Research Technician

The role

The South West Dementia Brain Bank (SWDBB) at Southmead Hospital are seeking a research technician to underpin our long-term sustainability as a vital enabler of the work of researchers within the national and international dementia research community.

The successful candidate will join our well-established team to assist with the growing numbers of requests for tissue samples and data, the registration of potential donors to the bank, and the acceptance and processing of successful brain donations.

The SWDBB is a research resource of post-mortem brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid. It opened for the receipt brain donations for dementia research in 1984 and became one of the recruitment centres and member brain banks in the ABBUK-funded Brains for Dementia Research Network project in 2010.

What will you be doing?

You will undertake the histology (H&E, Luxol Fast Blue and immunohistochemistry) required for donations to be assessed by our neuropathologist and aid in the preparation of human brain tissue to be distributed for dementia research. You will also be involved in the labelling of samples held within the SWDBB using our dedicated sample tracking system, RFTrackIT.

You will receive routine enquiries from potential brain donors and their families by telephone, escalating requests to the appropriate person to respond to.

You will process human brain tissue which will include fresh, formalin-fixed and frozen tissue dissection according to established standard operating procedures.

You will answer queries from the public about brain donation and research and take consent in accordance with the Human Tissue Act, 2004.

You will arrange the retrieval of new brain donations including supporting and liaising with family members, ensuring legal requirements such as consent are in place and that the death has been certified prior to arranging transportation of the deceased from the funeral directors to the mortuary for tissue retrieval.

You will arrange and give regular tours of the SWDBB to interested parties. Examples include charity partners, financial donors, carers of people with dementia, trainee medical staff and nurses. 

You should apply if

You should apply if you have previous experience of working in a technical laboratory, excellent organisation and IT skills, with the ability to follow procedures in an accurate and timely manner. You will be able to work semi-autonomously within the context of a strong core team and to make decisions within set parameters. You will have proven experience of completing tasks to high levels of accuracy, with attention to detail and a methodical approach to work. You will have a good understanding of the basic principles of scientific research, good laboratory practice & the Human Tissue Act, 2004. A basic knowledge of brain anatomy and previous histology experience would be desirable; however, full training will be provided.

You should be comfortable communicating with people from a variety of social and professional backgrounds and in particular with people directly or indirectly affected by dementia & bereavement.

Additional information

Contract type: Open ended with funding for 12 months

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on 09/11/2025

For any informal queries please contact:

Dr Laura Palmer (South West Dementia Brain Bank Manager):

0117 4147821 / laura.e.palmer@bristol.ac.uk

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