Laboratory Technician

To apply for this role you must have:

• Previous experience of working in a laboratory (desirable).
• Willing to work with fruit flies
• Educated to GCSE / A level standard or equivalent in a science subject

We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Laboratory Technician to join a leading neuroscience research centre at the University of Oxford. In this vital support role, you’ll work as part of a collaborative team maintaining Drosophila melanogaster stocks, preparing fly food media, and ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the laboratory.

The position is set to commence ASAP and will be full-time for an initial duration of 12 weeks with a pay rate of £16.92 per hour + holiday pay

Key Responsibilities:

The candidate will be expected to organise and complete the following tasks required to support the ongoing work of the Centre:

      Maintenance of Drosophila Stocks

• Large scale preparation and dispensing of fly food media, including organisation of supplies.
• Transfer of large numbers of unique fly stocks according to a predefined schedule.
• Accuracy and attention to detail are essential, some use of stereomicroscopy is required.

   

  General Laboratory Duties

   

• Maintain adequate levels of general laboratory consumables.This involves frequent communication with suppliers to source consumables and troubleshoot supply issues, receipt and storage of deliveries, and stock control.
• Glassware cleaning, equipment maintenance, and contributing to the general cleanliness and upkeep of the laboratories.
• Prepare standard media and plates as required.
• Operate autoclaves to sterilise glassware, media / solutions and biological waste.
• Keep accurate records of work completed, including data entry into computerised databases.
• Attend safety training courses as required to keep up to date with Good Laboratory Practice, Health and Safety, and other regulations relevant to the post.

Selection Criteria:

• Previous experience of working in a laboratory (desirable).
• Willing to work with fruit flies
• Educated to GCSE / A level standard or equivalent in a science subject.
• Reliable and able to manage own work activities.
• Methodical and careful approach to work.Must show attention to detail and meticulous record keeping.Must be able to follow protocols and standard operating procedures consistently and accurately.
• Able to communicate clearly with a variety of people, including researchers, technical support staff and suppliers.
• Strong team working skills.
• Manual dexterity and a reasonable level of physical fitness – to store / access consumables and move items between the basement and first floor laboratories on a daily basis.
• Good computer literacy skills.
• Experience of Microsoft Office applications, including Word and Excel.

Vacancy ID: 20655

Please be aware that all candidates need to be able to start work immediately and must be able to work on site if required to do so.

Further information can about the Temporary Staffing Service can be found on our website https://www.jobs.ox.ac.uk/temporary-staffing-service