Research Technician

Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 37,000

Job description

19883BR

School of Medicine

Managerial, Professional and Specialist Staff – MPSS

Research Technician

Division of Infection and Immunity – Viral Immunology

School of Medicine

College of Biomedical and Life Sciences

Applications are invited for a Research Technician position to work in the Viral Immunology laboratory at Cardiff University. The position will be in the group of Professors Richard Stanton, Ian Humphreys, Eddie Wang, and Ceri Fielding and will be based in the Henry Wellcome Building, Heath Park campus.

The post is funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the post-holder will work on a project investigating the ability of antibodies and immune cells to control infection with SARS-CoV-2 through activities such as antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). The ultimate goal will be to generate superior vaccines and immunotherapies and will involve working at containment level 3. There will also be the opportunity to work with murine models of infection.

The post-holder will provide research and administrative support for in vitro and in vivo studies, help towards the overall research performance of the Viral Immunology Group, and contribute to the general running of the laboratory. Our group is well funded by the Wellcome Trust, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, National Institutes of Health, and Medical Research Council. Candidates with experience in virology, immunology, and/or in vivo research techniques or equivalent experience are encouraged to apply.

For informal inquiries please contact Prof Richard Stanton ([e-mail]).

This is a full time (35 hours per week) fixed term post until 29th February 2028, and available immediately.

Salary: £33,482 - £36,130 per annum (Grade 5). Appointments to roles at Cardiff University are usually made at bottom of scale unless in exceptional circumstances.

Cardiff University offers many excellent benefits, including 45 days annual leave (incl bank holidays), local pension scheme, a cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives, annual increments within the pay scale, and more. It is an exciting and vibrant place to work, with many different challenges and is a proud Living Wage supporter.

Date Advertised: 25 March 2025

Closing date: 17 April 2025

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Job Description

Job Purpose

Support the University within viral immunology research, carrying out supporting work, providing advice, guidance and support, and leading projects within this area.

Duties And Responsibilities

Key Duties

• Provide professional advice and guidance on viral immunology processes and procedures to internal and external customers, using judgement and creativity to suggest the most appropriate course of action where appropriate, and ensuring complex and conceptual issues are understood.
• Investigate and analyze specific issues within a laboratory environment, creating recommendation reports, supported by advances within viral immunology.
• Ensure that the provision of laboratory work is delivered to the institution, proactively changing the delivery according to customer requirements.
• Collaborate with others in order to make recommendations for developments of established processes and procedures.
• Establish working relationships with key contacts, developing appropriate communication links with the University’s Schools/Directorates and outside bodies as required.
• Create specific working groups from colleagues across the University to achieve Division of Infection & Immunity objectives.
• Supervise specific project teams on an occasional basis to accomplish key objectives.
• Develop and deliver training within viral immunology.
• Undertake a variety of administrative duties to support the department.
• Instruct and guide other employees across the University within viral immunology as required.

General Duties

• Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties.
• Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity.
• Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Education

• Degree/NVQ 4 or equivalent Professional membership/experience.

Knowledge, Skills And Experience

• Substantial experience of working within specialist discipline.
• Able to demonstrate professional knowledge within specialist discipline to give advice and guidance to internal and external customers.
• Ability to set up standard office systems and procedures and make improvements as appropriate.

Customer Service, Communication and Team Working

• Ability to communicate conceptually detailed and complex information effectively and professionally with a wide range of people.
• Evidence of ability to explore customers’ needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure a quality service is delivered.

Planning, Analysis and Problem solving

• Evidence of ability to solve expansive problems using initiative and creativity; identifying and proposing practical solutions and resolving problems with a range of potential outcomes.
• Evidence of demonstrable knowledge of key advances within specialist discipline.
• Evidence of ability to work unsupervised to deadlines, planning and setting priorities for own work and that of others and monitoring progress.

Other

• A willingness to undertake further training and development.

Desirable Criteria

• Postgraduate/Professional qualification.
• Experience of working in a Higher Education environment.
• Fluency in Welsh, written and oral.

Additional Information

IMPORTANT: Evidencing Criteria

It is the School of Medicine's policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing. Candidates should evidence that they meet ALL of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable. As part of the application process you will be asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement.

Please ensure when submitting this document / attaching it to your application profile you name it with the vacancy reference number, in this instance for this post, 19883BR.

If candidates do not provide written evidence of meeting all of the essential criteria then their application will not be progressed. The School of Medicine welcomes the submission of CVs to accompany evidence of the job-based criteria.

Salary Range Min.

33,482

Salary Range Max.

36,130

Job Category

Academic - Research, Medical & Dental

Grade

Grade 5