Apprentice Laboratory Technician

All tasks will be at a level appropriate to the apprentice’s developing skills. Under the guidance of the Laboratory & Facilities Manager, the successful candidate will be expected to support all aspects of the laboratories in the BioEscalator, including:

Assist the Laboratory & Facilities Manager with helping new tenants to move into their laboratories Communicate with tenants both verbally and by e-mail Maintain stocks of general laboratory consumables and chemicals Learn general laboratory housekeeping (i.e. good laboratory practice), following relevant Health and Safety procedures, to ensure a safe working environment is maintained Keep all laboratory areas clean and tidy Assist the Laboratory & Facilities Manager with running the shared labs on a daily basis, including changing gas cylinders, operating standard lab machinery such as autoclaves and glasswashers, refilling the liquid nitrogen supply tank weekly and collection of dry ice. Note that this will involve some manual handling Assist the Laboratory & Facilities Manager in routine maintenance of ultra-low temperature (i.e. - 80°C) freezers and keep accurate records. Also, maintain and keep a record of personal protective equipment such as face visors, cryogenic gloves, safety spectacles, and UV googles Assist the Laboratory & Facilities Manager in maintaining the tissue culture facilities including making up 70% ethanol and 1% virkon Carry out routine equipment maintenance, testing, and cleaning Assist the Laboratory & Facilities Manager with weekly disposal of hazardous laboratory waste from core facilities including 6-monthly disposals of hazardous chemical waste Take monthly meter readings (electricity) in proprietary labs and undertake weekly management of laboratory coat and tea towel laundering Report equipment faults to the Laboratory & Facilities Manager and assist in resolving them Assist the Laboratory & Facilities Manager in supervision of external contractors (such as service engineers) and provide cover in the absence of the Laboratory & Facilities Manager To promote and support best practices so that sustainability becomes an integral part of everyday laboratory work Assist the Laboratory & Facilities Manager in organising and supporting sustainability meetings with tenant company representatives, focused on identifying and implementing sustainability practices in laboratories and the wider workplace Other jobs as requested by the Laboratory & Facilities Manager or Business Manager. It is a small team, so this could include covering reception, meeting room setups, and other administrative tasks

Training:

As part of this role, you will undertake a Level 3 Laboratory Technician apprenticeship with the training provider CSR Scientific Training. You will also complete either a Level 3 BTEC in Applied Science or a Level 4 HNC, depending on previous academic attainment.

During your apprenticeship, you will work full-time (36.5 hours per week) at the Innovation Building - BioEscalator (part of the Medical Sciences Division) at the Old Road Campus, Headington. The 2-year training programme will include in-house training as well as day-release or other distance learning methods delivered by CSR Scientific Training.

In total, it will take 2-years to complete all elements of the apprenticeship, with support from the department, University, and training provider throughout.

Becoming an apprentice at the University of Oxford is an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience and training. For more information, please visit: https://www.apprenticeships.ox.ac.uk

Training Outcome:

Over 80% of our apprentices continue with us in the role they have been trained for after their apprenticeship and that is just the start of their career.

Employer Description:

The BioEscalator is the University of Oxford’s thriving biomedical incubator, based on the Old Road Campus and co-located with the University’s major medical research institutes. It is dedicated to nurturing high-growth potential biomedical start-ups with the aim of making a meaningful impact on human health.

The incubator provides flexible laboratory and office space and shared equipment facilities to commercial tenants as well as access to entrepreneurial support, specialist networks and industry investors, enabling companies to advance from early seed stage through to sustainability. The BioEscalator hosts a tailored programme of innovation-focused events and is supported by an experienced business management team and a Management Board drawn from scientific, clinical and academic leaders. Its community includes Oxford spin-outs and global innovators working on cutting-edge therapeutics, diagnostics and platform technologies, with a strong record of significant funding raised, job creation and alumni success. Space is let on a flexible basis and ranges from single benches in a shared lab to private labs.

There are purpose-built shared facilities: molecular biology labs, including a tissue culture suite and chemistry lab; the Hub (the centre of collaboration and events); and meeting rooms. It is run by a small team of dedicated staff with a commitment to customer service, a can-do attitude and an innovative mindset: we collaborate, we innovate and everyone pitches in.

Working Hours :
Monday - Friday, working hours TBC

Skills:
Communication skills,IT skills,Attention to detail,Organisation skills,Customer care skills,Problem solving skills,Administrative skills,Logical,Team working,Initiative