Tissue Bank Technician

About The roleThe Breast Cancer Now Tissue Bank has been collecting and providing samples to researchers both within Queen Mary University and worldwide since 2010. This role is to assist the cell team, a part of the wider Tissue Bank team in the creation, maintenance and quality control of primary cell samples from breast tissue in order to be used in research. The cell bank receives samples of breast tissue, which is excess and not required for pathology, digest this down to its component cells and grow these on. The cell bank currently has over 10,000 samples currently frozen down in liquid nitrogen. These samples range across the different types of disease status, from normal to tumour, and type of sample with explants, ductal tree fragments, mixed cells, fibroblasts, epithelial cells and myoepithelial cells all frozen down. The role will encompass growing cells from new samples that come into the bank, to culturing and expanding samples already frozen down as well as quality control to ensure the best standard of samples are provided to applicants in order to get the highest quality research. The successful candidate will also be involved in the application process from the initial discussion with applicants to the Tissue Bank, to guiding the applicants through the application form as required and finally to the selecting, packaging and sending of samples. About Queen MaryAt Queen Mary University of London, we believe that a diversity of ideas helps us achieve the previously unthinkable. Throughout our history, we’ve fostered social justice and improved lives through academic excellence. And we continue to live and breathe this spirit today, not because it’s simply ‘the right thing to do’ but for what it helps us achieve and the intellectual brilliance it delivers. We continue to embrace diversity of thought and opinion in everything we do, in the belief that when views collide, disciplines interact, and perspectives intersect, truly original thought takes form. BenefitsWe offer competitive salaries, access to a generous pension scheme, 30 days’ leave per annum (pro-rata for part-time/fixed-term), a season ticket loan scheme and access to a comprehensive range of personal and professional development opportunities. In addition, we offer a range of work life balance and family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, and campus facilities including an on-site nursery at the Mile End campus. Queen Mary’s commitment to our diverse and inclusive community is embedded in our appointments processes. Reasonable adjustments will be made at each stage of the recruitment process for any candidate with a disability. We are open to considering applications from candidates wishing to work flexibly.