Laboratory Assistant (ID3801, ID3832, ID3858)
| Posting date: | 23 June 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £28,680 per year |
| Additional salary information: | Pro-rata for job share |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 15 July 2025 |
| Location: | KT15 3NB |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 412520/1 |
Summary
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and works on behalf of the Scottish Government and Welsh Government. Our diverse teams of over 3,000 skilled and committed professionals come together to provide research, advice and support to UK Government for safeguarding animal, public and plant health for the benefit of the environment and economy.
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 Science Directorate (SD) delivers high quality, high impact and highly relevant multidisciplinary science. Our People are diverse, talented, engaged and inspired to deliver innovative outcomes.
As a Laboratory assistant in the Virology department, you will provide scientific support for the delivery of the research projects and maintain competencies for diagnostic tests including genomics to support outbreak response, commercial and statutory diagnosis of a broad range of viruses.
Currently, we have three positions available one in the Vector borne diseases team and two within the Avian viral diseases team. Within the vector borne diseases team, the laboratory assistant will support the delivery of diagnostic assays for vector borne diseases. The roles in the avian diseases team will be involved in the development and delivery of conventional and molecular testing workstreams for avian viral diseases and will be involved in frontline diagnostics with one of the roles focusing on genomics and bioinformatics delivery for outbreak response. All three roles will involve working within biocontainment level 3 facilities and full training will be provided.
- Conduct and support experimental research and diagnostic studies involving a variety of viral diseases.
- Assist with the maintenance and management of the conventional and molecular test portfolio for viral diseases, including the generation of genomic data.
- Assist with bioinformatics and data analysis of molecular data, including genomic data.
- Working in biocontainment laboratories and using microbiological safety cabinets.
- Conduct experimental and diagnostic work, some of which could involve the handling and sampling of laboratory animals.
- Establish new techniques, write and implement SOPs and maintain, troubleshoot or improve existing methods.
- Maintain Safety standards while working in Biocontainment level 2 and 3 facilities, including writing and implementing Risk Assessments, wearing appropriate PPE and reporting incidents and near misses.
- Assist the department in maintaining an efficient and effective quality management system meeting the requirements of ISO9001:2015 certification and ISO17025 accreditation.
- Prepare written reports for inclusion into manuscripts, publications and project reports.
- Producing reagents for diagnostic and research tests for use within APHA and for commercial purposes.
- Be part of the Core capability team to support other groups within the Virology department to perform serological/molecular diagnostic tests in the event of an outbreak or to provide support for WHO/WOAH/FAO reference laboratories. This may involve working at weekends or out of hours.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme