Research Technician

University of Oxford; Oxford; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Oxford's Biology Department seeks a Laboratory Technician to support the Insect Epigenetics and Animal Vibration Labs at the South Parks Road site in Oxford. The role includes maintaining live animal stocks and conducting molecular biology work to push research forward, including DNA/RNA extraction, PCR and gel electrophoresis.

You will hold a first degree or have lab experience, and be willing to work with arthropod models such as spiders, locusts and fruit flies.

Qualifications

• Hold a first degree in a relevant subject or have experience working in a laboratory setting.
• Willing to work with a variety of animal models, including spiders, locusts and fruit flies.
• Experience with insect or arachnid models is desirable but not required.
• Good communication, organisation, interpersonal skills and record-keeping are essential.

Responsibilities

• Maintain live animal stocks for research projects.
• Perform molecular biology experiments to advance research goals.
• Techniques may include DNA/RNA extraction, PCR and gel electrophoresis, and chromatin methods.

Skills

Communication skills

Organization

Interpersonal skills

Record-keeping

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

PCR equipment

Gel electrophoresis apparatus

Chromatin techniques (Cut & Run)

Job description

Location:Life and Mind Building, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3EL

About the role

We are seeking a laboratory technician to join the Biology Department and provide research support to the Insect Epigenetics and Animal Vibration Labs. Responsibilities of the post include maintaining live animal stocks as well as conducting molecular biology experiments to advance larger research projects.

This may include DNA/RNA extraction, PCR & agarose gel electrophoresis, chromatin techniques such as Cut&Run, sequencing library preparation and creating recombinant DNA (cloning). Further details of the research projects can be found at the labs’ respective websites:

https://fitzjameslab.site.ox.ac.uk/

https://animalvibration.site.ox.ac.uk/

About you

You will either hold a first degree in a relevant subject or have experience working in a laboratory setting. You must be willing to work with a variety of animal models, including spiders, locusts and fruit flies. Previous experience in working with insect or arachnid models is desirable but not required. However, good communication skills, organization, interpersonal skills and record-keeping are essential.

The University of Oxford is committed to equality and valuing diversity. All applicants will be judged on merit, according to the selection criteria.

This post is full time (although applications to work >60% of full time are welcome) and available from 4 January 2027.

£32,108 to £37,338 per annum. Grade 5