LA06: Laboratory Assistant

Green Bioactives Limited; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in sustainable biotechnology is seeking a Laboratory Assistant to support laboratory operations. The role involves preparing sterile materials, conducting quality control, and ensuring cleanliness. Ideal for proactive individuals with laboratory experience, offering opportunities for advancement.

Benefits

33 days’ holiday

Pension scheme

Qualifications

• Prior experience working in a laboratory.
• Ability to follow protocols accurately.
• Commitment to laboratory safety.

Responsibilities

• Prepare cell culture media according to specifications.
• Conduct quality control tests of cell culture media.
• Maintain high laboratory standards.

Skills

Attention to detail

Effective communication

Teamwork

Proactive

Education

National 5 grade C in Maths, English, and Science

Tools

Microsoft SharePoint

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Electronic laboratory notebook (ELN)

Job description

We are seeking a proactive, reliable and well-organised Laboratory Assistant to contribute to the smooth running of our laboratory and prepare sterile materials for our research and production teams.

Role Description

About Green Bioactives

At Green Bioactives we are passionate about improving lives and making a positive impact on the world by developing and commercialising sustainable plant-derived natural products made using our innovative biomanufacturing platform.

Our proprietary Plant Cell Culture Technology has enabled us to revolutionise the way that plant-derived ingredients are produced, using sustainable methods of cultivation without the need to destroy trees or habitats. This means that, in a natural and sustainable way, we can reliably produce ingredients that may otherwise be challenging to obtain at the required volumes year-round.

Everyone at Green Bioactives is driven to do the right thing. We believe in a culture of honesty and transparency, where feedback is considered an opportunity for us to contribute to each other’s professional growth and development. We recognise the value of diversity and are an equal opportunity employer.

We are a highly collaborative team of scientists, technologists, industry experts and entrepreneurs, united by our mission to protect the environment and revolutionise plant biotechnology.

Position

As a Laboratory Assistant, your role will involve performing routine laboratory tasks with care and attention to detail, enabling smooth operations in our facility. You will provide clean and sterile materials, prepare growth media and solutions, and maintain the tidiness and cleanliness of the lab.

The role will suit someone who likes to be busy and is naturally proactive at identifying and implementing ways of making the lab run more effectively and efficiently. There will be potential opportunities for advancement into other operational or R&D roles.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare cell culture media according to specifications.
• Formulate stock solutions and aliquot commonly used reagents.
• Operate glass-washing and autoclave units to ensure a routine supply of sterile consumables, glassware, and cell culture media.
• Conduct quality control tests of cell culture media and solution stocks.
• Perform routine equipment calibrations (e.g., pH meters, balances).
• Source routine consumables from the on-site store.
• Routinely arrange lab coats for off-site laundering.
• Handle deliveries, including recording them in the electronic laboratory information management system (eLIMS).
• Monitor stock levels of consumables and reagents for media preparation, reporting low levels to your Line Manager.
• Handle laboratory waste and recyclables, ensuring disposal according to site rules.
• Maintain high laboratory standards by cleaning and organising specified areas and returning items to their designated places.
• Participate in laboratory meetings and training sessions.
• Follow and update standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Comply with company quality management system policies and procedures.
• Prioritise health and safety, complying with company health and safety policies and procedures at all times.

Qualifications and Skills

• Prior experience working in a laboratory.
• Ability to follow protocols accurately and systematically.
• Attention to detail while performing routine or repetitive tasks.
• Computer literate (including Microsoft SharePoint, Word, Excel, and Outlook).
• Ability to calculate dilutions.
• Reliability and adaptability to changing priorities.
• Good time management skills to keep up with the pace of a busy research and production environment.
• Effective communication and teamwork skills.
• Proactive at seeking and implementing operational improvements.
• Willingness to learn, adapt, and take on new challenges.
• Commitment to laboratory safety and best practice.
• Right to work in the UK without sponsorship.
• Experience in a similar role, ideally in an industrial biotechnology laboratory setting.
• Experience operating autoclaves.
• Experience producing cell culture media.
• Experience using electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) or electronic laboratory information management system (eLIMS) software (ideally Labguru).
• Experience working under a quality management system (e.g., GLP).
• Qualifications in Maths, English, and at least one science subject at a minimum of National 5 grade C, GCSE grade 4 (formerly grade C) or equivalent.

Additional Information

• Job Title: Laboratory Assistant
• Job Location: Pentlands Science Park, Edinburgh, UK
• Job Type: Permanent, full-time
• Hours of Work: 40 hours per week worked Monday to Friday including a paid lunch break of up to 1 hour per day. Flexibility around the core working hours of 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
• Benefits: 33 days’ holiday (pro-rated, inclusive of 8 public holidays), pension scheme.
• References: To be made available upon request.

At Green Bioactives, we value diversity and are committed to promoting equality of opportunity and eliminating discrimination. We offer support and make reasonable adjustments to facilitate full participation in the recruitment process. Please inform us of any requirements you may have, and we will consider reasonable adjustments.

For your application to be considered, please ensure that you submit it directly to Green Bioactives using the link provided. Any applications submitted by other means, such as email, post or via recruitment agencies may not be considered.

Recruitment agencies

Please note that we are not working with any recruitment agencies for this position. In the absence of a formal written agreement covering this vacancy, any CVs or candidate information submitted to us by a recruitment agency will be deemed to have been provided on a non-confidential basis. We reserve the right to contact, interview, and engage candidates submitted in this manner without any obligation to pay any fees or charges to the agency concerned.

Join Green Bioactives, a purpose-driven startup where your work really makes a difference. Be part of the journey from development to commercialisation of sustainable natural ingredients, working alongside a passionate, committed team

As we grow, so will your opportunities, giving you the chance to shape your career while shaping a greener, more sustainable future.