Colony Manager/Advanced Research Assistant
Salary range £21485 to 28489 dependent on experience. Closing Date: 17th February 2012
We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join the Mouse Genetics Project (MGP) Mouse Production group. This team generates mutant mice through the use of embryonic stem cells and archives the resulting mouse lines, using technologies including blastocyst injection, IVF and Cryopreservation. The primary role for the successful candidate will be to manage mutant mouse colonies. The successful candidate will manage approximately 100 mutant mouse colonies from chimera mating to the allocation of mice to different end-users (i.e. cryopreservation, exports, phenotyping.) The team manages specialist Cre- and FLP-excision activities on a subset of colonies, knowledge in this area would be an advantage. Effective communication between MGP colony managers, phenotypers, animal technicians, project managers and Genotyping and QC Group is essential.
The successful candidate will also contribute to the group’s work in the production and archiving of mutant mouse lines, using techniques including microinjection, cryopresvertion and IVF.
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Essential Skills
The successful candidate will hold a BSc or have equivalent experience in the biological sciences. Experience managing mutant mouse colonies, and knowledge of knock-out mouse production and chimaera breeding strategies are essential. Computer literacy and meticulous record keeping are also necessary skills whilst experience using a colony management database would be desirable. This position requires excellent communication skills to liaise and work closely with several teams, the ability to work as part of a team as well as independently and the ability to adapt to a changing work environment. Awareness of and ability to work to A[SP]A and the 3 R’s are essential.
Ideal Skills
Experience using transgenic technologies such as microinjection, surgical embryo transfer, cryopreservation and IVF as well as holding a Home Office Personal license would be an advantage. The MGP production group use Cre-lox/Flp-FRT technology and an understanding in this area would be advantageous.
Other information
With the completion of the human and mouse genome sequences, attention is now turning to the functional analysis of genes in mammals. Our large scale gene targeting project aims to create a public resource of mutations in a major fraction of mouse gene through the use of recombineering-based high-throughput gene targeting technology in mouse embryonic stem cells. This resource forms an essential component of a larger effort at the Institute to identify new genes that are critical for normal mammalian development and to generate animal models of human disease. Based on the use of this resource, the Mouse Genetics Programme will generate and phenotype up to 200 lines per year. Data and mutants are made available to the scientific community.
This position is initially on a fixed-term contract until 31/12/2012 and is likely to be extended after that.