Senior Clinical Scientist

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and its Wolfson Centre for Prevention of Stroke and Dementia offer a joint Clinical Biochemistry and University research post. The role splits 2.5 days per week in each department, with mass spectrometry involvement for service and research.

The NHS development post includes duty biochemist duties and opportunities for further study (DPhil and/or FRCPath). A strong research emphasis anchors this position in Oxford.

Qualifications

• Registered Clinical Scientist with HCPC registration.
• Pursue higher professional qualifications (FRCPath) as part of the role.
• Willing to participate in the Duty Biochemist rota.
• Experience with mass spectrometry is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Provide a comprehensive scientific and clinical service in Clinical Biochemistry to the Trust and service users.
• Undertake research and development activities in line with NHS Biochemistry and Wolfson CPSD unit needs.
• Pursue higher professional qualifications (FRCPath).
• Participate in the Duty Biochemist rota.
• Process blood samples for research and manage documentation and databases.
• Perform biomarker assays and DNA extraction from blood; PCR as required.
• Contribute to scientific discussions and collaboration within the department.

Skills

Mass spectrometry

Clinical Biochemistry

Research development

Duty Biochemist rota

Education

FRCPath

DPhil

Tools

PCR

Job description

Main area Clinical Biochemistry Grade NHS AfC: Band 7 Contract Fixed term: 20 months (BRC funding available until March 2028) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Time to be split equally between the NHS laboratory and the University research responsibilities.) Job ref 321-CSS-8155860-B7

Site John Radcliffe Hospital Town Oxford Salary £49,387 - £56,515 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 28/09/2026 23:59

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.

The Trust comprises of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call thisDelivering Compassionate Excellenceand its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

Many of our recruitment programmes useValue Based Interviewingto identify those who have the skills we seek, who share our values and who are able to deliver compassionate excellence from the outset. We know that this makes a significant difference to your job satisfaction and above all the outcomes and experience of our patients and their families. For more information about our Values and Value Based Interviewing please visitwww.ouh.nhs.uk/about/vision-and-values

Job overview

This is a joint appointment between the NHS Department of Clinical Biochemistry and the University Department, the Wolfson Centre for Prevention of Stroke and Dementia. The post holder will spend the equivalent of 2.5 days per week in each department. The NHS post will be a development role in which specialist testing (mainly mass spectrometry) will be implemented for service and research provision. An active role in duty biochemist rota is expected. The University role will require development and analysis of research assays to support the work of the Wolfson Centre. Opportunities for further study and qualifications are available (including DPhil and/or FRCPath).

Main duties of the job

• A Registered Clinical Scientist, responsible for helping the Consultant Clinical Biochemist and Consultant Chemical Pathologists provide a comprehensive scientific and clinical service in Clinical Biochemistry to the Trust, ICB and other service users.
• To undertake research and development activities in line with the needs of the NHS Clinical Biochemistry department and the Wolfson CPSD unit at Oxford University.
• The post holder will be expected to pursue further higher professional qualifications (FRCPath)
• The post holder will be expected to participate in the Duty Biochemist rota
• Process blood samples taken for research, maintaining documents and databases. Including cataloguing frozen samples.
• Perform biomarker assays and DNA extraction from blood and subsequent PCR to genotype certain risk factors. Training will be given on any aspects of the role you may be unfamiliar with.
• Participate in and contribute directly to scientific discussions.
• The Wolfson Centre for Prevention of Stroke and Dementia (CPSD) was established by Professor Peter Rothwell as a new Division within the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford in 2017. https://www.ndcn.ox.ac.uk/divisions/cpsd

Working for our organisation

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence, and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel .

In 2023NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to the ten core principlesOxford University Hospitals promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment. If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

A Registered Clinical Scientist, responsible for helping the Consultant Clinical Biochemist and Consultant Chemical Pathologists provide a comprehensive scientific and clinical service in Clinical Biochemistry to the Trust, ICB and other service users. To undertake research and development activities in line with the needs of the NHS Clinical Biochemistry department and the Wolfson CPSD unit at Oxford University. The post holder will be expected to pursue further higher professional qualifications (FRCPath) The post holder will be expected to participate in the Duty Biochemist rota Process blood samples taken for research, maintaining documents and databases. Including cataloguing frozen samples. Perform biomarker assays and DNA extraction from blood and subsequent PCR to genotype certain risk factors. Training will be given on any aspects of the role you may be unfamiliar with. Participate in and contribute directly to scientific discussions. The Wolfson Centre for Prevention of Stroke and Dementia (CPSD) was established by Professor Peter Rothwell as a new Division within the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford in 2017. https://www.ndcn.ox.ac.uk/divisions/cpsd Managerial To have knowledge of managerial processes within the Trust and to have good awareness of Trust policies and how they relate to staff and service of the department. Furthermore, to use this knowledge for the benefit of the clinical and scientific service. To investigate where current processes and/or policies can be changed in order to improve service provision to patients and users. To propose and develop changes to practice in order to improve these issues. To liaise with Biomedical Scientists in order to implement developments and changes in aspects of the service as delegated by the Head of the Department. To liaise with the Consultant Clinical Scientist and the Head of the Department in order to ensure that the referral of specimens to other laboratories meets the clinical needs and is cost-effective. To be accountable for the quality and cost-effectiveness of this service, provide supervision and undertake audit. To liaise with senior members of staff to ensure that highly complex analytical services related to chromatographic techniques and massspectrometry, are of the highest quality and timely. To attend and actively contribute to departmental meetings related to management, quality management and clinical policy management. To be accountable for the quality of designated clinical research and trials for which the Department is undertaking commissioned analytical work, and to coordinate and implement such work. To ensure that all clinical incidents and complaints are properly recorded and reported to one of the Consultants or to the Laboratory Manager. To ensure that such incidents are properly investigated, and appropriate action is taken to ensure an improvement of the service in line with the Trust policies, procedures and national guidelines. Scientific To assist the Consultant Biochemist in providing an effective scientific service in the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, including contributing to the quality of the service and the requirements of UKAS. To regularly participate in and coordinate the development of new methods, to implement them, and to act as necessary to maintain the performance of these methods in routine use. To liaise and collaborate with other laboratory staff to provide as high a standard