Research Laboratory Associate

Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

Are you a motivated and organised scientist who would like a new challenge? Do you have or want experience working in a clinically affiliated research laboratory? We seek to appoint a highly motivated laboratory associate to perform gamete quality and function assays, with an interest/experience in infertility treatment, to join the Centre for Human Reproductive Science.

The Centre is a joint research unit across Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital and The Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, College of Medical & Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham. Our team includes the international leaders in sperm signaling and motility research and we pride ourselves on being a centre of excellence in Andrology.

Main duties of the job

The research carried out in this post will focus on the delivery of lab-based mechanistic research work in clinical trials and research related to diagnosis and therapeutics based on human sperm, but it will also provide general support to the ChRS director and Group. The position will not be based in the clinical treatment lab.

Organisational skills, collaborative spirit and interactive communication skills are a must. Candidates should have previous laboratory experience. Andrology and in-depth experience with cell imaging is a plus. Experience with recruiting patients for research is desirable.

This post is subject to change to reflect the needs of the services and projects available.Please note that this is an 18-month, fixed term post.

In the event of an exceptionally high level of response, we reserve the right to close the post before the date stated to prevent the number of applications received being unmanageable. You are advised to submit your completed application as soon as possible to have the best chance of being considered.

Informal enquiries are encouraged. For more information, please contact Jackson Kirkman-Brown MBE PhD, Director - Centre for Human Reproductive Science (ChRS) at J.KirkmanBrown@bham.ac.uk

About us

Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust is the first of its type in the UK. Our Trust was formed in February 2017 to drive forward our commitment to provide the highest quality, world-class physical and mental health care for our women, children and families. Uniting our hospitals means more seamless care; more investment to make greater advances in our specialist treatment and world-leading neo-natal and fetal work. Importantly, it also gives us a greater voice in shaping the future of family-centred care.

Birmingham Children's Hospital is a UK leading specialist paediatric centre with an international reputation in several areas.

Birmingham Women's Hospital is one of two dedicated women's hospitals in the UK, with the busiest single site maternity unit, delivering more than 8,200 babies a year offering a full range of gynaecological, maternity and neonatal care.

Forward Thinking Birmingham (FTB) Mental Health Services are a unique, innovative community and inpatient mental health partnership. Alongside partners FTB offers care pathways of mental health assessment and treatment for young people aged 0-25 years old.

Our Trust is committed to creating the best place to work. We believe in promoting and enhancing inclusion, diversity and equality and encourage applications from all areas of the community, who meet the criteria for the role, regardless of age, gender identity, disability, race, religion or sexual orientation.

Date posted

03 January 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year Per Annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

18 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

284-25-6878280-COCM

Job locations

Birmingham Women's Hospital

Mindelsohn Way

Birmingham

B15 2TG


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification to view the full details for this opportunity at Birmingham Womens and Childrens NHS Foundation Trust.

When completing your application, please ensure you have evidenced how you meet the job description and person specification to include transferable experience, qualifications, skills along with professional registration details (if applicable).

Occasionally we receive a large number of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification to view the full details for this opportunity at Birmingham Womens and Childrens NHS Foundation Trust.

When completing your application, please ensure you have evidenced how you meet the job description and person specification to include transferable experience, qualifications, skills along with professional registration details (if applicable).

Occasionally we receive a large number of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree in life sciences related subject, or equivalent

Desirable

  • Masters or PhD level or relevant experience related to reproductive biology
  • ESHRE Basic Semen Analysis course qualified, or equivalent

Knowledge/Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in a regulated laboratory e.g. HTA, MHRA, HFEA
  • Experience of performing validated assays, analysing data generated and deciding on appropriate action.
  • Excellent organisational skills

Desirable

  • Experience of working in an HFEA regulated laboratory
  • Experience with semen samples and processing
  • Experience of advanced microscopy skills or automated image capture

Skills

Essential

  • Experience of working independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
  • Works methodically and carefully, generating reproducible data
  • Good communication skills, both verbal and written, including experience of orally presenting work to colleagues
  • Experience or theoretical knowledge and understanding of specialist sperm-related assays including the TUNEL assay and other methods of assessing cell status
  • Ability to be standing/walking for majority of the working day and to have the manual dexterity required for laboratory processes
  • Manual dexterity for laboratory processes

Desirable

  • Experience of presenting work more widely e.g. at conferences
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree in life sciences related subject, or equivalent

Desirable

  • Masters or PhD level or relevant experience related to reproductive biology
  • ESHRE Basic Semen Analysis course qualified, or equivalent

Knowledge/Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in a regulated laboratory e.g. HTA, MHRA, HFEA
  • Experience of performing validated assays, analysing data generated and deciding on appropriate action.
  • Excellent organisational skills

Desirable

  • Experience of working in an HFEA regulated laboratory
  • Experience with semen samples and processing
  • Experience of advanced microscopy skills or automated image capture

Skills

Essential

  • Experience of working independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
  • Works methodically and carefully, generating reproducible data
  • Good communication skills, both verbal and written, including experience of orally presenting work to colleagues
  • Experience or theoretical knowledge and understanding of specialist sperm-related assays including the TUNEL assay and other methods of assessing cell status
  • Ability to be standing/walking for majority of the working day and to have the manual dexterity required for laboratory processes
  • Manual dexterity for laboratory processes

Desirable

  • Experience of presenting work more widely e.g. at conferences

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Birmingham Women's Hospital

Mindelsohn Way

Birmingham

B15 2TG


Employer's website

https://bwc.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Birmingham Women's Hospital

Mindelsohn Way

Birmingham

B15 2TG


Employer's website

https://bwc.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

Science Lead-Birmingham Women's, Director-ChRS

Jackson Kirkman-Brown

j.kirkmanbrown@bham.ac.uk

Date posted

03 January 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year Per Annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

18 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

284-25-6878280-COCM

Job locations

Birmingham Women's Hospital

Mindelsohn Way

Birmingham

B15 2TG


Supporting documents

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