Assistant Scientific Officer(ID3332)
| Posting date: | 30 May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £25,070 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 16 June 2025 |
| Location: | Penrith |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 406581/1 |
Summary
APHA is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, because it helps us be more innovative and make better decisions.
We are dedicated to being an inclusive employer, offering equitable opportunities for all individuals. Our goal is to build a diverse workforce, and we hope to attract applications from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups.
The successful candidate will carry out laboratory testing duties in the APHA Penrith Laboratory. The role covers work in Bacteriology and Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) culture work with support to other areas as required. 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 microbiology, molecular biology 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.
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/CEM 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
Quality
- 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
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme