BRF Research Scientist (Surgical)

Vetisco

London

GBP 80,000 - 100,000

Job description

BRF Research Scientist (Surgical)

This is a full-time, permanent position on Crick terms and conditions

Reports to: BRF Senior Research Scientist - Surgical Services

Summary

The Francis Crick Institute (the Crick) is a partnership between the Medical Research Council (MRC), Cancer Research UK (CRUK), the Wellcome Trust, University College London (UCL), Imperial College London and Kings College London. It is a registered charity whose purpose is to conduct biomedical research into all aspects of human health and disease.

The institute is a world-leading centre of biomedical research and innovation. It promotes connections between researchers and disciplines and between academic institutions, healthcare organisations and businesses. Dedicated to research excellence, the institute will have the scale, vision and expertise to tackle the most challenging scientific questions underpinning health and disease. It is world-class with a strong national role —training scientists and developing ideas for public good. The Crick is located in a purpose-built research centre in central London (Midland Road next to St. Pancras International) and houses some 1,250 researchers and 250 support staff.

The state-of-the-art Biological Research Facility (BRF) enables world-leading scientific research involving the use of animals including mice, ferrets, laboratory opossums, fish and frogs. The BRF is both science and welfare driven, flexible, and forward-looking, and promoting collaboration within and beyond the Institute. The Biological Research Facility (BRF) are providing expertise and support for housing and experiment, all underpinned with world-class standards of welfare.

The BRF operates under the jurisdiction of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. A multi-layer licencing system ensures the appropriate use of animals in a research setting, and enshrines in law the necessity of justification, ethical review, and humane practices. A number of Named People are legally responsible for ensuring practices are consistent with the law, and they report to the Home Office.

Organisation

This role will be located within the Surgical Services Core, which sits within the remit of the Experimental Operations and Education and Training teams. The BRF supports researchers by providing expertise and training in all aspects of animal work, with particular focus on welfare and the 3Rs: reduction of animals in research, refinement of procedures to reduce negative impact on the animals, and replacement of animals where possible altogether.

The Surgical Service is expected to provide advice & training on best practice in a variety of surgical techniques, together with the Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS) & Named Training and Competency Officers (NTCOs). In addition, they will be expected to provide surgical support and complete provision of surgical techniques where appropriate to the science to assist in ensuring best animal welfare in surgery & therefore reliability & reproduction of scientific research.

The Surgical RS will report to the Surgical Services Core Lead and work closely with the NVSs and NCTOs to fulfil their role. This will centre on the management, delivery and development of a surgical service to the research community at the Crick. In addition, the post-holder will interact with other scientists and staff across the research laboratories and the Biological Research Facility and with other local and off-site services. They may be expected to contribute to the work of the training team.

Key responsibilities

These include but are not limited to:

To participate across all areas of the Surgical service, and specialising in some key skills. Assisting other members of the team, as well as the wider BRF, to achieve the delivery of specialist services that support scientific research at the Crick. Undertaking reasonable work requests and when required participating in essential out of hour rotas and maintaining surgical suites, consumables & equipment.
Working closely with the Surgical Services Core Lead, the post holder will with experience be expected to assist in the day-to-day management and provision of the service, managing schedules, showing initiative, maintaining records, troubleshooting and improving procedures, while fostering and maintaining good client relationships.
To train and supervise other members of the team & more often, members of the research community at the Crick in best practice in surgical techniques. Working to achieve and exceed the service’s goals, working to agreed protocols and operating in a culture of innovation, best practice and collaboration. To be conscious of resourcing constraints, acting to achieve value for money. Training may include delivery of workshops, and assessment of competency in surgery.
To maintain records of their work for communication, for reporting and compliance, ensuring that their own scientific work and that of staff they supervise, is carried out accurately and efficiently, adhering to legal frameworks. Develop methods to assess competence & best practice in the techniques the postholder is skilled in.
To report on the outcome of their work, collaborating with the wider team to address problems and make changes and improvements.
To develop a considerable knowledge base across all aspects of this work helping to improve and update techniques and protocols, aiming to refine procedures to ensure optimisation of animal welfare, scientific outcomes and a culture of care.
To carry out any other reasonable request from the Surgical Services Core Lead, Head of Training and Education, BRF Head of Operations and the Director of the BRF. This may include regularly contributing to other aspects of the BRF’s operations, especially to ensure business continuity and animal welfare.

