Research Technician In Microbiome

Newcastle University; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday

Pension scheme

Health and wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

Newcastle University is seeking a highly capable technician to support microbiome research in early life. You will manage sample biobank, perform media prep, culture bacteria, DNA extractions, PCR, and organoid culture maintenance as part of a collaborative team.

The role includes data analysis support, results presentation, and potential manuscript writing across multiple collaborations; duration is full-time, fixed-term for seven years.

Qualifications

• Experience and understanding of general microbiology and molecular biology techniques.
• Experience of working with clinical research samples.
• Understanding of microbiome science.

Responsibilities

• Perform microbiology and human primary cell line culture.
• Perform molecular biology.
• Support data analysis and manuscript drafting.
• Contribute to training and mentorship of students and other group members.
• Manage routine and complex maintenance activities and repairs.

Skills

Microbiology techniques

Molecular biology

Clinical samples handling

Health and safety

Teamwork

Organisational skills

Problem-solving

Education

BTEC HNC / HND; or A’ level

BSc or MSc in a relevant subject (desirable)

Tools

PCR

DNA extraction

Organoid culture

Job description

Salary: £32,722 to £33,662 with progression to £35,302 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: 16 November 2026

The Role

We are seeking to appoint a highly motivated and enthusiastic technician to support our research on the microbiome in early life.

The successful candidate will carry out research as part of a wider team working on optimising microbial therapy in preterm infants. This project will involve working with clinical samples including stool, urine, blood, tissue, and human milk, alongside lab-based microbiology, organoid tissue culture, molecular biology, and multi-omic data analysis.

Our research group aims to understand how the gut microbiome develops from birth in preterm infants, what factors influence this, and how this impacts health and disease. In doing so, we aim to translate these findings into the development of new biomarkers and treatments to improve health and outcomes in the babies.

You will be responsible for maintaining the sample biobank and the day-to-day management of experimental work including making media, culturing bacteria, DNA extractions, PCR, and organoid culture maintenance. Additionally, there will be opportunities to support data analysis and results presentation (image production, oral presentations, and manuscript writing) from a range of research collaborations.

Reporting to the Institute Technical Manager team and Professor Christopher Stewart, the successful applicant will display an in-depth knowledge of technical or scientific practices, methods and procedures gained through either experience and/or formal qualification, and will deploy this knowledge to provide a range of technical support activities.

Duration of the post is full time, fixed term for 7 years.

For informal enquiries contact: Christopher Stewart, [e-mail]

Find out more about the Faculty of Medical Sciences here: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/

Find out more about our Research Institute here: Translational and Clinical Research Institute | Faculty of Medical Sciences | Newcastle University

Key Accountabilities

• Perform microbiology and human primary cell line culture
• Perform molecular biology
• Support data analysis and manuscript drafting
• Contribute to the training and mentorship of students and other group members.
• Complete a range of routine and complex maintenance activities and repairs
• Liaise with suppliers and manufacturers to resolve both routine and complex problems and investigate replacement options
• Advise on equipment capabilities, demonstrating how results can be achieved
• By developing local procedures, establish and maintain a safe/compliant working environment
• Hold specific safety responsibilities relevant to the specialism
• Oversee compliance tasks ensuring timely completion and maintenance of appropriate records
• Maintain in-depth and up-to-date health and safety knowledge relevant to the specialist
• Assist with the completion and updating of a wide range of safety paperwork
• Schedule, prioritise and monitor work in line with demands and deadlines
• Hold delegated responsibility from the academic lead for the planning, operation and supervision of laboratory spaces occupied by the specialism
• Be a key contributor to specialism development, delivery and planning
• Contribute to and support change
• Manage one or more budgets monitoring resource usage
• Source and negotiate with suppliers for a range of items including specialist parts/equipment
• Create, update and implement procedures to deliver an aligned, efficient and effective service
• Prepare and manufacture specimens/samples requiring specialist skills with limited direction
• Manage equipment bookings, calculate charges/costs and assist with re-charging
• Design, develop and deliver inductions, demonstrations and training covering complex techniques and specialist equipment
• Assist managers with the identification of training and development needs and mentor junior staff

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Experience and understanding general microbiology and molecular biology techniques
• Experience of working with clinical research samples
• An understanding of microbiome science
• Thorough working knowledge of Health and Safety procedures
• Excellent team working skills
• Demonstration of technical and problem-solving capacity
• Demonstration of good organisational ability to meet deadlines, with a positive and proactive approach to duties and diligence and attention to detail
• Ability to adapt to changes in laboratory research priorities
• Specific lab or workshop experience specific to the role

Desirable

• Understanding and experience of primary cell culture models

Attributes and Behaviour

• Tact, diplomacy and able to handle difficult situations
• Ability to meet deadlines with effective time and resource management
• Clear communicator and active listener
• Consistent and appropriate approach to staff and situations
• Use of feedback for process improvement and staff development
• Team player, self starter and able to manage complex workloads
• Ability to respond enthusiastically and positively to undergraduate students
• Willingness to undertake some limited travel locally and internationally and a readiness to work flexibly by mutual arrangement, including outside normal office hours on occasion if required

Qualifications

• BTEC HNC / HND; or A’ level (or equivalent) qualification; or broad work experience acquired through a combination of vocational training and considerable on-the-job experience, demonstrating development through progressively more demanding relevant roles

Desirable

• A BSc or Masters in a relevant subject area
• Professional registration with an accredited professional body (including HEA) or working towards this on appointment

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.

Requisition ID: 29811