Laboratory Assistant

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

- 412520

**Salary**:

- £28,680
- Pro-rata for job share
- A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

**Job grade**:

- Administrative Officer
- Assistant Scientific Officer

**Contract type**:

- Permanent

**Business area**:

- APHA - Science - Virology

**Type of role**:

- Science

**Working pattern**:

- Full-time, Job share

**Number of jobs available**:

- 3

**Contents**:

- Location
- About the job
- Benefits
- Things you need to know

**Location**:

- New Haw, South East England, KT15 3NB

**About the job**:
**Job summary**:
Do you wish to be part of an amazing, diverse team on the frontline in researching, investigating, and acting to protect the UK’s 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 the 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.

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.

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 three positions available one in the Vector borne diseases team and two within the Avian viral diseases team. Within the vector borne diseases team, the laboratory assistant will support the delivery of diagnostic assays for vector borne diseases. The roles in the avian diseases team will be involved in the development and delivery of conventional and molecular testing workstreams for avian viral diseases and will be involved in frontline diagnostics with one of the roles focusing on genomics and bioinformatics delivery for outbreak response. All three roles will involve working within biocontainment level 3 facilities and full training will be provided.

**Job description**:

- Conduct and support experimental research and diagnostic studies 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.
- Assist with bioinformatics and data analysis of molecular data, including genomic data.
- Working in biocontainment laboratories and using microbiological safety cabinets.
- Conduct experimental and diagnostic work, some of which could involve the handling and sampling of laboratory animals.
- Establish new techniques, write and implement SOPs and maintain, troubleshoot or improve existing methods.
- Maintain Safety standards while working in Biocontainment level 2 and 3 facilities, including writing and implementing Risk Assessments, wearing appropriate PPE and reporting incidents and near misses.
- 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 manuscripts, publications and project reports.
- Producing reagents for diagnostic and research tests for use within APHA and for commercial purposes.
- 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 WHO/WOAH/FAO reference laboratories. This may involve working at weekends or out of hours.

**Person specification**:
**You will need to demonstrate the following**:

- Good written and oral communication skills.
- Knowledge of laboratory techniques such as 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.

**Security Clearance**

**Qualifications**:

- A-Levels or equivalent

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

- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions

**Benefits**:

- Alongside your salary of £28,680, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £8,308 towards you being a m