Temporary Laboratory Technician - Four Roles Available!

SureScreen Scientifics Ltd is a world-class laboratory testing. The impressive 1740's Georgian house, only 10 minutes from Derby, surrounded by beautiful gardens, orchard & beehives often frequented by deer, has been renovated over the last 6 years to a busy state of the art scientific laboratory. With a focus on research to deliver new products to the market, this brings a revolving door of excitement.

Ecology work involves analysis of water or biological samples for detect species such as Great Crested Newts, Crayfish and Bats. Renowned for research excellence, SureScreen has also developed molecular techniques to identify a bird sex from a feather, a plant species ID from a leaf as well as tests for specific species.

Visit our websites here for more information; www.surescreenscientifics.com and www.neovos.com

The purpose of these four temporary roles is to play a vital role in the routine analysis of environmental samples for the presence of environmental DNA (eDNA), using molecular biology techniques. We anticipate the roles will required for four months initially but in previous years this has been extended by some weeks depending on demand so this may be a possibility this year too but this is not guaranteed.

The season which requires this additional support begins in April so candidates need to be available at this time to start the contract.

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities of the role include but are not limited to:

• Responsible for the sample entry to the laboratory, centrifugation and concentration. Involved running several centrifuges and careful pipetting. A critical bottleneck part of the analysis process requiring the machines to be run continuously whilst there are samples ready.
• Responsible for DNA extraction, ensuring samples are handled in a careful and timely way whilst following standard operating procedures.
• Manufacture sample collection kits following detailed instructions. There are up to seven types of sample collect kits to manufacture, each requiring to follow different instructions and involves mixing solutions. There are up to 20 components in a kit, each item is critical for sample collection, therefore care needs to be taken to ensure each kit is complete.
• Sample receipt and book in customer samples to the laboratory when received using our internal jobs database. This is a critical step to catch any sample issues, ensure the details are correct so that the customer receives notifications, ensure dates are correct so deadlines are not missed and ensure paperwork is organised to improve time efficiencies.
• Maintain laboratory tidiness and cleanliness.
• Maintain Health & Safety standards and ensure compliance.
• Ensure quality standards are maintained.
• Keep a record of stock levels and report them to supervisor at regular intervals.
• To assist with other areas of the business when demand requires, such as: quality checking manufactured kits, despatch and administrative tasks.
• Week shifts to be alternating between morning and evening. May require one week of nights to ensure samples are processed during the peak of sample analysis. Overtime and weekend working may also be available.

We are looking for someone who:

• Has a methodical approach to tasks
• Is well organised
• Has good attention to detail
• Can work at a fast pace
• Is proactive in nature; there is always something to be done to help the team
• Is self-motivated
• Feels a need to get it right
• Displays a positive can-do-it attitude
• Is a team player
• Has previous pipetting/DNA extraction/PCR experience which would be a bonus
• Has a interest in molecular biology, molecular ecology or eDNA as another bonus!