Research Technician (Clinical Trials)

University-of-Oxford; Oxford; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Oxford seeks a tissue handling technician to support histopathology research within OCHRe at the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences. You will process clinical trial requests, perform tissue processing and microtomy, and maintain strict sample-tracking and regulatory compliance.

You will collaborate with data coordinators and pathologists, based at Oxford University Hospitals sites, with some travel to Churchill and Old Road Campus. A NHS Honorary Contract will be arranged.

Qualifications

• Experienced tissue handling technician with advanced microtomy skills.
• Strong IT and data entry skills essential for data management and record-keeping.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to follow SOPs and risk assessments.

Responsibilities

• Process clinical trial requests including consent checking and tissue retrieval.
• Embed, process and section tissue, ensuring strict sample tracking and regulatory compliance.
• Enter and manipulate data and prepare histology slides for scanning; liaise with OUH pathologists and NHS partners.
• Travel between Oxford University Hospitals sites (John Radcliffe, Churchill, Old Road Campus) as needed.
• Work on site a minimum of 4 days per week; NHS Honorary Contract organised by the employer.

Skills

Advanced microtomy

IT & data entry

Attention to detail

Communication

Education

A-levels in Maths English and Science

Tools

Access

FileMaker Pro

Job description

Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, OX3 9DU

Contract type: Fixed term until 31 March 2028

Hours: Full-time (Willing to consider Part-time at 0.8FTE minimum)

About the role

In this role you will be working within the team in the Oxford Centre for Histopathology Research (OCHRe), part of the NDS Bioresource, and will be responsible for providing a high quality, comprehensive and professional service to support the processing of histopathology research requests, with particular focus on clinical trials.

The post-holder will be responsible for processing clinical trial requests, with duties including consent checking, tissue retrieval, embedding, processing and cutting, adhering to strict sample tracking processes and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and regulations. For this, you will be required to develop strong working relationships with many different colleagues across the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University and may need to work in various locations within the hospital sites. You will also be required to enter and manipulate data and prepare histology slides for scanning. Attention to detail is crucial in performing these tasks. You are expected to have strong microtomy skills and experience of working in a laboratory environment. Depending on workload, there may be other tasks assigned to you, however they will be commensurate with the grade. You will need to hold an NHS Honorary Contract which we will organise.

You will work closely with the Data Research Coordinator, Lab Team Lead and OUH pathologists to drive forward clinical trial projects. You will be based at the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust sites; specifically, the John Radcliffe Hospital, with a potential requirement to travel to the Churchill Hospital and Old Road Campus site. While there will be some opportunity for remote working, it is expected that you would be on site a minimum of 4 days per week.

About you

You will be an experienced tissue handling technician with advanced microtomy skills and proven experience of applying histological techniques in a laboratory setting, ideally working with human tissue. You will be highly organised, with the ability to manage your own workload, adapt to changing priorities and work effectively as part of a team. Excellent communication, IT and data entry skills are essential, alongside strong attention to detail and the confidence to engage with a wide range of colleagues and external stakeholders.

You will have experience of following standard operating procedures, undertaking risk assessments and identifying opportunities to troubleshoot and improve laboratory processes. You will also have an awareness of relevant legislation governing the acquisition, storage and processing of human tissue, together with knowledge and analytical skills equivalent to A-level qualifications in Maths, English and Science. Experience of working with relational databases, such as Access or FileMaker Pro, would be advantageous but is not essential.

This full-time post is available immediately and is fixed term until 31 March 2028 in the first instance. We would be willing to consider part-time applications at a minimum of 80% FTE. For a full list of responsibilities and selection criteria please refer to the attached Job Description.

We recognise that candidates may not meet every requirement outlined in the job description. If you are enthusiastic about this opportunity, your skills and experience closely align with the essential selection criteria, and you believe you could make a valuable contribution to the role, we encourage you to apply.

Only applications received before noon 18 November 2026 can be considered.

Interviews will be held Thursday 3 December 2026.