Clinical Scientist

Grade and Salary: AfC Band 7 (National) £43,742- £50,056

Applications are invited from HCPC registered Clinical Scientists or Biomedical Scientists for the above post, which is based in the Microbiology Laboratory, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital. The department undertakes a wide range of routine and specialist microbiological and molecular investigations. The Clinical Scientist post will involve working in Bacteriology, Serology and Molecular Virology, Molecular Bacteriology and Mycobacteriology helping to develop and maintain diagnostic assays.

Location

This is a Lab based role, located at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham B9 5SS.

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*

Main Responsibilities:

• Responsible for developing high quality and cost-effective clinical and public health microbiology assays, to carry out full assay validation/verification to the point of routine services.
• To exploit new technologies, such as laboratories full automation systems and NGS.
• To carry out a regular (annual) prospective review on the existing assays, to stay up to date with scientific developments and ensure the service assays are fit for purpose.
• To provide support and make sure service delivery is accurate and timely.
• Work closely with laboratory mangers, scientists, clinicians and all other member of staff to ensure the laboratory UKAS accreditation is maintained.
• To participate in audits and the quality management system.
• Provision of teaching and training.
• To carry out research including obtaining external funding and contribute to writing scientific papers for publication in peer reviewed journals and project reports to funding bodies. To present scientific findings at local, national and international meetings/conferences.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Essential Criteria:

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of up to 1250 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:

Essential

• Registered with the HCPC as a Clinical Scientist or Biomedical Scientist.
• A PhD (or a degree and relevant experience) in Microbiology or Biological Science or related subject.
• Has a knowledge and experience of molecular biology techniques, interpreting and evaluating clinical and experimental data, writing scientific papers and/or project reports and presenting scientific papers at national and international conferences.
• Comprehensive knowledge of project management, techniques and tools, such as Excel and Access Ability.
• Experience of drafting briefing papers or internal reports.
• Demonstrated capability to act upon incomplete information, using experience to make inferences and decision making, capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly, as well as demonstrated capabilities to manage own workload and make informed decisions in the absence of required information, working to tight and often changing timescales.

Desirable

• Experience in outbreak investigation.
• Thorough understanding of recent advances in the Next Generation Sequencing (NGS).
• Understanding of the microbiology of communicable diseases of public health interest and mechanisms of antibiotic resistance.
• Demonstrated experience of coordinating projects in complex and challenging environments.
• Experience of setting up and implementing internal processes and procedures.

For full job description and further details, please click Apply Now.