Band 3 Research Technician

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare provider in Birmingham seeks a motivated Research Technician to join their laboratory team. The role involves processing biological samples, maintaining laboratory standards, and requires good interpersonal skills. Applicants should have laboratory experience with equipment like centrifuges and pipettes. This position offers opportunities for professional development in a dynamic research environment.

Benefits

Continued professional development

Workplace inclusivity initiatives

Qualifications

• Experience in a laboratory setting is desirable.
• Ability to communicate effectively with clinical or scientific staff.
• Knowledge of pre-analytical procedures.

Responsibilities

• Receive and process biological samples from clinical trials.
• Perform pre-analytical processing, storage, or shipping.
• Maintain laboratory cleanliness and organization.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Attention to detail

Laboratory equipment use

Tools

Centrifuges

Pipettes

Job description

An opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our expanding laboratory team at the NIHR / Wellcome Trust Birmingham Clinical Research Facility (CRF) as a Research Technician. The CRF provides a high quality clinical environment in which patients and healthy subjects can participate in research programmes safely according to robust, ethically approved trial protocols. CRF Labs also provide a pre-analytical processing, storage and shipping service to delivery teams within UHB R&D, having over 300 studies currently running or in set up.

The post holder should have good interpersonal skills to collect samples from a clinical environment, and be able to communicate effectively with clinical or scientific staff about subsequent processing, storage and shipping. The sample pathway through the laboratory needs to be accurately catalogued, so an attention to detail is required.

The role often requires the spinning then aliquoting of samples, with less frequent cell isolation (eg PBMCs). Lab experience using basic equipment such as centrifuges and pipettes is desirable.

Current working pattern is 08-00 to 16-00 or 10-00 to 18-00 Mon-Fri, but during busy times some flexibility might be required.

In return, we can offer you continued professional development in a varied and interesting setting, and the opportunity to make a valuable contribution to the smooth delivery of research studies.

Main duties of the job

Working as part of the CRF Laboratory Team the post holder will have knowledge of a range of pre-analytical procedures and will be responsible for receiving biological samples from clinical trials and studies, and carry out any pre-analytical processing, storage or shipping in accordance with the study specific laboratory manual.

To receive and check patient samples and request details, label, centrifuge, aliquot and store as necessary a variety of patient samples.

Answer the telephone / greet visitors promptly in a polite and professional manner and deal with enquiries as appropriate, pass on written and verbal information as required to colleagues and patients.

Weekly checks of laboratory consumables.

Perform general housekeeping duties as outlined by maintenance schedule. E.g., defrost and clean specimen fridges and freezers, empty and clean water baths and tidy benches and work areas.

Work co-operatively as part of the multi-disciplinary team supporting colleagues

Identify and comment on improvements on current policies and procedures, COSHH and workplace risk assessments.

Assist in creating the weekly laboratory work schedule by accurately recording patient visits and ordering transport couriers and dry ice when required.

Manage own time effectively, ensure good time keeping in relation to shift commencement and breaks.

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.