Brain Bank Team Leader

Job overview

Applications are invited from Biomedical Scientists with extensive, post-HCPC registration histology or neuropathology technical experience to join the small but busy Cambridge Brain Bank (CBB) team at CUH.

CBB provides high quality CNS tissues for neuroscientific research from consented brain donors.

The ideal candidate is highly motivated, well organised, a good communicator and has great attention to detail. This is an exciting opportunity to build on your team leading skills and expand your histology experience to include further training in brain anatomy, dissection and sampling to support tissue requests for research.

The technical support required for research requests is bespoke and often complex but is rewarding particularly when the CBB is acknowledged in publications.

Main duties of the job

To practice as an advanced biomedical scientist with special responsibility for leading the Cambridge Brain Bank (CBB) in the collection and provision of CNS material for research.

The role will involve the receipt, handling, sampling and histological preparation of CNS tissues from whole brain donations. The preparation, storage, distribution and respectful disposal of tissues must comply with Human Tissue Authority legislation and guidance stipulated by the CUH Human Tissues Management Committee, Trust and Pathology governance and research ethics committees.

The CBB team leader manages the technical staff and workload to ensure

• a high quality and timely histology-based technical service is maintained
• the correct documentation for research requests is in place
• accurate records are maintained to demonstrate traceability of the storage, preparation and release of post mortem material for research
• clear and effective communication and collaboration with stakeholders and researchers (based locally, nationally and globally)

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have: -    applied for a Graduate visa -    or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment

This vacancy will close at midnight on 28th May 2026

Interviews are due to be held on 5th June 2026

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.