Laboratory Assistant

Salary - £24,679 to £26,190
Fully site based
Fixed Term for 12-Months and Full-Time (37 hours per week)

UKCEH is looking for a Laboratory Assistant to join our 600-strong team, contributing to scientific discovery and generating the data, insights and solutions that researchers, businesses and governments need to solve complex environmental challenges.

Working at UKCEH is rewarding. Our science makes a real difference, enabling people and the environment to prosper, and enriching society. We are the custodians of a wealth of environmental data, collected by UKCEH and its predecessors over the course of more than 60 years.

As a valued member of our team, you’ll get:
- 27 days annual leave, plus 3 days for our Christmas closure- 10% employer pension contribution-
- 24 hour, 365-day access to support with physical, mental, social, health or financial issues plus access to our trained Welfare Officers- Flexible working opportunities

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Are you passionate about life sciences or chemistry, and have a genuine desire to work in laboratory setting? We have an exciting opportunity for an entry-level Laboratory Assistant to join our Analytical Chemistry Group in Lancaster

This is a unique opportunity to analyse inorganic, organic, and stable isotopes in a wide range of environmental samples. Contributing to the understanding of a multitude of environmental questions. You’ll be working in world-class laboratories (accredited to ISO17025:2017), using cutting-edge instruments and contributing to the delivery of high-quality chemistry data, analysis, and results for a wide range of science areas.

You will be joining an established, diverse, and busy team where you will be responsible for sample preparation, operation, maintenance and troubleshooting of a pool of analytical instruments. This role would suit someone who has excellent attention to detail and enjoys working in a methodical manner, within a controlled environment.

In return we are fully committed to the development of our employees which is why you will be given full support with your ongoing learning and development and receive comprehensive training and full PPE.

You’ll be joining a leading independent, not-for-profit research institute that’s committed to recruiting talented people like you, progressing your career and giving you the support you need to thrive at UKCEH.

Your main responsibilities will include:
- Preparing materials, equipment, and resources for laboratory analyses- Sample management and preparation (drying, weighing, grinding), sample extraction and clean up- Operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting laboratory instruments used in the analysis of alkalinity, pH, TC and TN, etc.- Procurement - purchasing general equipment and reagents- Uploading data into Microsoft Excel, plotting, and calculating results- General laboratory housekeeping duties including safe storage of chemicals, maintaining a safe and tidy laboratory environment, ensuring the supply of consumable items, stock rotation, waste disposal- Adherence to COSHH and Risk Assessment guidelines

For the role of Laboratory Assistant, we’re looking for somebody who has:
- A keen interest in chemistry and life sciences- Previous experience working in a busy laboratory, preparing and managing samples- The ability to work independently, with good time management skills- Excellent communication skills and attention to detail- A team-oriented approach and be able work collaboratively with others- Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel- Knowledge of health and safety best practice within a laboratory environment, or able to follow health and safety protocols

About Us
Here you can explore the kind of roles we recruit for, search our latest vacancies, learn more about what it's like to work at UKCEH, and find out about the many benefits of joining our team.- Every one of our 600+ staff and 50+ postgraduate students plays a vital role in delivering our ambition to understand the environment and the human impact on it, so that together people and nature can prosper.

How we work is just as important as what we achieve. We want UKCEH to be a welcoming, inclusive, engaging and collaborative place to work. We embed our values - excellence, integrity and teamwork - into everything we do.