Assistant Laboratory Scientist

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

- 251791**Salary**:

- £22,150- Pro-rata salary for job share**Job grade**:

- Administrative Officer- Assistant Scientific Officer**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Business area**:

- Surveillance and Laboratory Services**Type of role**:

- Science**Working pattern**:

- Full-time, Job share**Number of jobs available**:

- 2Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- Plumptonfoot, North West England, CA11 9RRAbout the job

**Job summary**:
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 2,000 skilled and committed professionals come together to provide research, advice and support to UK Government for safeguarding animal, public and plant health for benefit of the environment and economy.

The purpose of the job is to be a member of a team carrying out sample testing to establish the diagnosis of animal disease, monitoring animal health, screening for incursion of exotic disease, and performing statutory testing. A wide variety of tests are undertaken utilising molecular biology, microbiology and serology.

All work is undertaken in a minimum of Containment Level 2 laboratories, with some areas of work being undertaken at Containment Level 3.

The post holder will be required to:

- Work to Agency safety and quality standards.
- Test submissions using scientific techniques used in APHA.
- Provide support and undertake duties on behalf of local Quality and Safety managers.

**Job description**:
Laboratory scientists are required to gain a high level of competency in all technical disciplines undertaken at the laboratory and are required to work in different areas of the laboratory involving different disciplines on a rotational basis to provide testing cover where it is needed.

**Bacteriology duties working with veterinary and administrative teams**
- To learn laboratory tests across a wide range of disciplines.
- Work in all laboratory departments as required.
- Carry out tests requested by our customers.
- Record results onto LIMS or to admin staff as soon as available
- Occasional weekend overtime (Rostered weekends)
- Ensuring the appropriate disposal of specimens and other clinical laboratory and animal waste.
- Setting up Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) cultures
- Reading culture plates
- Performing biochemical tests to determine ID

**Molecular Biology**
- Receive in samples using the LIMS IT system.
- Preparation of samples prior to DNA/RNA extraction.
- DNA/RNA extraction procedures including work at Containment Level 3.
- PCR clean room procedures
- Performance of end-point and real time PCR

**TB Culture work in CL3 Laboratory**
- Receive in samples using the LIMS IT system.
- Process tissues by liquid and solid culture.
- Carry out further investigational work on cultures and harvesting of positive M. bovis cultures.
- Prepare paperwork and despatch of samples.

**Post-mortem support**
- Occasional work in the post-mortem room, as required.
- Provide support in the post-mortem room with sampling and recording of findings, including collection of samples and preparing instruments/trays.

**Quality (all departments apply)**
- Work to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and local procedures
- Check and report results, liaising with line manager
- Maintain laboratory daybooks and records
- Ensure equipment logs are up to date and that failures are reported to Responsible Officer
- Assist with maintenance of ISO17025 accreditation by working to SOP’s
- Contribute to the ethos of working to the highest quality standards
- Archive specimens according to agreed procedures

**Health and safety**
- Contributing to a positive safety culture by following Agency safety policies and procedures
- Understanding and following controls in Risk Assessments.
- Ensuring equipment maintenance duties are carried out in all areas of the laboratory.
- Participate in contingency exercises and other safety training
- Participate in safety audits/inspections to support the local safety manager

Work activities may change depending on the needs of the business which may involve training for additional tests and tasks not detailed on this job description.

**Person specification**:
Staff (excluding under 18-year-olds) may be required to work rostered weekends, Bank Holidays and occasional evenings. APHA Management reserves the right to change overtime patterns to meet requirements. You may be eligible for overtime payments and where overtime is approved you will receive appropriate payment. The work of the post can be physically demanding

Travel may occasionally be required to attend training courses and undertake farm visits. You must have a valid driving licence or be able to call upon suitable alternate means of transport.

**Behaviours**:
We'll assess you against these beha