Advanced Research Assistant

Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges.

We have an exciting opportunity for an Advanced Research Assistant on a 2-year, fixed-term contract to join the Wet Lab Support Team in the Cellular Genetics Programme. This role offers the chance to contribute to the generation of a 3-dimensional atlas of the human body at the cellular level.

The Programme:

Research being carried out within the Cellular Genetics Programme significantly contributes to the Human Cell Atlas (HCA) – a global initiative to map every cell in the human body which aims to transform our understanding of biology and disease. The Programme is contributing to this venture by applying single cell transcriptomic and spatial genomic technologies to a wide range of healthy and diseased human tissues and also in vitro model systems.

The Team:

The Cellular Genetics Wet Lab Support Team assists in data generation by supporting with all the aspects required for delivery of the Programme science; from tissue acquisition logistics (including governance checks), sample and laboratory management, to the development, validation and implementation of novel bespoke techniques for cellular level sample interrogation.

About the role:

As an Advanced Research Assistant in the team you will be responsible for providing robust and consistent laboratory support for the generation of single cell and spatial transcriptomic sequence data. You will be responsible for providing a mix of pipeline protocols as well as project specific wet lab assistance to the Programme’s faculty teams. Training will be provided with a focus on quality, transparency and a high level of attention to detail. You will work as part of a team of laboratory scientists and scientific managers, where communication and collaboration are absolutely key to the success of the team.

Key accountabilities of the role:

• Follow a variety of laboratory protocols and procedures, including but not limited to; tissue dissociation to single cells or nuclei, RNA/DNA extraction, preparation of libraries for RNA sequencing; testing new protocols and scaling them up.
• Assist with fresh tissue dissociation projects; this may require occasional out-of-hours work.
• Conduct more bespoke experimental work utilising experience and deeper scientific understanding. Troubleshoot, challenge and innovate where appropriate.
• Ensure project targets are met within the defined time scale. Maintain an up-to-date record of experimental procedures.
• Oversee and manage day-to-day running of the laboratory experiments, including own workload. Identify areas where improvements could be made.
• Supervise and recommend relevant equipment purchases. Assess robotic/equipment/experimental faults and issues as they arise and use initiative to independently troubleshoot to ensure a rapid solution to avoid a decrease in lab output or data quality.
• Provide regular feedback to the group leader if there are arising issues, and report on project progress, during team and one-to-one meetings as necessary. Share good practice.
• Help review and optimise SOPs and associated Risk Assessments. Help investigate improvements and trial new reagents/equipment where applicable.
• Monitor laboratory resources, re-ordering where necessary to ensure stock levels are maintained to help keep the laboratory running as efficiently as possible.
• Provide technical advice and guidance to less experienced team members and colleagues where applicable.
• Form a coherent part of the team overall, regularly interacting with other laboratory scientists and scientific managers within the team, across Cellular Genetics faculty groups and also the wider Sanger community. To provide meaningful exchange of knowledge, interacting professionally and effectively at all times.
• To facilitate the transfer of samples, consumables, reagents and equipment between us and our many collaborators. To proactively manage receipt, storage, use and disposal of any biological samples handled within the faculty labs. Ensuring receipt, use, transfer and disposal of samples takes place in accordance with the Institute’s policies.
• Ensure standards of health and safety are maintained across the team (through use of risk assessments, incident reporting, DSeasy, new starter initiation and inspections). Communicate and share good practice, promote and foster a culture of health and safety.
• Ensure that all work being carried out is done so within the institute’s research policies to make sure that all research undertaken is ethical and legal.

About you:

To excel in this role you should have the following skills and experience:

• Degree in Biological Sciences, or equivalent qualification
• Relevant, post-graduate laboratory experience
• Significant hands-on manual experience of core molecular biology techniques, including PCR, RNA/DNA extraction, library preparation and similar
• Experience of dissociating tissue samples to single cells/nuclei for the generation of single cell RNAseq data
• Ability to learn new protocols and then run them independently
• Ability to test and implement new approaches and techniques
• Proven process improvement/troubleshooting ability
• Computer literate
• Excellent laboratory practice
• Writing and reviewing SOPs
• Experience working with human tissue samples / Human Tissue Act

The Cellular Genetics Wet Lab Support Team assists in data generation by supporting with all the aspects required for delivery of the Cellular Genetics Programme science, for more information: supportive culture with the following staff networks, LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others.

We want our people to be whoever they want to be because we believe people who bring their best selves to work, do their best work. That’s why we’re committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at Sanger Institute. We will consider all individuals without discrimination and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, where everyone can thrive.

Our Benefits:

We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The importance of good health and adopting a healthier lifestyle and the commitment to reduce work-related stress is strongly acknowledged and recognised at Sanger Institute.

Sanger Institute became a signatory of the International Technician Commitment initiative In March 2018.  The