Laboratory Assistant (ID4771)

Do you wish to be part of an amazing, diverse team on the frontline in researching, investigating, and acting to protect the UKs animal, plant and bee health? If so, why not join us and make a difference. 

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and works on behalf of the Scottish Government and Welsh Government. Our diverse teams of over 3,000 skilled and committed professionals come together to provide research, advice and support to UK Government for safeguarding animal, public and plant health for benefit of the environment and economy.

APHA is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, because it helps us be more innovative and make better decisions. We are dedicated to being an inclusive employer, offering equitable opportunities for all individuals. Our goal is to build a diverse workforce, and we hope to attract applications from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups.

The Science Directorate (SD) delivers high quality, high impact and highly relevant multidisciplinary science. Our People are diverse, talented, engaged and inspired to deliver innovative outcomes.

The Virology department is a multi-disciplinary team with a statutory remit in named reportable, endemic, notifiable and exotic diseases for the delivery of research, diagnostic services and surveillance programmes. As a Laboratory assistant in the Virology department, you will provide scientific support for the delivery of the research projects and maintain competencies for diagnostic tests including genomics to support outbreak response, commercial and statutory diagnosis of a broad range of viruses. Currently, we have a position in the avian diseases team working in the International Reference Laboratory for avian influenza, swine influenza and Newcastle disease. This role will involve working within the biocontainment level 3 facilities for which full training will be provided.

We can also offer you a fully funded Biological Science Degree Apprenticeship at Level 6 or a Level 3 Laboratory Technician if you wish at the next available intake. There are specific qualifications required to undertake this apprenticeship.

• Conduct and support diagnostic studies and experimental research involving a variety of viral diseases.
• Assist with the maintenance and management of the conventional and molecular test portfolio for viral diseases, including the generation of genomic data.
• Work in biocontainment level 2 and 3 laboratories using microbiological safety cabinets.
• Maintain Safety standards while working in Biocontainment level 2 and 3 facilities, including writing and implementing Risk Assessments, wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and reporting incidents and near misses.
• Conduct experimental and diagnostic work, some of which could involve the handling and sampling of laboratory animals.
• Support the delivery of training workshops provided to national and international partners.
• Establish new techniques, write and implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and maintain, troubleshoot or improve existing methods.
• Assist with bioinformatics and data analysis of molecular data, including genomic data.
• Assist the department in maintaining an efficient and effective quality management system meeting the requirements of ISO9001:2015 certification and ISO17025 accreditation.
• Prepare written reports for inclusion into manuscipts, publications and project reports.
• Be part of the Core capability team to support other groups within the Virology department to perform serological/molecular diagnostic tests in the event of an outbreak or to provide support for World Health Organization (WHO)/ World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)/ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reference laboratories. This may involve working at weekends or out of hours.

Experience and skills:

You will need to demonstrate the following:

• Good written and oral communication skills
• Knowledge of laboratory techniques such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR - real-time / standard), immunoassays, virus isolation.
• Knowledge of genetic sequencing and genomic analyses (Sanger and Next-/Third Generation Sequencing)
• Understanding of different biocontainment levels
• Knowledge of working to ISO 17025 and ISO9001 standards
• Knowledge of virology

Qualifications

If you wish to undertake a Level 6 Biological Degree Apprenticeship you will require:

• Science A levels or equivalent
• GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent) OR be willing to complete Functional Skills modules in working level Maths and English as part of the apprenticeship pathway.

For Level 3 you will not require A Levels in Science or equivalent but will require GCSEs Maths and English (or equivalent)

Government apprenticeship requirements state that the apprenticeship will provide substantive new skills and learning and that the apprenticeship programme it is materially different to any other training undertaken or qualification held. For this reason, applicants who already have a science degree cannot be accepted.

Security clearance

The Weybridge site is a strategically important national asset due to its role as a reference laboratory supporting the Governments response to national emergencies including disease outbreaks. For this reason all postholders based on the APHA Weybridge site must hold a valid Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) security clearance or above. It is up to each person applying for a post at APHA Weybridge to ensure they meet the residency criteria. Applicants must be currently resident in the UK & have at least three years continuous UK residency as this is a requirement to work at the Weybridge site where the team and work is situated.

Workplace arrangements

This post is based at APHA Weybridge and requires you to be working in the Laboratory five days per week or less if part-time.

The successful candidate will need to comply with a number of health protocols and wear protective clothing and Respiratory Personal Protective Equipment (RPPE) as required. The work involved in this post can be physically demanding as it involves long periods of time on your feet working in the laboratory as well as moving around site from one laboratory to another; therefore, a level of physical fitness is required. It also involves repetitive actions (e.g. pipetting) and lifting of waste containers that may be heavy. A level of physical fitness is required to access biosecure areas due to the need to access the buildings and requirement to wear personal protective equipment which in some laboratories requires a full change of clothes.

The post will also require Health clearance. You will be expected to complete a questionnaire on your general health and have any necessary vaccinations or health surveillance, including skin sensitisers, and tetanus. This will be arranged by the Health Team, Weybridge. It may also be necessary to undergo a pre-employment medical assessment.