Senior Research Technician

CHEManager International; Bangor; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution is looking for a Senior Research Technician to join a project on the agronomic benefits of livestock slurry separation. This full-time, 18-month position will involve setting up field experiments, conducting analyses, and supporting a collaborative research team. Ideal candidates should possess relevant educational qualifications and experience in a laboratory or field research setting. This role offers an opportunity to contribute to sustainable agricultural practices and enhance environmental understanding.

Qualifications

• Experience in a field-based research environment.
• Following experimental or laboratory protocols is essential.
• Knowledge of health and safety issues in laboratory or field settings.

Responsibilities

• Support the project team in setting up field experiments and sampling.
• Liaise with scientists to ensure proper execution of experiments.
• Maintain and service field and laboratory equipment.

Skills

Teamwork

Time management

Data entry

Microsoft Office Suite

Education

AS Levels or A level or NVQ level 4 in relevant subjects

Undergraduate degree in environmental sciences or related fields

Job description

The School of Environmental and Natural Sciences at Bangor University is appointing a Senior Research Technician to support a new Defra-funded project on the agronomic and environmental benefits of livestock slurry separation. This is a full-time, 18‑month fixed‑term position that will contribute to sustainable agriculture practices.

Overview

The post will work closely with a wider research team, including Prof Dave Chadwick, Prof Davey Jones, and Dr Prysor Williams, to deliver impactful results. Key responsibilities include: collecting slurry samples from commercial farms, setting up and running field experiments, sampling soil, slurry, vegetation and greenhouse gases, conducting laboratory analyses, collating data and reporting results, and collaborating with our project partner, ADAS.

The Project

Large quantities livestock manure are generated in the UK each year, mainly in liquid slurry form. Separating slurry and digestate into solid and liquid fractions reduces storage requirements and transportation costs and may limit environmental losses such as ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions. This project will examine how slurry separation affects environmental losses and nutrient availability for crops and will provide data to underpin future farmer guidance and policy.

Benefits

This 18‑month project will provide a comprehensive assessment of the environmental and economic benefits and trade‑offs of slurry and digestate separation techniques via:

• Characterisation of the nutrients in separated slurry fractions from a range of commercial farms
• Plot‑scale field experiments to measure the effect of separation on the risks of air and water pollution following spreading and on the crop available nitrogen and phosphorus supply from livestock manures and digestates

Purpose of the Job

Working closely with an additional dedicated project technician and the Henfaes Research Centre technical team, you will be responsible for setting up and running day‑to‑day experiments in the field, taking soil, slurry, crop and gas samples, maintaining and using analytical equipment, and processing samples for subsequent analyses in our dedicated laboratory.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Providing support to the project team by leading the setting up of plot‑scale field experiments, soil, water, air and crop sampling; sample processing and analysis.
• Following joint experimental and sample processing protocols.
• Liaising with scientists in the research team to ensure timely set up and running of experiments, processing, analysis and data curation of samples.
• Servicing, testing, maintenance and operation of basic field equipment including cleaning and replacing components.
• Maintaining research spaces, experimental plot areas, glasshouse space, laboratories.
• Recording and tabulating experimental data; preparation of graphs and presentation of summary data at regular meetings.
• Completion of risk assessments and COSHH assessments for specific processes and pieces of equipment and laboratory analyses where necessary.
• Take responsibility for completing designated tasks.
• Attend project team and School meetings as required.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Participation in performance review and developmental activities.
• Compliance with the University equal opportunities policies, Dignity at Work and Study Policy, Welsh Language Policy and Welsh Language Standards.
• Adherence to health, safety and wellbeing duties and compliance with all relevant health and safety policies.
• Compliance with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures.

Person Specification

Qualifications / Training

• 2 AS Levels or 1 A level or NVQ level 4 or equivalent (e.g. level 5 IVQ Advanced Technician Diploma; Full Technical Certificate, BTEC, HND/HNC; Vocational Qualification Level 5; Foundation Degree) in a relevant subject area (including biology, chemistry, physics, agriculture, environmental sciences).

Desirable

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant subject, e.g. environmental sciences, biology, chemistry, agriculture.

Experience / Knowledge

Essential

• Experience working in a related field‑based research setting.
• Previous experience following experimental or laboratory protocols.
• Evidence of using Microsoft or other packages to enter data and generate accurate datasets.
• Knowledge of H&S issues in a relevant field or laboratory situation.

Desirable

• Previous experience designing and setting up field and laboratory experimentation.

Skills / Abilities

Essential

• The ability to contribute to team work and to be motivated when working alone.
• Ability to prioritise own work and meet deadlines set by manager.
• Driving Licence for travel to remote field sites.
• Competency in the use of spreadsheets and Word.

Desirable

• Flexibility to work out of hours occasionally.
• Ability to travel to other field sites occasionally (run by ADAS).

Other

Essential

• Physical activity for the greater part of the day and a certain amount of computer work.

Desirable

• Ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh is desirable for this role; learning opportunities are available.

General

The 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 comply with the Welsh Language Standards and are committed to equality of opportunity. All applications will be treated equally. We hold a Silver award in the Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and are a Disability Confident employer.

Applications will be considered via our online recruitment website (jobs.bangor.ac.uk). Closing date: 09 January 2026.
All offers are subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.