Apprentice Laboratory Technician – BioEscalator BioEscalator

What you will do in your working day

You will assist the Laboratory Manager with the smooth running of the core laboratory facilities in the BioEscalator. We have commercial tenants and this is a customer-focused role, so we are looking for a mature and practical person who communicates well and is keen and quick to learn with a can-do attitude.

Your main role will be daily organisational tasks for running our laboratories. You will receive on-the job training in a range of technical activities by working alongside our Laboratory & Facilities Manager.  Your work will range from general laboratory housekeeping, to understanding the management of scientific equipment, Health & Safety within the work place, purchasing equipment/supplies and assisting our tenants.

All tasks will be at a level appropriate to the apprentice’s developing skills. Under the guidance of the Laboratory & Facilities Manager, the successful candidate will be expected to support all aspects of the laboratories in the BioEscalator, including:

• Assist the Laboratory & Facilities Manager with helping new tenants to move into their laboratories. Communicate with tenants both verbally and by e-mail.
• Maintain stocks of general laboratory consumables and chemicals.
• Learn general laboratory housekeeping (i.e. good laboratory practice), following relevant Health and Safety procedures, to ensure a safe working environment is maintained. Keep all laboratory areas clean and tidy.
• Assist the Laboratory & Facilities Manager with running the shared labs on a daily basis, including changing gas cylinders, operating standard lab machinery such as autoclaves and glasswashers, refilling the liquid nitrogen supply tank weekly and collection of dry ice. Note: that this will involve some manual handling.
• Assist the Laboratory & Facilities Manager in routine maintenance of ultra-low temperature (i.e. - 80°C) freezers and keep accurate records. Also, maintain and keep a record of personal protective equipment such as face visors, cryogenic gloves, safety spectacles, and UV googles.
• Assist the Laboratory & Facilities Manager in maintaining the tissue culture facilities including making up 70% ethanol and 1% virkon.
• Carry out routine equipment maintenance, testing, and cleaning.
• Assist the Laboratory & Facilities Manager with weekly disposal of hazardous laboratory waste from core facilities including hazardous chemical waste.
• Take monthly meter readings (electricity) in proprietary labs and undertake weekly management of laboratory coat and tea towel laundering.
• Report equipment faults to the Laboratory & Facilities Manager and assist in resolving them.
• Assist the Laboratory & Facilities Manager in supervision of external contractors (such as service engineers) and provide cover in the absence of the Laboratory & Facilities Manager.
• Other jobs as requested by the Laboratory & Facilities Manager or Business Manager. It is a small team, so this could include covering reception, meeting room setups, and other administrative tasks.

The training you will be getting

Through the training provider, CSR Scientific Training, you will undertake a Level 3 Laboratory Technician Apprenticeship which will include: 

·       Fully recognised apprenticeship qualification - Level 3 Laboratory Technician 

·       On-the-job competency training 

·       Theoretical knowledge - BTEC Level 3 Applied Science

The majority of your learning will be completed online once a week with some face-to-face practical sessions/exams in Sutton Coldfield.

Upon successful completion, apprentices can apply for professional registration as a Registered Science Technician, RSciTech, with either the Royal Society of Chemistry or Royal Society of Biology.

What to expect at the end of your apprenticeship

Working for a biotech company or University of Oxford research departments. Degree apprenticeship in Science (Level 6 qualification). Go onto to do a degree in Science at a University or Open University.