Assistant Scientist

Become an Assistant Scientist with Fera Science and make your contribution to the UK’s Biosecurity through Crop Protection and Plant Health studies.

With a heritage stretching back over 100 years, we built our reputation on delivering science for the public good against threats including plant pests, diseases and chemicals that have a global impact on our food security and natural environment.

We respond to key challenges facing our society and the implications that this will have. Original thinking applied.

We’re hiring innovative scientists across Virology, and the Molecular Diagnostics Team.

**Job title**:
Assistant Scientist - Molecular

**What you’ll be doing**:

- Working in the lab with diagnosticians and scientists you will assist with the diagnosis of plant disease along with supporting survey and project work.
- You’ll be expected to follow Standard Operating Procedures and work closely with other team members to achieve day to day service delivery targets.
- Checking and preparing samples (e.g. plants, potato tubers, or seeds) ready for testing.
- Testing of samples will require the utilisation of a range of techniques including traditional methods such as isolation or inoculation of pathogens as well as molecular screening methods e.g. PCR, and ELISA.
- Preparation and labelling of consumables
- Stock control and ordering of consumables used in diagnostic work.
- Assisting in validation and implementation of improvements in diagnostic and detection methods.
- Help to clean and maintain routinely used facilities and equipment.
- Carry out work in accordance with ISO 17025 and ISO 9001quality accreditation standards.
- Providing support for other work in the Plants Programme as required.

**What **we’re looking for**
- Preferably you will have a strong interest in Plant Pathology or Molecular Biology and a keenness to progress in this field.
- You will have a methodical approach to work and have excellent attention to detail.
- Customer service skills are also key as you may respond to customer queries as you gain more experience.
- It’s a busy laboratory so you will need to be able to effectively prioritise work, be a keen collaborator as well as having the ability to work autonomously.

**About Fera**:
At Fera, we’re making the world a better, healthier and safer place. We’re a joint venture partnership between Capita and Defra and we’re working proactively to protect the world we live in and the food we eat. Our teams are investigating plant and bee health, crop protection and sustainable agriculture. Join us and discover better as you deliver world-class science for the future.

**Fera **are part of Capita Plc, a leading UK provider of technology enabled business services. We’re supporting and improving the lives of millions of people every day and we can only do this with the right people in place, working towards a shared goal. We encourage an open, honest working environment where everyone can be true to themselves and people are valued for their differences. We’re always challenging each other to learn and improve, because we know when we work together, we can deliver better outcomes. We work across such a huge range of businesses and sectors, that you’ll have the opportunity to grow and develop your career in any number of directions.

**What’s in it for you?**
- A competitive salary of £23,000
- 23 days’ holiday (rising to 27) with the opportunity to buy extra leave
- Company matched pension, life assurance, a cycle2work scheme, 15 weeks’ fully paid maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, paternity pay of two weeks and plenty more
- Voluntary benefits designed to suit your lifestyle - from discounts on retail and socialising, to health & wellbeing, travel and technology
- The opportunity to take a paid day out of the office, volunteering for our charity partners or a cause of your choice
- Access to our Employee Network Groups, which represent every strand of diversity and allow colleagues to connect and learn from each other on an open, inclusive platform
- The role is based at our world class site near York, UK with access to start-of the-art facilities, on site gym, free parking and discounted public transport
- You’ll be required on site full time, 37.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday. We offer flexi time anytime between 7am and 7pm

**What we hope you’ll do next**:
**Location**:
York
,

United Kingdom

**Time Type**:
Full time

**Contract Type**:
Permanent