Apprentice Nuclear Scientist
THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
Greater Manchester (M13 9PL)
Closes in 12 days (Wednesday 20 August 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 7 August 2025
Contents
Summary
The Technical Apprenticeship Programme will provide you with the ability to become the best version of yourself, taking your career with full support to the next level. We will provide you with strong knowledge and skills to support a wide range of laboratories and workshops across some of the world's leading research and teaching facilities.
- Wage
-
£23,414 a year
- Training course
- Scientist (level 6)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (variable times to suit workplace requirements) 1 hour for lunch.
35 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 15 September 2025
- Duration
-
5 years
- Positions available
-
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
As our apprentice you will receive detailed instruction, information, and training pivotal to the successful implementation of technical support within an education and research setting. From dynamic spaces, research institutes, to elaborate laboratory areas across the entire university. You will play a key part in supporting the Nuclear provision across our Science and Engineering department.
The Nuclear Laboratory Scientist is expected to play a key role in supporting our experimental facilities so that they run efficiently in response to the needs of the research and taught programs. They will be expected to have a close and supportive working relationship with the academic staff, researchers and technical staff who are delivering research projects and taught modules.
Day to day duties will include, but not limited to the following:
- Perform experiments using a wide range of equipment and provide support to staff, students and visitors
- Preparation of solutions, samples and standards for instrumental analysis and experimentation
- Operate gloveboxes, thermogravimetric analysers (TGA), Liquid scintillation counters, ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, particle size characterisation, gas chromatography and mass spectrometer (GCMS) and Rheometry
- Maintain, clean, and service equipment. Carry out routine inspections, calibration, maintenance and repairs
- Upkeep housekeeping to maintain Health & Safety
- Provide technical support to staff and students using the nuclear laboratories as well as research and commercial activities
- Keep records of usage of radioactive and hazardous materials as required by the legislation and servicing records of experimental and safety equipment
- Writing risk assessments, COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) assessments and SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures)
- Contribute to the LEAF accreditation processes of our laboratories
Where you'll work
Oxford Road
Manchester
Greater Manchester
M13 9PL
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
Training course
Scientist (level 6)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Identify and apply scientific approaches to solve problems, support investigations and recommend any follow-up experiments.
- Evaluate scientific experiments using an appropriate level of qualitative and quantitative numerical analysis.
- Critically analyse data, relevant literature and input from colleagues to inform investigations.
- Analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific data and present the results in written and oral form.
- Manage record keeping to ensure data integrity, traceability, confidentiality and adherence with appropriate regulatory requirements.
- Promote, enact, document, and monitor the application of quality standards, safe working practices and compliance with risk management systems relevant to the role.
- Identify opportunities to challenge assumptions and apply influencing skills to make improvements, make new proposals and build on existing ideas.
- Manage work plan, prioritise tasks and evaluate progress against objectives.
- Contribute to the development of technical projects across multi-skilled teams and share best practice across the wider business.
- Conduct complex (chemical, or physical, or biological) scientific investigations in accordance with defined company procedures and legislative requirements.
- Identify and implement continuous performance improvement using appropriate techniques.
- Ensure work meets environmental, risk management and sustainability requirements and regulations of the business sector.
- Evaluate own performance and knowledge, and set personal development goals.
- Troubleshoot equipment selection and implement sustainable solutions.
- Identify and collaborate with key stakeholders and provide technical support and advice where required.
- Identify how other roles in the organisation can contribute to achieving sustainability goals.
- Select and apply equipment, techniques, and methods to ensure reliable and accurate results.
- Undertake practical analyses and measurement and communicate the outcomes using appropriate terminology and mathematical and graphical notation.
- Use appropriate digital solutions for the collection and analysis of data, and the retrieval of appropriate information.
- Use communication methods suited to objective and audience.
- Use theoretical models, often involving approximations, to make quantitative predictions.
- Apply chemical concepts and theories to investigations.
- Design, develop and carry out chemical science investigations.
- Recommend synthetic pathways to target-compounds and design experimental activities to test predictions.
- Design and deploy purification, isolation and characterisation strategies, taking account of physicochemical properties of elements and compounds.
- Design, develop and carry out qualitative and quantitative sample preparation, chemical measurement, and analysis.
- Critically compare the results of theoretical or computational modelling with those from experiment and observation.
- Apply physics theories to solve problems that cross scientific discipline boundaries.
- Apply computational techniques to analysis and model physical behaviour.
- Apply physics concepts and theories to investigations.
