Modern Apprentice – Biology Technician

Overview

Role: Modern Apprentice – Biology Technician

Grade and Salary: Year one: £23,350 per annum, Year two: £23,742 per annum

FTE and working pattern: Full time, 35hrs per week, Monday –Friday

Contract: 3.5yrs (42 months)

The School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society has an exciting opportunity for a Modern Apprentice (Biology) Technician to develop their skills within the Lyell Centre technical team. The Modern Apprentice will be joining a technical services team that is committed to supplying the highest quality support to enthusiastic applied research groups within the Lyell Centre, with a focus on supporting the Wolfson Climate Change Research Aquarium, the environmental research facilities and marine field work.

We are looking to employ a Modern Apprentice who is keen to progress in the world of life sciences and who has a real passion and desire to work within a laboratory-based environment as well as enjoys actively participating in fieldwork. The successful candidate must have a flexible, enthusiastic attitude with good team working ability. The ability to follow instruction and self-motivation are also pre-requisites.

Field work at sea will require that applicants are able to pass an ENG1 medical examination and a Survival at Sea course which will constitute part of the training programme.

Over a period of 3.5 years, the Apprenticeship will involve attending a local further education college on a part-time basis and spending the rest of the time working within the Lyell Centre research environment gaining hands-on experience by contributing to ongoing research projects.

As the individual’s skills develop, they will be involved with the day-to-day running of the aquarium facility, as well as other laboratory-based analyses across the environmental research laboratory facilities of the Lyell Centre and during fieldwork campaigns. This can include applying, maintaining, rectifying and repairing a wide range of equipment for both research purposes and teaching.

Under instruction from the Technical Services Manager and Senior Technicians, the successful candidate will receive on-the-job training in the workplace and through external course provision to learn the following:

• Work and train alongside other technicians and researcher staff and students in the aquarium and environmental research laboratory facilities in the
• Installation, maintenance, modification and fabrication of scientific equipment required for research.
• Learn to operate the range of equipment in the Lyell Centre’s aquarium and research laboratory facilities
• Assist with the set ups of experimental apparatus.
• Learn to work with a standard range of equipment including microscopes, balances, pipettes etc.
• With guidance, participate in project and field work.
• Support proactive H&S compliancy checks and maintenance.
• Support field work at sea on small vessels and fishing vessels.

All tasks will be at a level appropriate to the apprentice’s developing skills and under the guidance of a mentor and others in the technical team.

Health and Safety

Working at all times with due care to the requirements of safe working, never putting themself or anyone else at any risk, regardless of expediency or convenience, seeking advice and assistance from technicians or supervisors whenever questions arise.

Equipment operation

Learn to properly and safely use and test scientific apparatus as well as maintaining this equipment.

Personal development

To complete training and practical work in the laboratories and become competent in the range of skills listed above. To attend day release college as outlined above to gain a full background in biosciences, completing all coursework to a high standard and within agreed time frames.

Personal Responsibility

To keep themself, their working environment, and equipment neat and in good order, to the satisfaction of the mentor, and to take joint responsibility for a safe and tidy aquarium and laboratory facility

Teamwork

To be an active and enthusiastic member of the technical team, supporting colleagues as need be. This includes undertaking additional tasks which may…