Laboratory Assistant

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 268370**Salary**:

- £23,098 - £23,098-
**Job grade**:

- Administrative Officer- Pay Band 6b**Contract type**:

- Fixed Term**Length of employment**:

- This is a Fixed Term Appointment of 3 years with the possibility of extension or permanency but no guarantee.**Business area**:

- FR - Forest Protection**Type of role**:

- Environment and Sustainability
- Science**Working pattern**:

- Full-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- The role is based in Alice Holt Research Station, Farnham GU10 4LH. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.About the job

**Job summary**:
Want to work at the cutting edge of environmental science? Passionate about making a difference and playing your part in tackling the climate and nature crisis? Forest Research is all about giving top quality evidence and advice to policymakers and practitioners to make a positive impact on the ground. Internationally recognised, we need people who have the skills and passion to work on excellent science and provide practical solutions for nature.

We’re small enough that your voice is heard, yet large enough, as part of the Forestry Commission, that we have everything on hand to get the job done, as well as a variety of career pathways. Our staff are dedicated to their work and sharing it with others to bring positive change for our planet. And you will find us a flexible and inclusive employer, so you can have a work life balance that is tailor-made to your circumstances. So whether it’s climate or carbon, pests or pathogens, behaviour or biodiversity that interests you, you can be assured of a warm welcome to the team. To find out more, visit forestresearch.gov.uk.

The job is located within the Physical Environment Research Group, which undertakes research to improve understanding of the interactions between forestry and the physical environment. Our work includes a range of studies to measure, model and map the impacts of forests, woodlands and their management on soil and water resources, including interactions with environmental change. The results help to guide forestry policy and management practices to secure the soil and water services that underpin the multiple benefits provided by forests.

**Job description**:
Our research relies on a high-quality chemical laboratory service located within the Research Group at Alice Holt Lodge in Surrey. The laboratory is staffed by a small team, comprising a laboratory manager, two analysts and one full time plus two part-time laboratory assistants. We are seeking an additional laboratory assistant to further grow the team to assist with preparing a range of samples for chemical analysis from new research studies. Due to a peak in workload, we are looking for someone to start as soon as possible.

The chemical laboratory provides a comprehensive range of standard and specialist tests for inorganic analysis. We handle samples from plants, trees, soil and water following strict quality assurance protocols. Our laboratory is among the top performing chemical analysis facilities across Europe, regularly ranking within the top five in EU-wide inter-laboratory comparison testing. Please refer to Chemical Analysis and Laboratory - Forest Research for more information about our work.

**Purpose of the job**:
A full-time laboratory assistant is needed to help with processing environmental samples for analysis in the chemical laboratory at Alice Holt. Work will primarily involve sorting and processing foliar and root samples in the laboratory, and preparing soil samples for chemical analysis.

**Key Work Areas**:
i. Receiving, transferring, and processing environmental samples, including sorting, sieving, grinding, milling, crushing, weighing and drying

ii General laboratory duties, including keeping worktops tidy and washing sample bottles and containers

**Person specification**:
**Responsibilities**:
We are looking for someone who can follow detailed instructions in accordance with established procedures. Accuracy and tidiness are important in carrying out routine and repetitive tasks. You should be a good team player.

**Essential Criteria**

5 GCSEs or equivalent qualifications, including science, maths and English

**Desirable Criteria**

Some experience of working in a chemical laboratory

**Behaviours**:
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together

**Benefits**:
**Your career**
- Excellent **professional development opportunities** which are tailored to your role, with paid **professional membership** subscriptions, mentoring, and Civil Service Learning available to all
- ** access to world class **laboratory facilities, as well as state of the art buildings within forest or science park settings

**Your work/life