Medical Technical Officer

The microbiology research team at North Bristol NHS Trust are looking to recruit an enthusiastic and motivated full time Research Technician(s) to work within the antibiotic research laboratory conducting contract-based research.

The post holder(s) will need to have met the requirements as listed in the person specification.

North Bristol NHS Trust recognises the need to invest in our research staff and is dedicated to their training and development.

There is potentially more than one position available with this advert:
1. A) 1x substantive position, full time (37.50) hours per week.
2. B) 2x One-year fixed term position, full time (37.50) hours per week which is grant funded. It will terminate at contract end date or when the grant funds for this post ends or no further funding can be obtained.

You will be asked at interview if you’d like to be considered for both the substantive and fixed-term positions.

To undertake data entry and associated clerical duties including input and retrieval of data from Department and other IT systems. To undertake routine maintenance and diagnostic checks on specialist equipment. To assistant in the procurement, provision and management of laboratory supplies. Carry out data collection as appropriate using computer packages. To collect identify, store and prepare bacterial isolates and associated documentation for internal projects and, national and international surveillance studies. To liaise with national and international couriers for transporting bacterial cultures. To prepare isolates for storage at -70 C and to maintain the associated database. To prepare and maintain stocks of bottled media and reagents for specialist research projects. Dismantle and reassemble in vitro models for autoclaving. To collect samples from in vitro models and perform viable counts using the spiral plater. Measurement of antimicrobial agents used in pK/pD studies by immunoassay or bio-assay. Under supervision of qualified staff perform tests to assess the susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics by both routine and specialist techniques, including disc methods, agar and broth dilution methods, E test, PAP and antibiotic - antibiotic interaction studies. To maintain safe and efficient standards of work, following codes of practice. To participate in staff appraisal according to Trust policies and procedures.
- Daily regular movement between geographically separate sections of the laboratory required, transporting equipment, consumables and samples
- Manual handling including lifting heavy objects and waste bags on a regular (daily) basis
- Daily requirement to wear personal protective equipment e.g. gloves, goggles, etc. as supplied.
- Daily exposure to pathogenic bacteria
- Occasional exposure to hazardous chemicals and UV light, blood and other body fluids/tissues including potential Regular use of equipment that can expose the worker to very low temperatures -80C freezers
- Daily requirement to concentrate for long periods at technically demanding procedure.
- Frequent extended periods of VDU usage required for data analysis and input
- Performance of repetitive tasks required
- The post-holder will be required to work alone and /or out of hours on a regular basis
- ly infective and known high-risk material

To work as part of team, supporting senior scientists participating in the provision of high quality pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (pK/pD) analytical services, as provided through the pK/pD laboratory including varied research projects
- To participate in the day-to-day performance of antimicrobial research including routine and specialist microbiology susceptibility tests MIC studies, surveillance studies, immuno, liquid chromatographic & bio assays, including the operation and maintenance of in vitro pK/pD models and HPLC systems after training.
- To provide routine and specialist microbiology susceptibility, enzyme and PCR tests.
- The specific duties carried out will depend on the allocated area of work. The post holder will be required to work alone and to participate in regular out of hours working

This is a one year fixed term position, 2x full time (37.50) hours per week which are grant funded. It will terminate at contract end date or when the grant funds for this post ends or no further funding can be obtained.

There is also an additional 1 permanent position, full time (37.50) hours per week which is also grant funded.