Research Technician

Salary: As this vacancy has limited funding the maximum salary that can be offered is Grade 4, salary £27,166.

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to April 2029

Background

This full-time position (35 hours/week) within the College of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences and will be supporting the research of Dr Alex Slater.

The post is funded for 4 years by BHF to study novel regions of platelet receptor GPVI that can be targeted to treat thrombosis. This will be achieved through a combination of structural biology and site directed mutagenesis to find regions of GPVI that are critical for its activation in the membrane. Protein constructs of these critical regions will then be made and used to raise nanobodies with the ability to inhibit GPVI function. These nanobodies will be characterised in a range of assays to determine their inhibitory properties with the aims of developing them for further use as antithrombotic agents. 

Main Duties

• Protein expression using mammalian and bacterial culture systems
• Protein purification using affinity chromatography and size exclusion chromatography
• Molecular biology techniques focussing on site directed mutagenesis, mini prep and maxi prep DNA extraction 
• Protein-protein interaction assays including surface binding assays (ELISA)
• Characterisation of antibodies or antibody derived fragments (i.e nanobodies)
• Carry out techniques and experimental procedures as required by research staff, students and Principal Investigators, designed to contribute to a specific research project or projects.
• You will be expected to resolve problems in your area of expertise but also to recognise when problems need to be referred to more senior staff.
• You will need to maintain accurate records of all techniques and experimental procedures carried out, and of any other research activities you may be involved in, including results.
• Comply with any legislation relevant to the area of research/activity.
• Comply with the Standard Operating Procedures for the activity.
• Demonstrate techniques to other staff and/or students on the area of expertise as required.
• You will contribute to internal and external audit procedures and to regulatory inspections.

Person Specification

• NVQ, BTEC/ONC at level three or equivalent level three qualification and specific relevant experience in an appropriate subject.
• GCSE level 2 (A*- C/4-9) or equivalent level 2 qualification in mathematics and English.
• Practical experience of the above techniques and a working knowledge of Good Laboratory Practice.
• Experience of working in a laboratory based teaching or research environment; or be able to demonstrate the capability to participate in research projects.
• Ability to organise and manage own workload after consultation with manager.
• Familiarity with the use of a wide range of general laboratory equipment e.g. balances, pH meters, autoclaves, glass washing machines, microscopes.
• Proactive approach to Health and Safety matters, together with the communication skills to interact with a range of people, including students.

Informal enquiries can be made to Carol Benham, email: c.a.benham@bham.ac.uk or Dr Alex Slater, email: a.slater@bham.ac.uk. 

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.

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