Advanced Research Assistant - Maternity Cover
Salary range £21,485 to £28,489 pa dependent on experience
Applications are invited for a maternity cover post for Advanced Research Assistant in the Malaria Genetics Team, lead by Dominic Kwiatkowski.
A major focus in the team is to develop public health tools to identify, understand, and control antimalarial drug resistance, based on next generation sequencing of malaria parasites from clinical samples collected throughout the malaria-endemic world.
The primary purpose of this role is to provide DNA sample management and quality control, library creation methods R&D, data management, and collaborator support to the Plasmodium and Anopheles genome variation projects. The principal roles of the job include maintaining a sample tracking and archiving system, performing pre-sequencing sample quality control, supporting the optimization of DNA library creation for the Illumina platform, as well as submission and tracking of samples in in sequencing pipelines, database management, and communication with all project stakeholders. The role will also involve providing lab management and research support. Further details of the post are provided in the attached role profile.
This post is an exciting opportunity for someone who is motivated by the opportunity to work in a supporting role in a cutting-edge area of science, making an impact on one of the world’s most serious health problems. He/she will work under the supervision of the Project Manager and liaise widely with members of the Malaria Genetics team and other project stakeholders. A positive and flexible attitude is important, and the postholder should have the confidence to work through problems with the support of the rest of the team.
- 112- 28 ARA Mat cover.pdf
(PDF, 47.17kb)
Essential Skills
- Good working knowledge of molecular biology techniques
- Highly proficient IT skills and experience in the use of databases
- Experience performing, analysing and trouble shooting qRT-PCR & PicoGreen
- Experience in handling and organising large numbers of biological samples
- Experience of working in high-throughput sequencing/genotyping environment
- Ability to organise work according to changing priorities
- Ability to perform repetitive tasks consistently to a high standard
- Ability to work unsupervised to a high standard
- Ability to work as part of team
- Ability to develop and optimise protocols
- Strong organizational skills
- Strong oral and written communication skills
Ideal Skills
- Experience with tissue culture and sterile technique are highly desirable.
- Experience working in R&D of DNA library creation for the Illumina platform and translating developments into production
- Experience establishing high throughput pipeline for sample reception, handling, archiving and reporting
Other information
This position is fixed-term for maternity cover. Due to the nature of the contract no minimum or maximum period of employment can be guaranteed. You should be aware the maximum period of maternity leave available to our employees is 12 months.
The closing date for applications is 10 February 2012