Key experience and competencies

This is a technical role and a scientific background is not essential. The post holder should embody and demonstrate our core Crick values: Bold, Imaginative, Open, Dynamic and Collegiate, in addition to the following:

Essential

Qualifications, experience and competencies

Will have achieved either of the following qualifications or greater:
- Registered Veterinary Nurse
- Personal Licence Holder under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, Category C
Experience of performing small animal surgery and procedures under prolonged general anaesthesia.
Experience with microscopy and surgical/micromanipulation equipment.
Experience of conducting aseptic procedures.
Experience of contributing effectively to the work of a team, a flexible and cooperative approach to working with others.
Experience of customer service.
Ability to work independently, problem solve, maintain good records & work flexibly & proactively.
Experience with or willingness to work on animal models & familiarity with the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

Desirable

Qualifications, experience and competencies

Further qualification (preferably a subject relevant degree).
Experience in providing effective training in surgical procedures
Experience in assessment of competence

Skills and abilities

Demonstrate the ability to quickly grasp technical tasks and apply them confidently and decisively.
Patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations.
The ability to tolerate stillness and remain focused during lengthy procedures.
The ability to work well with your hands.
The physical and mental stamina to conduct multiple complex surgeries in one day.
Ability to work with minimal supervision, prioritising appropriately.
Excellent hand/eye coordination.
Fine motor skills.
Conscientious and reliable.
Common sense.
Thorough with good attention to detail.
Ability to think creatively within a hierarchy.
Ability to troubleshoot problems and exhibit good judgement when called for.
Willingness to troubleshoot equipment and perform basic repairs and maintenance.
Able to work independently and drive a project forward.
Good project planning, time-keeping, organisational and record-keeping skills.
Ability to organise and prioritise their own and others workload to meet defined and conflicting deadlines, fluctuations in function and resource availability and maintain standards.
Ability to comply with Crick policy and procedures and to promote as necessary
Capability to problem solve, use initiative and think beyond the immediate work area.
Ability to keep up to date with best practice and show some skill in applying that knowledge.
Proficient in Microsoft based software and internet skills.
Good written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to train staff to become competent in their duties, working to defined standard operational procedures.
Ability to interact with all levels of the Crick staff providing a high level of customer service.
Proactive and flexible in approach.
Strives for continuous improvement in performance.
Developing and ensuring BRF values of:
- Science & welfare driven, embracing philosophies of the 3Rs
- Dynamic, integrated and interactive, understanding scientific needs
- Proactive, ambitious, flexible, adaptable and receptive to change
- Creative in developing training, career structure and opportunities
- Adopting mechanisms to review, control and promote sharing and synergies
- Providing efficiency, effectiveness and value for money

Find out what benefits the Crick has to offer:

For more information on our great pay and benefits package please click here: https://www.crick.ac.uk/careers-and-study/life-at-the-crick/pay-and-benefits

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:

We welcome applications from all backgrounds. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, pregnancy, age, disability, or civil partnership, marital or family status. We particularly welcome applications from people who are Minority Ethnic as they are currently underrepresented in the Crick at this level.

Diversity is essential to excellence in scientific endeavour. It increases breadth and perspective, leading to more innovation and creativity. We want the Crick to be a place where everyone feels valued and where diversity is celebrated and seen as part of the foundation for our Institute’s success.

The Crick is committed to creating equality of opportunity and promoting diversity and inclusivity. We all share in the responsibility to actively promote dignity, respect, inclusivity and equal treatment and it is our aim to ensure that these principles are reflected and implemented in all strategies, policies and practices.