Apprentice Laboratory Technician – BioEscalator

You will assist the Laboratory Manager with the smooth running of the core laboratory facilities in the BioEscalator. We have commercial tenants and this is a customer-focused role, so we are looking for a mature and practical person who communicates well and is keen and quick to learn with a can-do attitude.

Your main role will be daily organisational tasks for running our laboratories. You will receive on-the job training in a range of technical activities by working alongside our Laboratory & Facilities Manager.  Your work will range from general laboratory housekeeping, to understanding the management of scientific equipment, Health & Safety within the work place, purchasing equipment/supplies and assisting our tenants.

All tasks will be at a level appropriate to the apprentice’s developing skills. Under the guidance of the Laboratory & Facilities Manager, the successful candidate will be expected to support all aspects of the laboratories in the BioEscalator, including:

• Assist the Laboratory & Facilities Manager with helping new tenants to move into their laboratories. Communicate with tenants both verbally and by e-mail.
• Maintain stocks of general laboratory consumables and chemicals.
• Learn general laboratory housekeeping (i.e. good laboratory practice), following relevant Health and Safety procedures, to ensure a safe working environment is maintained. Keep all laboratory areas clean and tidy.
• Assist the Laboratory & Facilities Manager with running the shared labs on a daily basis, including changing gas cylinders, operating standard lab machinery such as autoclaves and glasswashers, refilling the liquid nitrogen supply tank weekly and collection of dry ice. Note: that this will involve some manual handling.
• Assist the Laboratory & Facilities Manager in routine maintenance of ultra-low temperature (i.e. - 80°C) freezers and keep accurate records. Also, maintain and keep a record of personal protective equipment such as face visors, cryogenic gloves, safety spectacles, and UV googles.
• Assist the Laboratory & Facilities Manager in maintaining the tissue culture facilities including making up 70% ethanol and 1% virkon.
• Carry out routine equipment maintenance, testing, and cleaning.
• Assist the Laboratory & Facilities Manager with weekly disposal of hazardous laboratory waste from core facilities including hazardous chemical waste.
• Take monthly meter readings (electricity) in proprietary labs and undertake weekly management of laboratory coat and tea towel laundering.
• Report equipment faults to the Laboratory & Facilities Manager and assist in resolving them.
• Assist the Laboratory & Facilities Manager in supervision of external contractors (such as service engineers) and provide cover in the absence of the Laboratory & Facilities Manager.
• Other jobs as requested by the Laboratory & Facilities Manager or Business Manager. It is a small team, so this could include covering reception, meeting room setups, and other administrative tasks.

• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Presentation skills
• Administrative skills
• Number skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Initiative
• Physical fitness

• Any subject GCSE or equivalent, grade 4/C or above (Essential)
• Any subject GCSE or equivalent, grade 4/C or above (Essential)
• English GCSE or equivalent, grade 4/C or above (Essential)
• Maths GCSE or equivalent, grade 4/C or above (Essential)
• Science GCSE or equivalent, grade 4/C or above (Essential)