Position Details
College of Life and Environmental Sciences
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £25,866 to £27,518, with potential progression once in post to £30,820
Grade: 4
Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to December 2026
Closing date: 1st January 2024
Kindly be advised that, owing to specific business requirements, we currently have a single available position. However, we are open to considering applications for alternative grades. Prior to submitting your application, we encourage you to review the related vacancies (3707 and 3708) to ascertain alignment with your preferences.
Background
An enthusiastic, innovative and self-motivated person is sought for the position of Research Technician to work on an exciting new research project funded jointly by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the U.K. Natural Environment Research Council (entitled “Warming’s silver lining? Thermal compensation at multiple levels of organization may promote ecosystem stability in response to drought”). This three-year project aims to understand how the gradual warming caused by climate change will affect how freshwater ecosystems, specifically rivers and streams, respond to extreme climate events, particularly periods of low flow and hydrological drought. The project has two main components: 1. experimental work in Iceland, where streams of contrasting temperature arising because of geothermal activity are used as surrogates of climate warming, and 2. replicated flume experiments in Birmingham U.K., where state-of-the-art facilities are located.
The post holder will establish and maintain warming experiments in our outdoor artificial stream facility – the Ecolaboratory (link) – located on the University of Birmingham campus. The first phase of the work will involve establishing the physical structure of the stream habitat (substrate, flow conditions and thermal regime) and biological communities (plants and invertebrates) in the outdoor Ecolaboratory flumes, with visits to local rivers and streams. They will also set-up, calibrate and maintain environmental sensors, and manage the data collected. A second phase will involve 1. applying and maintaining experimental manipulations of flow regimes and water temperature to a high standard to ensure the effectiveness of experimental research in the flumes, and 2. collecting and processing biological and water samples. They will support a wider team of researchers from the UK and US, and will take part in field sampling campaigns in Iceland periodically.
Role Summary
You will provide technical support for research activities as required, utilising your technical skills and a wide range of techniques. You will also be expected to ensure your working area is safe and support others in following health and safety instructions. You may need to operate out of normal working hours to accommodate research activity. In order to flexibly use resource you may be given the opportunity to work in different areas of the department or wider University.
Main Duties
Research duties
- You will be responsible for assisting in managing the outdoor experimental Ecolaboratory facility, workshop and laboratory.
- Devise and undertake flume-based laboratory experiments at the Ecolaboratory.
- Ensure the Ecolaboratory facility runs efficiently and resolve operational issues that arise swiftly to protect experiments, in liaison with University staff.
- Organise and manage data in standard formats (spreadsheets) for future analysis.
- Collect and process samples for physicochemical and biological characterisation using environmental analytical techniques.
- Ensure quality control and assurance of all laboratory procedures and analytical instruments and maintain rigorous accuracy and precision checks to ensure quality data generation.
- Undertake field work in urban and rural environments, in the UK and Overseas, to collect biological material.
- Carry out techniques and experimental procedures as required by research staff, students and Principal Investigators, designed to contribute to a specific research project or projects.
- You will be expected to resolve problems in your area of expertise but also to recognise when problems need to be referred to more senior staff.
- You will need to maintain accurate records of all techniques and experimental procedures carried out, and of any other research activities you may be involved in, including results.
- Comply with any legislation relevant to the area of research/activity.
- Comply with the Standard Operating Procedures for the activity.
- Demonstrate techniques to other staff and/or students on the area of expertise as required.
- You will contribute to internal and external audit procedures and to regulatory inspections.
Health and Safety
- You will be expected to uphold compliance with all University and local Health & Safety policies, including risk assessments and manual handling, reporting any breaches or non-compliance to the relevant manager.
- You will be expected to manage the safe handling and disposal of all materials used in research laboratories, including hazardous materials.
- If required, assist or prepare risk assessments and keep these up to date.
- You will need to maintain all records as appropriate.
- Carry out regular maintenance processes as appropriate.
Administrative duties
- You may be required to assist with PAT testing and calibration of equipment, and with updating equipment inventories.
- Maintain stocks of consumables and, if necessary, creating purchase order requisitions.
- Receipt and correct storage of consumables and chemical reagents.
- Ensure that the facilities are maintained in a clean, functional and safe condition, reporting any problems.
- Reporting any problems with equipment or services which cannot be resolved to the line manager as appropriate.
- Adopt a proactive attitude to assisting with and implementing carbon reduction and energy saving measures where practicable.
- Supports equality and values diversity, moderates own behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others.
- Any other duties commensurate with the grade and skill base of the post holder.
Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience
- NVQ, BTEC/ONC at level three or equivalent level three qualification and specific relevant experience in Environmental Sciences or Engineering or equivalent experience.
- GCSE level 2 (A*- C/4-9) or equivalent level 2 qualification in mathematics and English.
- Experience working with environmental sensors and dataloggers is desirable.
- Experience in field-based environmental monitoring is essential and experience running outdoor/mesocosm experiments is desirable.
- A working knowledge of Good Laboratory Practice is also required.
- Knowledge of freshwater ecology is desirable.
- A UK driving licence is essential, as you will be required to travel to different sites which are not accessible by public transport
- Experience of working in a laboratory-based teaching or research environment; or be able to demonstrate the capability to participate in research projects.
- Ability to organise and manage own workload after consultation with manager.
- Familiarity with the use of a wide range of general laboratory equipment e.g. balances, pH meters, autoclaves, glass washing machines, microscopes.
- Proactive approach to Health and Safety matters, together with the communication skills to interact with a range of people, including students.
- Ability to be flexible to meet deadlines.
- The post-holder will be fully familiar with the safe handling and storage of laboratory materials.
- Good IT skills, having a familiarity with both Windows and/or Apple Macintosh OS will be advantageous.
- Understands the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace.
- Ability to identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant policies and procedures.
Dimensions
You will have no direct line management responsibility (other than occasional instructions to other staff) and no budget to manage.
Planning and Organising
You will be able to schedule and organise your own work within the priorities and requirements for the area.
Problem Solving and decision making
You will deliver a level of service as agreed, carrying out daily research support as required. You will be expected to assist in analysis and interpretation of research results.
Internal and External relationships
This role is primarily concerned with advising and supporting research staff.
Informal enquiries to Mark Ledger, email: m.e.ledger@bham.ac.uk
We believe there is no such thing as a ‘typical’ member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.
