Job Description
Post:
Biochemistry Technician, Department of Vector Biology
Responsible to:
Dr Mark Paine, Department of Vector Biology
Summary of role:
The Department of Vector Biology at LSTM is one of the largest of its kind with a broad portfolio of
research and technical assistance activities targeted at improving the control of insect borne
diseases. This post will be responsible for providing technical assistance in insecticide
quantification, metabolism assays and in the development and application of molecular assays to
diagnose insecticide resistance. The post will be working directly for external clients in addition to
providing technical support for research programmes within the department. The candidate will
need to be meticulous in record keeping and excellent at time management. The position is based
at LSTM.
Main Duties:
Provide technical assistance to characterise insecticide metabolism and measure insecticide
activity

To develop and manage Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for characterising
insecticide content in in insecticide treated materials and insecticide metabolism by
recombinant enzymes

To implement SOPs to analyse mosquito samples provided by external clients/collaborators

To prepare recombinant mosquito proteins for insecticide metabolism assays


To conduct HPLC and other analytical techniques to assess insecticide metabolism and
quantify insecticide levels.
To provide initial analysis of data and draft sections of reports for funders and external
collaborators
To provide support with mosquito maintenance including performing insecticide bioassays.

To prepare mosquitoes for DNA analysis

To test effectiveness of novel resistance diagnostic assays vs. existing qPCR assays

Willingness to work (infrequently) outside normal working hours to ensure that colonies

thrive
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Specification
Essential
Desirable
Education and
training
Higher Education qualification in
Biological Sciences
Experience
Experience in working in a
laboratory setting
Experience in biochemical
techniques including protein
expression and
characterisation, HPLC
Experience of writing Standard
Operating Procedures
Experience in DNA extraction
and qPCR analysis
Previous experience of rearing
mosquitoes
Skills & abilities
Meticulous record keeping
Proven track record of taking
responsibility and ownership for
problems and following them
through to resolution.
Ability to work independently and
meet deadlines
Confidence and ability to deal with
people at all levels across disciplines
and cultures
Excellent report writing and
communication skills
Proficient in MS Office Software
Ability to adapt protocols from
published literature
Knowledge
Familiarity with good laboratory
practice
Special aptitudes
Enthusiastic approach to work.
Knowledge of HPLC and
enzyme assays
Ability to plan diverse workload in
efficient manner
Willingness to work as an integral
and cooperative member of a multidisciplinary, multi-national research
team.
Confidence to communicate any
suggestions for improvement of
methodology
Scientifically inquisitive
Circumstances
Full Time