Job Purpose
To provide a core laboratory support service for staff and students working in various Bioengineering laboratories in the James Watt School of Engineering. Responsible for laboratory cleanliness and general housekeeping which includes washing of glassware; handling and disposing of waste, maintaining stocks of lab consumables, and organising stores.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
1. To assist senior technical staff as directed ensuring that clean, safe and well-stocked laboratories are available for students and research staff at all times. Familiarise with relevant codes of practice and health and safety protocols as required for working in laboratories with biological and chemical hazards.
2. To provide a glass washing service using dishwashers that operate with ultrapure water systems and ensure a quick turnaround of clean glassware for the laboratories.
3. To operate autoclaves used to sterilise the glassware and plastics used for biological work and dispose of waste by appropriate means. Maintain stocks of sterilized pipette tips, test tubes and glassware. Prepare reaction vials for washing by removing seals and stoppers in line with routine procedure.
4. To be competent in the use of laboratory equipment e.g. autoclaves, ultrapure water systems, centrifuges, incubators and microbiological safety cabinets after appropriate training.
5. To receive delivery of goods and supplies for the laboratories and ensure that controlled samples are stored at correct temperature until they are passed on to the end user.
6. To maintain housekeeping and cleanliness standards for laboratories including cleaning of communal work areas and sinks, disposing of cardboard and transferring biological waste into designated waste drums in line with lab procedure. Periodic cleaning of incubators, microbiological safety cabinets, cleaning and defrosting fridges and freezers.
7. To organise lab coat cleaning procedure i.e. collect and bag coats ready for shipment to the launderers and take receipt of clean coats and distribute amongst users in the laboratories.
8. To keep solvent bottles topped up in all labs as required and to respond to chemical or other spillages ensuring adherence to all relevant health and safety protocols.
9. To manage central storage areas shared across laboratories and re-order stock as required maintaining a database of stock holding.
10. To monitor consumption of special gases and liquid nitrogen in laboratories and arrange for cylinder replacement and top up of liquid nitrogen after appropriate training.
11. To prepare reagents, buffers and culture media for use by research staff and students through the accurate use of microbalances, micropipettes and volumetric glassware.
12. To stock take and maintain inventories of all chemicals held in laboratories and associated stores for audit purposes.
Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Knowledge and Qualifications
Essential:
A1 Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in a similar role Or Minimum SCQF level 4 in English and Mathematics (National 4) or equivalent, and some experience of working in a similar role
Desirable:
B1 The Cleaning Operators Proficiency Certificate under the British Institute of Cleaning Service scheme or equivalent
B2 A good knowledge of biological laboratory support functions and COSHH
Skills
Essential:
C1 Ability to use specialised equipment to carry out duties
C2 Ability to clean to high standards and show attention to detail
C3 Ability to carry out physical/manual handling tasks
C4 Ability to follow instructions and respond in a flexible manner
C5 Self-motivated and organised
C6 Ability to communicate and work as part of a team
C7 Ability to work to the level of accuracy and reproducibility necessary for preparing research quality reagents
C8 Good level of written and oral communication skills
Desirable:
D1 Ability to reliably carry out basic laboratory support functions in a biological or clinical environment
D2 Good attention to detail and ability to follow defined protocols accurately
Experience
Essential:
E1 Experience of cleaning and providing a support service to very high standard in a specialist research laboratory, clinical hospital lab or similar environment
Desirable:
F1 Experience of working in a biological, chemical or clinical research laboratory, working with bio/chemical hazards and handling bio/chemical waste products
Terms and Conditions
Salary will be Grade 3, £22,728 - £23,581 per annum.
This post is full time (35 hours per week) and open ended (permanent).
As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.
As a valued member of our team, you can expect:
1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.
2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https: // www. gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.
3 A flexible approach to working.
4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University https: // www. gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.
We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https: // www. gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.
We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https: // www. gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.
We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https: // www. gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.
Vacancy Ref : 156030 Close Date : 17-Oct-2024 23:45