Technician - Strain Development
Location: Oxitec, On site / Edinburgh, UK
Job type: Fixed Term / Full-Time
Sector and subsector: Science | Research & Development
Salary: Competitive Salary
Purpose of the Job
Oxitech is seeking a highly motivated Technician to join their dynamic team dedicated to the research and development of their self-limiting technology in arthropod species that spread disease.
As one of the Oxitec team members in their new Scotland hub, you will join their strain development team and work under the direction of the Team Lead or the Research Scientists in the team. You will contribute to an exciting research project, working alongside their partner organisation – the Roslin Institute – to develop transformation methods and handling techniques that will streamline their strain development processes.
This role requires a highly motivated individual, capable of providing technical support within a small team. Your duties will range widely from equipment procurement to experimental execution and data collection.
Responsibilities
- Join a small team (3-5 staff members) tasked with developing the transformation methods necessary to generate self-limiting ticks and test the resulting strains;
- Tick colony maintenance for use in experiments, running experiments according to specified protocols to develop and test transgenic strains;
- Data collection and recording of experimental data;
- Providing clear communication to the strain development Team Lead on experimental status;
- Supporting the smooth running of the laboratory, maintaining tidiness, and supporting the team’s compliance to established procedures, regulations and health and safety;
- Assisting with maintaining up to date health and safety records and writing and updating SOPs and risk assessments;
- Providing occasional weekend support as part of a rota within the R&D team.
Skills, Experience, and Education Requirements
- Educated to A-level standard in a scientific subject;
- Experience of working in a biological sciences laboratory is preferred, with arthropod rearing expertise desirable;
- Competency in MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint;
- Clear and concise communication skills.