Senior/ Laboratory Research Scientist

Senior Laboratory Research Scientist / Laboratory Research Scientist

Reporting to: Emma Nye, Experimental Histopathology Lead

This is a full-time, permanent position on Crick Terms and Conditions of Employment.

Context

The Francis Crick institute (the Crick) is a partnership between the Medical Research Council (MRC), Cancer Research UK (CRUK), the Wellcome Trust, University College London (UCL), Imperial College London and Kings College London. It is a registered charity whose purpose is to conduct biomedical research into all aspects of human health and disease.

The institute is a world-leading centre of biomedical research and innovation. It promotes connections between researchers and disciplines and between academic institutions, healthcare organisations and businesses. Dedicated to research excellence, the institute has the scale, vision and expertise to tackle the most challenging scientific questions underpinning health and disease.

Experimental Histopathology (EHP) is a Science Technology Platform (STP) within the Crick, providing a comprehensive and interactive centre for the histology-based analysis of experimental tissues and human bio resources/clinical trials, with the aim of relating experimental models to the pathology of human disease.

The purpose of this post is to provide comprehensive support in the operations of the EHP STP. The post responsibilities include shared responsibility for the smooth running and efficient operation of the EHP STP via the implementation of established in-house histology-based techniques and workflows, operation of instruments, general laboratory organisation and interaction with other members of the STP and Crick researchers. The post holder will also be required to investigate and develop new technologies to enhance the capabilities of the STP.

Crick scientists are encouraged to collaborate with, and work in the EHP STP, and training Crick scientists is an essential activity of the laboratory.

Organisation and Objectives

The post-holder will work in the Experimental Histopathology STP, providing advice, training, and expertise in a range of techniques to analyse cells and tissues from experimental models and human tissue.

Their time will be spent in the lab, where they will support multiple tasks, including having responsibility for collaborative consultation; providing histological expertise in the embedding, sectioning and staining of a wide variety of experimental tissues, both paraffin, frozen and other formats. A significant element of the role will be to provide training, so the post holder will need to be experienced in interacting with and training others in histology-based techniques.

Other responsibilities may also include automated IHC/IF staining on Leica Bond RX and Roche Ventana Discovery platforms, rodent/other animal model dissections and preparation, plus general lab organisation/administration.

The post holder must be proactive, well organised, and an excellent team-player with the ability to think creatively and draw on experience when troubleshooting.

The post holder will report to both the STP Deputy and STP Lead Emma Nye and will interact closely with 9 other laboratory staff plus post-docs, students, scientists, and technicians from labs and STPs at the Crick, as well as scientific partners of the Crick.

Key responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:

• Exemplifying and maintaining standards for the service

• Supporting and contributing to existing projects through effectively and efficiently performing established techniques

• Conducting experimental work autonomously and by own initiative on projects as agreed with the deputy and STP Lead

• Operating as a technical specialist in histology-based techniques

• Interacting and consulting collaboratively with researchers to help plan experiments

• Liaising with other members of the EHP team; actively supporting and training team members to develop their skills and promote collective success

• Providing specialised training to researchers, visitors, and other Crick staff as required

• Using knowledge to build on existing methodologies and innovate through identification, assessment and development of new technologies, to expand the capabilities of the facility under guidance of STP Deputy and Lead

• Contribution to the day-to-day operations to ensure the laboratory runs as efficiently as possible, including reagent preparation, operation and maintenance of STP equipment, sample accession and preparation, maintenance of safety standards and general lab organisation

• Communication and participation in lab work discussions, lab meetings and STP talks, to keep colleagues informed of developments

• Striving for continuous performance improvement

• Maintaining professional development through attendance at meetings, seminars and reading relevant literature

Person Specification

The post holder should embody and demonstrate our core Crick values: Bold, Open, and Collegiate, in addition to the following:

Essential

• Degree (or equivalent) or extensive relevant experience

• Extensive histology experience including embedding, microtomy, cryotomy, and tinctorial staining

• Evidence of teaching/training experience

• Flexible working practice

• Ability to work with day-to-day independence but able to take direction when necessary

• High degree of self-motivation

• Ability to multi-task and integrate the demands of different activities in parallel to maintain operation of the laboratory

• Evidence of strong trouble-shooting skills, including the ability to analyse and think creatively and independently

• Excellent communication skills

• Experience using the Microsoft Office package, particularly Microsoft PowerPoint

• Open and interactive approach with line manager, colleagues and collaborators

Desirable

• PhD in a relevant discipline

• Experience running Leica Bond RX automated stainers

• Experience running Roche Discovery automated stainers

• Experience using a vibratome

• Experience/skills in IHC/IF

• Experience cutting sections for spatial transcriptomics platforms (CosMx, GeoMx, Visium, Xenium)

• Experience in RNAScope (ISH) staining

• Experience working in an academic environment

• Experience working in a service environment

• Experience in image acquisition and analysis

• Experience in rodent adult/embryonic dissection

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Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:

We welcome applications from all backgrounds. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, pregnancy, age, disability, or civil partnership, marital or family status. We particularly welcome applications from people who are Minority Ethnic as they are currently underrepresented in the Crick at this level.

Diversity is essential to excellence in scientific endeavour. It increases breadth and perspective, leading to more innovation and creativity. We want the Crick to be a place where everyone feels valued and where diversity is celebrated and seen as part of the foundation for our Institute’s success.

The Crick is committed to creating equality of opportunity and promoting diversity and inclusivity. We all share in the responsibility to actively promote dignity, respect, inclusivity and equal treatment and it is our aim to ensure that these principles are reflected and implemented in all strategies, policies and practices.

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