- Design, develop and carry out physics based investigations.
- Use mathematical techniques and theories to solve physics problems.
- Use computer programming software to solve physics based problems.
- Critically analyse current and emerging developments in the biosciences and the contribution of Biosciences to the wider industry.
- Apply Biological concepts and theories to investigations.
- Design, develop and carry out biological investigations
- Perform tasks related to sample preparation and culturing techniques.
- Use of laboratory automation systems.
- Perform sampling with consideration for sample variation.
- Identify and apply scientific approaches to solve problems, support investigations and recommend any follow-up experiments.
- Evaluate scientific experiments using an appropriate level of qualitative and quantitative numerical analysis.
- Critically analyse data, relevant literature and input from colleagues to inform investigations.
- Analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific data and present the results in written and oral form.
- Manage record keeping to ensure data integrity, traceability, confidentiality and adherence with appropriate regulatory requirements.
- Promote, enact, document, and monitor the application of quality standards, safe working practices and compliance with risk management systems relevant to the role.
- Identify opportunities to challenge assumptions and apply influencing skills to make improvements, make new proposals and build on existing ideas.
- Manage work plan, prioritise tasks and evaluate progress against objectives.
- Contribute to the development of technical projects across multi-skilled teams and share best practice across the wider business.
- Conduct complex (chemical, or physical, or biological) scientific investigations in accordance with defined company procedures and legislative requirements.
- Identify and implement continuous performance improvement using appropriate techniques.
- Ensure work meets environmental, risk management and sustainability requirements and regulations of the business sector.
- Evaluate own performance and knowledge, and set personal development goals.
- Troubleshoot equipment selection and implement sustainable solutions.
- Identify and collaborate with key stakeholders and provide technical support and advice where required.
- Identify how other roles in the organisation can contribute to achieving sustainability goals.
- Select and apply equipment, techniques, and methods to ensure reliable and accurate results.
- Undertake practical analyses and measurement and communicate the outcomes using appropriate terminology and mathematical and graphical notation.
- Use appropriate digital solutions for the collection and analysis of data, and the retrieval of appropriate information.
- Use communication methods suited to objective and audience.
- Use theoretical models, often involving approximations, to make quantitative predictions.
Training schedule
In addition to your level 6 apprenticeship qualification, we offer a unique 5 year apprenticeship programme filled to the brim with a wide range of certified qualifications such as, Hons Degree in Chemistry, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), Chemicals of Substance Hazardous to Health (COSHH), Cryogenics, Gas cylinder, Laser safety and much more.
The initial training is deliberately broad to teach a wide range of technical competencies allowing you time to learn and grow within an everchanging Science and Engineering environment.
Later in your programme you will learn to undertake key procedures, supporting research, teaching, and infrastructure.
You will spend a mixture of time working alongside our specialists to gain the technical skills required to carry out your duties as a Nuclear Scientist, whilst attending a local university to complete your degree. We will provide you with all the necessary equipment, uniform, and robust training to make this the apprenticeship of your choice.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4 (or equivalent))
- Maths (grade 4 (or equivalent))
A Level in:
BTEC in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Presentation skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Passion for Science
- Willing - ATAS application
Other requirements
Please note: Due to regulatory and national security requirements associated with the nature of the work, this role is restricted to individuals who hold British nationality. This restriction is necessary to meet compliance obligations related to working in sensitive nuclear research areas. ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) successful applicants may be required to apply for an ATAS certificate.
About this employer
One of the world’s leading universities built on research and teaching practices, coupled with one of the most respected apprenticeship programmes in the UK. Our programme builds its success’s year-on-year and continues to develop, matching the needs of the university and our community. We are proud of our strong reputation, supporting each of our apprentices with individualised training, specialised projects, and targeted development to build a future career at the cutting edge of technology.
Company benefits
Generous annual leave plus closures. Pension for you and family. Well-being, counselling, and health support. Learning and development opportunities. Transport loans, Cycle to Work schemes. Workplace nursery. Staff discounts on high street and online
After this apprenticeship
Upon completion of the apprenticeship in 5 years’ time, you will have a portfolio of key nuclear science skills and a wealth of varied, relevant experience.
Most apprentices are successful in securing a role with the university or choose to continue their academic studies. Whilst we cannot guarantee a permanent position at the University of Manchester, we endeavour to match apprentices with appropriate vacancies and support them through the entire application process.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000335961.
Apply now
Closes in 12 days (Wednesday 20 August 2025 at 11:59pm)
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