Laboratory Technician

Job overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Main duties of the job

This post is for a Laboratory technician to work as part of a clinical laboratory research team in the NIHR Clinical Research Facility (CRF). The appointee will have demonstrable experience of training and supervising staff in a clinical laboratory setting, responding to study queries, working with blood and clinical specimens and the ability to work in collaboration with a team of research nurses and clinicians.

The CRF laboratory provides an essential component of the clinical research pathway, processing study participant samples quickly and efficiently to ensure optimal results. This is facilitated by excellent communication both within the team and with doctors and nurses. As a result of our ongoing success in this role, we support in excess of 500 clinical studies, including numerous Covid-19 studies, for which we have been commended both internally and externally for the quality of our work, level of teamwork and flexibility in the current climate.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

What you’ll do

The appointee will take responsibility for responding to study-specific queries, training and supervising new and visiting members of staff, assisting with laboratory tours and receipt, tracking, processing, storage and sending of specimens taken as part of the research programmes according to recommended protocols. Laboratory experience, including PBMC isolation, biological sample handling and the use of sample tracking software, is essential, as is recent GCP and IATA training. Responsibilities will also include ensuring the lab is clean, tidy and well stocked with consumables and ensuring sample data is accurately recorded on electronic and paper logs. The post-holder is expected to be able to work without immediate supervision and to work an early or late shift pattern when required.

What we’re looking for

The post requires someone with experience working in a clinical laboratory setting, working with blood and clinical specimens, with the ability to work in collaboration with a team of research nurses and clinical investigators. Laboratory experience, including handling of biological samples both on desktop and within material safety cabinets, GCP training, IATA training and the use of sample tracking software such as Freezerworks is essential. The post holder will collect and process samples according to recommended protocols, ensuring accurate documentation. The post holder will liaise with investigators and other research staff involved in research studies and advise on their sample collection, processing and analytical procedures. They will also liaise with study monitors and sponsors to address study-specific queries. The post-holder is expected to be able to both work without immediate supervision and be able to train new laboratory staff whilst working an early or late shift pattern when required.