Appendix B
Job Description
Job title:
Department/School:
Grade:
Location:
Research Technician
Biology & Biochemistry
5
3S/4S
Job purpose
The technician will support all aspects of a project supported by a research grant
funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) to
study the genetics basis of natural variation in a social microbe. The technician will be
required to work independently and oversee several different technical components
requiring different skill sets. The technician will contribute to all aspects of the
experimental work and will contribute to the measurement of a series of quantitative
traits, the preparation of genomic DNA samples and the processing of data sets.
Source and nature of management provided
Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-Investigator (CI) will provide direct guidance as
needed, with opportunities to work independently.
Staff management responsibility
No direct management responsibilities, but the technician will have the
opportunity to contribute to the supervision of project students.
Special conditions
Some components of the project require f lexible working with occasional early
starts and late finishes.
Main duties and responsibilities
Provide research support for all aspects of the research project, including:
1
Maintain stocks of bacteria and strains of amoebae
The technician will use basic microbiology techniques to maintain stocks of
bacteria (used as a food source for the amoebae that are the focus of the
project) and to grow strains of amoebae.
2
Perform large scale phenotyping of amoeba strains
The technician will use a set of established assays to measure a series of
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Appendix B
traits on a large set of amoeba strains. These assays primarily utilize
microbiology and microscopy techniques.
3
Preparation of DNA samples for genomic analysis
The technician will be responsible for the extraction, quality control and
quantification of genomic DNA from amoeba strains.
4
Processing and archiving of data files
The technician will be responsible for the management, entry, quality control
and basic manipulation of phenotypic and genomic data sets.
5
The technician is responsible for ensuring that equipment used in the
relevant research laboratories are appropriately maintained and in full
working order. Overseeing correct procedures are in place in molecular/
microbiology research laboratories.
Liaise with academics to research, develop and implement new techniques
and support materials.
The technician will oversee the operation and frontline maintenance of a
variety of equipment such as incubators, fermenters, autoclaves and
sterilisations ovens etc.
6
The technician will provide continuity for all the micro/molecular supported
areas.
Health and Safety
The technician will ensure compliance with Good Laboratory Practise (GLP)
and Good Microbiological Practise (GMP) activities in the research
laboratories and that they all are carried out safely.
Keep records of maintenance and safety checks on items of equipment.
Assist in the provision and collation of risk assessments/CoSHH forms for
procedures related to research activities and ensure records are kept up to
date.
Be expected to enforce protocol adherence for waste disposal from the
research laboratories.
Liaise with relevant Department and University Safety personnel as and
when necessary.
7
Procurement of consumables and equipment
The technician will provide a daily check on resources and consumables in
the research lab to which they have been assigned and re-order as
necessary.
The technician will keep copies of requisition forms in date order and
available for consultation and pursue delayed or overdue orders.
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Routine manual work and laboratory organisation
The technician is responsible for overseeing GLP and GMP in research
laboratories.
Provision, maintenance and setting out of materials and cultures for
research.
To demonstrate techniques in and to researchers.
To be involved with the 4th year projects to help and guide the students.
To be able to operate and demonstrate correct operation of various
equipment i.e. a plate reader, spectrophotometer, coulter counter,
microscopes etc.
8
Maintenance and operation of temperature controlled facilities
The technician is responsible for carrying out periodic inventories of culture
collections and for keeping such records up-to-date at all times.
The technician will oversee management of various temperature controlled
rooms, ante-rooms, and the biological laboratories carrying out periodic
reviews of the contents and dispose of unwanted items as necessary via
approved routes.
9
Records and recording information
The technician will make, and keep safely, adequate and suitable records of
all monitoring activities. The records will be updated in a timely manner and
kept in an orderly fashion.
The technician will be expected to make and collate Risk assessments and
to fill in CoSHH forms related to research procedures and ensure
researchers do the same.
You will from time to time be required to undertake other duties of a similar
nature as reasonably required by your line manager.
Person Specification
Criteria
Essential
Desirable
Assessed by
A/F
I/T
Qualifications;
Educated to A level or equivalent
qualification or experience in a relevant
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X
X
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R
Appendix B
biological discipline
University degree in relevant biological
discipline
Relevant technical/scientific role or
work experience in a relevant technical
role
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Experience/Knowledge
Knowledge of basic molecular biology
Familiarity with microbiology
X
X
X
Familiarity with microscopy
X
X
X
Knowledge of health and safety practices
in laboratories
X
X
X
Extensive knowledge of technical issues
in laboratory-based science
X
X
X
X
X
X
Good written and verbal skills
X
X
Competent IT skills
X
X
X
X
X
Knowledge of and production of CoSHH
and risk assessments.
Skills.
Basic microbiology
X
Basic molecular biology
X
X
X
Ability to organise own workload
X
X
X
Able to communicate coherently and
competently with all levels of personnel
X
X
X
Able to use time effectively
X
X
X
Able to work effectively and flexible
X
X
Ability to manage competing deadlines
X
X
Ability to be a team player, with effective
management skills
X
X
Attributes
Code: A/F – Application form, I/T – Interview/Test, R – References
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