Laboratory Support Technician

Newcastle University; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Newcastle University is seeking a Laboratory Support Technician to join the Technical Operations Community within the Faculty of Medical Sciences. You will help keep laboratories safe, well‑stocked and running efficiently across multiple sites.

The role involves handling gas cylinders, cryogenic vessels, preparing basic reagents, managing stores, and ensuring safe disposal of waste, with opportunities to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.

Qualifications

• Experience in a laboratory/workshop environment and safe practice.
• Understanding and implementing basic Health & Safety protocols.
• Experience of operating autoclaves and handling lab consumables.

Responsibilities

• Assist with daily running of communal laboratory spaces.
• Ensure compliant disposal of laboratory waste and use of autoclave systems.
• Carry out basic maintenance on routine lab equipment.
• Handle and distribute laboratory gas cylinders; maintain LN2 supplies.
• Support store operations and asset management; maintain tidiness and safety.

Skills

Laboratory experience

Health & Safety knowledge

Autoclaves operation

Gas cylinders handling

Liquid nitrogen handling

Microbiological media preparation

Education

BTEC national diploma / NVQ level 3 / A levels

Job description

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Salary: £27,319 with progression to £28,778 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits . We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 13 October 2026

The Role

The Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle University is seeking to appoint a practical, enthusiastic and highly motivated individual to join our Technical Operations Community as a Laboratory Support Technician.

This is an opportunity to become part of a professional and collaborative technical team that plays a vital role in supporting world-class research activities across the Faculty. Working within a dynamic environment, you will help ensure our laboratories and research facilities operate safely, efficiently and effectively, contributing to the success of our research community.

The role encompasses a wide range of operational support activities. A key aspect of the position involves the safe handling and transportation of laboratory gas cylinders, cryogenic vessels, laboratory equipment and furniture across Faculty sites. You will also prepare basic laboratory reagents and media, coordinate the ordering and distribution of goods, and support asset management processes.

In addition, you will be responsible for ensuring the compliant disposal of clinical and biological materials, chemical waste, and electronic equipment, whilst helping to maintain a safe and sustainable working environment. You will contribute to high standards of housekeeping and undertake routine maintenance activities to support the smooth day-to-day operation of research facilities.

Reporting to the Technical Operations Community Lead, you will work flexibly across multiple Faculty locations. As part of a supportive technical team, you will collaborate closely with colleagues to deliver shared objectives whilst also taking ownership of individual tasks and working independently as required.

We are looking for someone with a positive, proactive and adaptable approach, who enjoys working in a hands-on environment and is committed to delivering excellent service. The successful candidate will be a team player with strong organisational skills, capable of responding quickly and effectively to changing priorities and operational needs.

If you are seeking an opportunity to join a busy technical support team, we would welcome your application.

Successful candidates will require evidence of medical clearance. Successful candidates will receive a link from our online medical clearance system during onboarding.

• Assist the technical lead with the day to day running of communal laboratory spaces
• Ensure compliant disposal of laboratory waste - to include use of autoclave systems
• Basic maintenance and repairs on routine laboratory equipment
• Ordering and distribution of laboratory gas cylinders
• Maintenance of laboratory liquid nitrogen supplies
• Distribution of dry ice supplies
• Assist with the preparation of basic microbiological media and routine reagents
• Assist with store operations including ordering, receiving, processing and distributing of goods
• Maintain a tidy and organised facility, with high levels of housekeeping, to ensure a safe working environment
• Maintain a good understanding of health & safety protocols and assist in completion of routine safety paperwork
• Assist the technical lead with record keeping, inventory and asset management
• Liaise with Estates’ colleagues to report infrastructure defects
• Assist in preparations for infrastructure projects, to include reorganisation of laboratory and office spaces
• Liaise with equipment suppliers to source and order routine items
• Advise colleagues on the capabilities of routine equipment
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Experience of working in a laboratory / workshop environment
• Experience of understanding and implementing basic Health & Safety protocols
• Experience of operating autoclaves
• Experience of working with gas cylinders and liquid nitrogen
• Experience of preparing microbiological media
• Experience of working within Tissue Culture laboratories

Attributes and Behaviour

• Excellent oral and written communciation skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Works in a collaborative and flexible way
• Positive and proactive approach to duties
• Demonstrates attention to detail
• Exhibits University and Faculty values and principles

Qualifications

• BTEC national diploma / NVQ level 3 / A levels in relevant subjects or demonstrable equivalent working experience

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.