Animal Technician (AT) - Schistosomiasis Drug Discovery

Aberystwyth University; Aberystwyth; Hybrid; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Hybrid work

27 days leave

PD opportunities

Pension scheme

Welsh language learning

Job summary

Aberystwyth University is seeking a motivated Animal Technician to join the Hoffmann Research Laboratory for a Wellcome-funded project on accelerating pre-clinical drug discovery for schistosomiasis. You will support animal housing, parasite maintenance, and murine efficacy studies, working with the Roboworm platform and a multi-institution team.

The role involves day-to-day lab operations, data collection, and occasional evenings or weekends.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering substances via diverse routes to mice.
• Experience sampling tissues, fluids and other biological material from mice.
• Understanding of risk assessment protocols and COSHH paperwork.
• Interest in, or understanding of, the preclinical pipeline for drug discovery
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work well as part of a research team
• Highly organised and meticulous record keeping skills.
• Willingness to work occasional evenings/weekends for out-of-hours animal welfare
• Ability to understand bilingual nature of the University

Responsibilities

• Assist day-to-day operation and maintenance of parasitology labs and animal housing.
• Undertake mouse efficacy studies and related procedures.
• Order lab consumables, monitor spend, and check deliveries.
• Support assay of compounds across parasite life-cycle stages.
• Operate Roboworm Platform and screening equipment; data collection.
• Assist the wider Hoffmann group research programme.

Skills

Substance delivery in mice

Biological sample collection

COSHH risk assessment

Team collaboration

Organised record keeping

Evening/weekend flexibility

Welsh language awareness

Education

Biological sciences degree

Tools

Roboworm Platform

Lab equipment operation

Parasitology techniques

Job description

The Role

We are seeking to appoint a highly motivated Animal Technician (AT) to join an energetic and enthusiastic team of investigators working on a new project, ‘Accelerating pre-clinical drug discovery for schistosomiasis’, funded by Wellcome. This is a collaborative project built upon the interdisciplinary expertise of Aberystwyth University, University of Dundee and UT Southwestern Medical Center. The research programme is structured across two milestones and the funding for Milestone 2 will be confirmed by the external sponsor following the successful completion of Milestone 1 (31 December 2027).

With at least 240 million people suffering from schistosomiasis, a neglected infectious disease caused by parasitic trematode worms of the genus Schistosoma and with no vaccine near clinical deployment, the cornerstone of schistosomiasis control is predominantly facilitated by just one singe chemotherapeutic agent, praziquantel (PZQ). PZQ, however, is ineffectual against juvenile worms and, with its increased use in mass administration programs, increased resistance to the treatment is a major concern. Consequently, this Wellcome project aims to develop and apply the most advanced tools to increase drug discovery efficiency and make these available to the international NTD drug discovery community. To achieve morbidity control and elimination, new effective treatment options are required. This project aims to accelerate the progression of new chemical entities (NCEs) towards clinical candidate selection and the project team will combine phenotypic and target-based drug discovery to accelerate the drug discovery process.

To make an informal enquiry, please contact Prof. Karl Hoffmann ([e-mail]).

Appointments are normally made within 4 - 8 weeks of the closing date.

What you’ll do

The appointed AT will be based in the Hoffmann Research Laboratory at Aberystwyth University and will be required to assist our Post-doctoral Research Associates (PDRAs), Senior Scientist and the AU Lead PI. The post-holder will provide support for the maintenance and operation of our animal-housing facilities and the Schistosoma mansoni lifecycle. This will involve working with mice and snails to maintain their health and housing, propagating parasites, performing HO regulated procedures and participating in schistosomiasis efficacy trials in the murine model.

The post-holder will also support the day-to-day activities of the laboratories and assist in the group’s wider research, which may include operating the ‘Roboworm’ Platform and associated equipment, preparing compounds for use on the screening platform, running the screening process and collecting and collating output data. The post-holder will be supervised by the Senior Scientist to the project and may, in turn, be required to support and supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Hours will predominantly be worked during Monday – Friday, however, occasional evening or weekend work may be required.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• To assist in the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the parasitology laboratories and animal housing facilities.
• To undertake work on animal (mouse) efficacy studies (drug formulation, oral dosing, blood from tail veins for DMPK, etc) using our schistosome/mouse model.
• To undertake ordering of lab consumables and supplies, monitor spend against a budget and receive and check goods deliveries and ensure safe and appropriate storage.
• To support in the assay of compounds against the different life-cycle stages of the parasites (schistosomula, adult worms, juvenile worms).
• To operate the Roboworm Platform and other associated laboratory equipment, including preparation and screening of compounds and data collection.
• To provide support to the wider research programme of the project and the full range of activities undertaken by the Hoffmann group.

Other Duties & Responsibilities

• To undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post.
• To be committed to the University’s Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy, together with an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the post.
• To be committed to your own development and that of your staff through the effective use of the University’s Effective Contribution Scheme.
• Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.

This job description is subject to review and amendment in the light of the changing needs of the University, to provide appropriate development opportunities and/or the addition of any other reasonable duties.

The responsibilities of this vacancy have been matched to the Technical & Computer Operator – Grade 5. Details of the role profile can be found at: Profiles: Human Resources , Aberystwyth University https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/hr/info-staff/employment/agreement/academic-profiles/

Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required

Essential

1. Experience in delivering substances via diverse routes to mice.
2. Experience in sampling tissues, fluids and other biological material from mice.
3. Understanding of risk assessment protocols and COSHH paperwork.
4. An interest in, or understanding of, the preclinical pipeline for drug discovery
5. Excellent communication skills and the ability to work well as part of a research team and to collaborate with people from different disciplines.
6. Highly organised and meticulous record keeping skills.
7. Willingness to work occasional evenings and/or weekends to provide support for out of hours animal welfare activities.
8. An ability to understand the bilingual nature of the University and an awareness of the procedures in place to support working bilingually

Desirable

1. Previous or current Home Office Personal Licence-holder
2. Qualified to degree-level in a biological sciences-related discipline
3. Experience in aseptic culture techniques.
4. Experience in working with HG2 pathogens
5. Experience in working with the Schistosoma mansoni lifecycle.
6. Ability to work autonomously, whilst still in close collaboration with other members of the group.
7. Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level A1

*More information on Welsh Language Levels can be found at:

https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/hr/policy-and-procedure/welsh-standards/

Benefits

• Flexible working policy
• Hybrid Working
• 36.5 – hour week for full-time roles
• Generous leave entitlements – 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and university closed days
• Commitment to Professional Development
• Enhanced contribution to our workplace pension schemes
• Staff recognition and reward schemes
• Opportunity to learn the Welsh language for free
• Staff relocation bursary
• Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Adoption Leave
• Staff discount for gym facilities, hospitality, and retail on campus.

Please keep reading

Aberystwyth University generally supports hybrid working, allowing a mix of office-based and remote working for suitable roles to enhance flexibility and productivity. Job descriptions typically detail a primary work location alongside opportunities for flexible, remote, or home-based work, subject to service needs and manager approval.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities and, those that are currently underrepresented in our workforce. This includes but is not limited to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities, and female candidates.

We are a Bilingual Institution which complies with the Welsh Language Standards and is committed to Equal Opportunities. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.

Employment Visa

Under the UK Government’s points-based system scheme, this role does not meet the criteria to be sponsored by Aberystwyth University (AU) for a Skilled Worker Route (SWR) application.