Scientific Support Officer

Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 37,000; Part time

Job summary

Cardiff University is offering a part-time position for a Scientific Support Officer within the Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC). The role involves providing essential support in neuroimaging data acquisition and analysis, ensuring effective collaboration with researchers, and contributing to various project needs in a dynamic research environment.

Qualifications

• Qualification in a relevant science, minimum of Bachelor's degree.
• Understanding of MRI and MEG data principles.
• Experience in neuroimaging experiments.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical imaging support for researchers within CUBRIC.
• Design and execute experimental work based on research demands.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.

Skills

MRI data acquisition

MEG data acquisition

Training program development

Troubleshooting

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant science

Tools

Linux

MATLAB

Python

Job description

Advert

Scientific Support Officer (CUBRIC)

School of Psychology

Cardiff University’s Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) is a Centre within the School of Psychology which houses a unique combination of facilities and expertise, producing world-leading research in Neuroimaging, Cognitive Neuroscience and Biological Psychiatry.

Further details of CUBRIC can be found on our webpages: http://sites.cardiff.ac.uk/cubric

There is an exciting opportunity for a Scientific Support Officer to join the CUBRIC team and provide practical assistance to CUBRIC researchers in neuroimaging data acquisition and analysis. The postholder will support CUBRIC researchers by providing practical assistance and advice in the acquisition and analysis of data in the Neuroimaging research field (predominantly MRI). The individual will acquire MRI and MEG data, and provide advice / training / practical support to users in the analysis of these data.

This position is part-time (21 hours per week) and open-ended.

Secondment opportunity welcome - please note for Cardiff University members of staff interested in this post on a secondment basis, permission will need to be sought from your current Line Manager before applying.

Salary: £33,482 - £36,130 per annum, pro-rata (Grade 5). Appointments to roles at Cardiff University are usually made at bottom of scale unless in exceptional circumstances.

Date advert posted: Friday, 27 June 2025

Closing date: Sunday, 13 July 2025

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Job Description

JOB PURPOSE

To support CUBRIC researchers by providing practical assistance and advice in the acquisition and analysis of data in the Neuroimaging research field (predominantly MRI).

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• You will provide practical imaging support (data acquisition, analysis and project setup) for researchers within CUBRIC.
• As part of the CUBRIC team, you will be jointly responsible for the successful day-to-day operation of neuroimaging under the guidance of your line manager.
• You will apply a breadth and depth of specialist neuroimaging expertise and knowledge to provide advice to users on experimental design and troubleshooting
• You will assist in the design and execution of experimental work in response to researcher demands and under the supervision of your line manager
• You will assist in collecting, preparing and visualizing data for ethics and grant applications when required.
• Your administrative responsibilities will also include writing and maintaining accurate records of the work being undertaken, and assisting in the writing and updating of standard operating protocols (SOPs) (e.g., for data acquisition and analysis) when required.
• You will need to be able to advise researchers on all aspects of their data management
• You will ensure when operational issues arise, that they are effectively managed through troubleshooting, liaising with and advising researchers.
• You will assist in the development and delivery of training programmes on neuroimaging data acquisition and analysis
• You will communicate the results of the work clearly to users and other members of the CUBRIC team when required
• You will undertake training in, and provide back-up service for, filling the MEG-dewar in CUBRIC.
• You will maintain a safe working environment within established Health and Safety procedures
• You will ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements in respect of equality and diversity, data protection, copyright and licensing, security, financial and other University policies, procedures and codes as appropriate.
• You will take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and of other persons who may be affected by your acts or omissions at work in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, EC directives and the University’s Safety, Health and Environment Policies and procedures and to cooperate with the University on any legal duties placed on it as the employer.
  
  

General Duties

• Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties
• Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity
• Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role.
  
  

Person Specification

IMPORTANT NOTE: When submitting your supporting statement, you must provide evidence as to how you meet each of the essential (and desirable if applicable) criteria below. We suggest that you do so by using each of the criteria as sub-headings, providing written evidence of your relevant skills underneath. Before uploading this attachment, please ensure that you include ****BR within the filename.

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Education

• Qualification in a relevant science, to a minimum of Bachelor’s degree.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Good understanding of the basic principles underpinning MRI and MEG data acquisition and analysis
• Substantial Experience of performing neuroimaging experiments (acquisition and analysis), ensuring the effective use of resources to generate good data output, and willingness to perform extensive neuroimaging experiments using a range of acquisition strategies and technology platforms, and to help develop/ deliver training programmes on neuroimaging data acquisition and analysis.
• Ability to set up standard office systems and procedures and make improvements as appropriate
• Excellent IT skills, including Linux and basic programming (e.g. MATLAB, Python).
• A firm grounding in the principles of Health and Safety including safe experimentation on human participants in a neuroimaging laboratory.
  
  

Customer Service, Communication and Team Working

• Ability to communicate conceptually detailed and complex information effectively and professionally with a wide range of people relating to neuroimaging
• Evidence of ability to explore customers’ needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure a quality service is delivered
  
  

Planning, Analysis and Problem Solving

• Evidence of excellent laboratory skills and the ability to troubleshoot when experiments do not work
• Evidence of ability to work unsupervised to deadlines, planning and setting priorities for own work and that of others and monitoring progress.
  
  

Desirable Criteria

• A higher degree
• Experience of acquiring and analysing diffusion and functional MRI data
  
  

Salary Range Min.

33,482

Salary Range Max.

36,130

Job Category

Management & Executive

Grade

Grade 5