.AC.UK ) Key Accountabilities Design, execute, replicate, and validate experimental protocols involving therapeutic cells. Provide specialist laboratory support, including preparation and processing of biological specimens requiring advanced technical expertise. Manage and maintain laboratory and biobank equipment, facilities, and delegated spaces to ensure safety, functionality, and compliance. Coordinate patient recruitment and biological sample collection. Oversee accessioning, tracking, storage, and release of biobank samples using Achiever and REDCap, maintaining accurate audit trails and reports. Develop, maintain, and manage technical, ethical, and regulatory documentation, including support for MHRA submissions and ethics approvals. Support grant-funded project delivery through effective resource management. Lead and deliver complex in vitro experiments using a novel bioreactor-based medical device to generate data for regulatory and development purposes. The Person Experience in a technical/laboratory or biobank/clinical trials setting. Experience of performing laboratory work with human tissue and cells to a high standard, under regulatory compliance. In-depth knowledge of Health and Safety procedures, Human Tissue Act 2004, and Good Clinical Practice. Strong communication and teamworking skills. Demonstrated ability to solve technical problems and meet deadlines independently. Experience with NHS or research databases (Achiever) and sample tracking systems. Experience with purchasing and grant management. Experience with REDCap. (Desirable) Ability to adapt to evolving research or service priorities. (Desirable) Strong attention to detail and organisational skills. (Desirable) Attributes and Behaviour Tact, diplomacy and able to handle difficult situations Ability to meet deadlines with effective time and resource management. Clear communicator and active listener Consistent and appropriate approach to staff and situations Use of feedback for process improvement and staff development Team player, self starter and able to manage complex workload Ability to respond enthusiastically and positively to undergraduate students Qualifications BTEC HNC / HND; or A’ level (or equivalent) qualification; or broad work experience acquired through a combination of vocational training and considerable on-the-job experience, demonstrating development through progressively more demanding relevant roles. Professional registration with an accredited professional body (including HEA) or working towards this on appointment (Desirable) 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 Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident 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: 29091