Laboratory Technician Clinical Pathology

University of Glasgow; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Glasgow invites applications for an expert role in clinical laboratory services within their veterinary diagnostic service. You'll analyze specimens, teach students, and ensure accurate laboratory practices, while collaborating with veterinary practitioners. This full-time position offers a competitive salary and extensive benefits, fostering a supportive environment for personal and professional growth.

Benefits

41 days of leave for full-time staff

Free 6-month UofG Sport membership

Generous pension plan

Flexible working approach

Benefits and discount packages

Qualifications

• Proven practical abilities in laboratory disease diagnostics.
• Knowledge of diagnostic lab equipment for various species.
• Experience in validating new assays.

Responsibilities

• Analyze biochemical specimens using automated techniques.
• Teach and assess undergraduate and postgraduate students.
• Ensure accurate maintenance of results and quality control.

Skills

Diagnostic techniques

Communication skills

IT skills

Organizational skills

Education

Scottish Vocational Qualification level 4

Bachelor of Science degree in a related subject

Job description

Job purpose

To provide expert clinical laboratory services, within the veterinary diagnostic service to aid the diagnosis of diseases for veterinary practitioners and to support the teaching of undergraduate and post graduate veterinary and research students, veterinary nurses and the research strategies within the service.

Main duties and responsibilities

1. Analyse biochemistry, endocrinology, haematology specimens and specific body fluids using automated analysers and other appropriate techniques. Ensure data validation and expedient issuing of completed reports to the relevant sender.

2. Ensure accuracy and precision of results and that agreed methods of both Internal and External Quality Control are fully operative and adhered to. Accurate maintenance of results database. Ensuring logbooks and documentation of analysis are accurate and up to date.

3. Ensure maintenance of sample integrity by appropriate handling, data input, accurate labelling, and separation of plasma/serum and distribution to relevant disciplines. Input specimen data to the service database including required test profiles and accurate costing. Ensure accurate record keeping, safe packaging and posting of specimens for referral to external laboratories.

4. Keep abreast of recent advances in clinical biochemistry techniques and available assays to improve current practice and range of available testing which may be provided. Validate new assays using recognised medical laboratory methods, analysing data and producing documents of assay performance for the laboratory quality manual.

5. Maintenance and updating of COSHH assessment forms, risk assessments, health and safety policies. Production and maintenance of standard operating procedures and production of laboratory quick start user guides.

6. Be actively involved in the teaching of undergraduate and post graduate students, veterinary nurses, and other persons. Planning, organising and preparing teaching material for practical classes and examinations, being responsible for assessment of professional phase undergraduate practical examinations, providing appropriate written and verbal feedback. Acting as the main point of contact between technical team, teaching staff and undergraduate school administrators.

7. Provide expert advice with respect to sample handling for a wide range of species, tests available and suitable methodologies to veterinary clinicians and researcher scientists to optimise the data available from samples submitted for testing, ensuring expedient delivery of high-quality results.

8. Supervise the training of junior technicians and post graduate students in biochemical techniques, theory, safe laboratory practice and sample handling.

9. Monitor and order laboratory consumables and equipment, sourcing and pricing equipment of moderate cost, organising purchase orders and delivery.

10. Collaborate with colleagues and participate in team meetings/discussions and contribute to the wider College/Institute/School activities as required, including the Technician Commitment key themes, https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/technicians/

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential

A1 Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in a similar role OR Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 8 [Scottish Vocational Qualification level 4, Higher National Diploma] or equivalent, and experience of personal development in a similar role

A2 In depth theoretical knowledge and extensive practical skills in a wide range of diagnostic and research techniques, and extensive knowledge of the operation of diagnostic laboratory equipment suitable for analysing samples from various species including exotic animals, fish, domestic species and research animals.

Desirable

B1 Bachelor of Science degree or equivalent in a related subject

Skills

Essential

C1 High level of skill and extensive experience in the operation of a range of specialised diagnostic laboratory equipment and techniques.

C2 Ability to diagnose, troubleshoot and resolve problems arising in the function of specialist diagnostic laboratory equipment

C3 Ability to keep abreast of new advances in technology implementing and validating these within the laboratory, where appropriate.

C4 Ability to generate and record laboratory results.

C5 Good IT skills.

C6 Good communication skills (verbal & written).

C7 Ability to organise and prioritise tasks, work under pressure to meet deadlines, self-motivated and flexible.

C8 Ability to work in a team as well as independently.

Experience

Essential

E1 Extensive, proven practical ability and experience working in laboratory disease diagnostic services in industry and/or academia

Dimensions

• Provide high level and bench-side technical support for an efficient and effective diagnostic clinical pathology service which generates approximately £440k annually.

• Shared responsibility of three high value, service critical automated analysers (blood chemistry and endocrinology analysers)

• Customers: - Hospitals within the School of Veterinary Medicine, numerous veterinary practices across the UK and overseas, research groups within the university and other academic institutions, various veterinary industry groups.

• Achieve goals determined by the management team and faculty committees governing Veterinary Diagnostic Services.

• Improve and develop new and existing techniques wherever possible.

• Collaborate and interact with research group(s).

• Provide the raw data for publications.

Planning and Organising

• Many of the procedures require ongoing methodical planning, design and standardising protocols and implementing the relevant quality control methodology.

• Plan daily workloads for specimen analysis.

• Plan and organise regular weekly/monthly analyser maintenance.

• Plan and organise material for teaching and summative assessment of veterinary undergraduate students.

• Assess laboratory layout regularly, plan and organise layout to ensure optimal workflow.

• Respond to duties assigned by academic leader/laboratory manager and prioritise accordingly.

• Forward plan to ensure to ensure expedient analysis of samples during periods of maximum sample submission.

• Keep accurate laboratory records.

• Time management.

Decision Making

• Prioritising and organising workload effectively and efficiently.

• Selection of the most suitable sample technique and most cost-effective analytical method.

• Ensure stocks are maintained at the required levels and source economic and effective reagent supplies.

• Regularly assess laboratory procedures to enable improvement to techniques and protocols.

• Research and recommend replacement equipment, when necessary, and organise purchase, delivery and validation.

Internal and external relationships

• Maintain contact with academic and other laboratory staff within the faculty, veterinary surgeons and nurses (internal and external), students, reference laboratories, sales representatives and suppliers and service engineers.

• Liaise regularly with the academic leader, laboratory manager and colleagues to plan work.

• Interact with colleagues in the University for the exchange of technical information.

• Supervise and train undergraduate and post graduate students and junior technicians in diagnostic procedures.

Problem Solving

• Point of contact with staff, external veterinary practitioners and students for advice on types of specimens required, equipment being used in the laboratory or troubleshooting any queries regarding laboratory results/data and methods.

• Identify, diagnose and repair faults with laboratory analysers and other equipment or arrange for professional repairs to be carried out as efficiently as practicable.

• Appraise biochemistry and endocrinology profile findings, analyse results and troubleshoot when necessary.

• Solve problems using own knowledge base and experience, referring to other staff when required.

• Analysis of literature in relation to new analysers, technology and ongoing projects.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 6, £33,482 - £37,174 per annum.

This post is full time and open ended.

The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK. If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.

Closing date: 23:45 on Wednesday 16th July 2025