Senior Research Technician

Location: Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3SY Salary: - Grade 6: £32,332 - £38,205 with a discretionary range to £41,732 p.a. Whilst the role is a Grade 6 position, we would be willing to consider candidates with potential but less experience who are seeking a development opportunity, for which the appointment would be at Grade 5 £28,759 - £33,966 per annum with the responsibilities adjusted accordingly. We are seeking a Senior Research Technician to join Professor Susanna Dunachie’s laboratory at the Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health. We are a successful, happy and ambitious research group focussed on the immunology of vaccines for vulnerable populations. We seek to define cellular and antibody responses to global infections including SARS-CoV-2, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the neglected tropical diseases melioidosis and scrub typhus. You will be responsible for isolating and cryopreserving peripheral blood mononuclear cells, plasma, and serum from fresh blood obtained from study volunteers. Additionally, you will assess T-cell responses, primarily following protocols, and evaluate immunity to pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and B. pseudomallei. You will maintain an organized catalogue of samples, manage inventory, and coordinate sample shipments to academic and commercial collaborators as needed. Furthermore, you will interact with various research communities, record research findings meticulously, and disseminate developments and results to colleagues at the Institute. Your role also involves participating in internal seminars and meetings, assisting with assays for other pathogens if workload permits, contributing effectively to group objectives, training new lab members, and ensuring adherence to good laboratory practices while organizing daily tasks within the group. It is essential that you hold a BSc in a biomedical field, together with previous experience in wet-laboratory in cellular immunology, and laboratory management. You should have an interest in the research conducted by our group and possess keen attention to detail for managing administrative tasks such as maintaining sample inventories, organizing timetables, and meticulously handling research data. Excellent communication skills are also required, including the ability to write text that can be published and present data at internal meetings. Flow cytometry experience with ability to use and analyse multi-colour flow data is desirable for this role. Applications for this vacancy are to be made online and you will be required to upload a supporting statement and CV as part of your online application. Your supporting statement must explain how you meet each of the selection criteria for the post using examples of your skills and experience.   This position is offered full time on a fixed term contract for 12 months and is funded by the UKRI MRC and NIHR. Only applications received before 12 midday on Thursday 21 March 2024 will be considered. Please quote 171146 on all correspondence.