Job summary
A fantastic opportunity has arisen for two highly motivated and enthusiastic individuals to join the Specialist Mitochondrial Genomics team, working with the Newcastle NHS Highly Specialised Service for Rare Mitochondrial Disorders.
The successful applicants will work within a small team of highly experienced Genetic Technologists and Clinical Scientists, performing sample processing, genetic testing and the subsequent analysis of genetic data, for patients with suspected mitochondrial disease. You should have excellent planning and organisation skills, along with an attention for detail and the ability to communicate well with all colleagues.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a highly specialised diagnostic service and to contribute to the delivery of genomic testing for mitochondrial disease patients both within the UK and world-wide.
The Mitochondrial Highly Specialised Mitochondrial Diagnostic Laboratory forms part of the North East and Yorkshire Genomic Laboratory Hub (a partnership arrangement between Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, Sheffield Children's Hospital Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals Foundation Trust and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust).
- Interview Date 11/09/2023
- Full & Part Time Hours/Week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
Main duties of the job
The Mitochondrial team in Newcastle is one of three highly specialised component laboratories providing the Rare Mitochondrial Disorders Service for Adults and Children and is commissioned to provide highly specialised mitochondrial testing for the North geography. The team use a broad range of histochemical, immunohistochemical and biochemical assays to support a "genomics-first" approach to diagnosis for patients with suspected mitochondrial disease referred from across the UK and further afield, linking to a multidisciplinary Clinical Service; the laboratory also holds an HFEA licence for mitochondrial DNA-related PGD, is supporting the clinical delivery of mitochondrial donation and is strongly integrated into the research activities of the Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research at Newcastle University (https://www.newcastle-mitochondria.com/).
About us
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest, largest and most successful teaching NHS foundation trusts in the country, with over 18,000 staff and an annual income of £1 billion.
Rated 'Outstanding' by theCQC for the second consecutive time in 2019, we have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.
We're also proud to be the second largest provider of specialised services in the country. This means we support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
Our staff oversee around 1.84 million patients 'contacts' each year, delivering high standards of healthcare.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people's race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The successful candidates will be highly motivated and reliable individuals and will join a team of approximately fifteen scientific and technical staff in the Mitochondrial laboratory in Newcastle. They will be required to perform a variety of genetic tests that require a high degree of accuracy and technical skill, including PCR, pyrosequencing, Sanger sequencing and next generation sequencing, and to analyse and interpret the test results where appropriate. This will be performed under the direction of the senior genetic technologist and clinical scientist teams, following successful training and completion of competency. The successful candidates will be responsible for organising their own workload and must have the ability to keep accurate records of tests performed and the results generated. They will also be required to assist in all routine laboratory duties, including ordering of reagents/consumables and general housekeeping and where required, assist in the booking in and storage of samples into the laboratory, along with the extraction of DNA.
- Acceptance and logging of samples into the laboratory, and extraction of DNA from those samples according to well defined protocols.
- Carrying out straightforward genetic laboratory tests guided by clearly defined policies and procedures under the supervision of a clinical scientist. Reporting of laboratory results to the supervising scientist.
- Carrying out routine housekeeping duties within the laboratory under the direction of the senior technician.
- Limited responsibility for an additional component of the genetics service such as the operation of a specific item of equipment or a specific complex housekeeping task.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The successful candidates will be highly motivated and reliable individuals and will join a team of approximately fifteen scientific and technical staff in the Mitochondrial laboratory in Newcastle. They will be required to perform a variety of genetic tests that require a high degree of accuracy and technical skill, including PCR, pyrosequencing, Sanger sequencing and next generation sequencing, and to analyse and interpret the test results where appropriate. This will be performed under the direction of the senior genetic technologist and clinical scientist teams, following successful training and completion of competency. The successful candidates will be responsible for organising their own workload and must have the ability to keep accurate records of tests performed and the results generated. They will also be required to assist in all routine laboratory duties, including ordering of reagents/consumables and general housekeeping and where required, assist in the booking in and storage of samples into the laboratory, along with the extraction of DNA.
- Acceptance and logging of samples into the laboratory, and extraction of DNA from those samples according to well defined protocols.
- Carrying out straightforward genetic laboratory tests guided by clearly defined policies and procedures under the supervision of a clinical scientist. Reporting of laboratory results to the supervising scientist.
- Carrying out routine housekeeping duties within the laboratory under the direction of the senior technician.
- Limited responsibility for an additional component of the genetics service such as the operation of a specific item of equipment or a specific complex housekeeping task.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- A degree in a biological science subject or Training and experience at GT level to degree level equivalent
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Basic theoretical knowledge of human genetics
- Knowledge of inheritance patterns
Desirable
- Previous research or NHS laboratory experience
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Basic computer and keyboard skills
- Communication and organisational skills
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- A degree in a biological science subject or Training and experience at GT level to degree level equivalent
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Basic theoretical knowledge of human genetics
- Knowledge of inheritance patterns
Desirable
- Previous research or NHS laboratory experience
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Basic computer and keyboard skills
- Communication and organisational skills
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.
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.
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).
