UK DRI Laboratory Manager

Job description

Dementia is the greatest health challenge of our century.   

To date there is no way to prevent it or even slow its progression, and there is an urgent need to fill the knowledge gap in our basic understanding of the diseases that cause it. 

The   UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) is the biggest UK initiative driving forward research to fill this gap. 

We are a globally leading multidisciplinary research institute of 700 staff investigating the spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders causing dementia, with laboratory-based research groups located at University College London, the University of Cambridge, Cardiff University, Edinburgh University, Imperial College London and King’s College London. 

Researchers at the   UK DRI at King’s use innovative approaches to explore the biological mechanisms involved in neurodegenerative diseases. Their goal is to defeat dementia by uncovering vital new knowledge that will lead to the design of smarter diagnostics and effective treatments. The team aim to understand the fundamental biological processes involved in dementia at a molecular level – and to use that knowledge to design new ways to diagnose and treat disease more precisely. 

We are seeking an organised and enthusiastic individual for the post of UK DRI Laboratory Manager in the Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute located on the Denmark Hill campus of King's College London. The UK DRI at King’s is part of the Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience (BCN).

The post holder will support specialist research and teaching activities and provide organisational and technical support within the UK DRI team. As DRI Laboratory Manager, you will be responsible for the effective operation of the laboratory to meet these needs and the development and application of new or novel techniques in response to changes in UK DRI research needs. You will be active in providing advice and training to DRI users, engage with key users and School leaders in developing the DRI facility, and interact with School staff to ensure the DRI laboratory meets the high health and safety and financial management standards required. 

This is a new role which has been created to provide technical research support to the UK DRI groups within the Maurice Wohl Institute and the James Black Centre. 

The postholder will work closely with the UK DRI Centre Manager, BCN/ Wohl Laboratory Manger and Estates teams to plan and deliver laboratory moves, ensuring minimal disruption to core business. They will liaise between technical and academic staff and suppliers to agree laboratory and equipment specifications and plan the delivery, installation and commissioning of any DRI equipment.

Although the post is currently offered for one year, there is every expectation that funding for the position will be renewed in March 2023. Please contact the Centre Director, Professor Jernej Ule, for further details. 

This post will be offered on a  fixed-term contract until 31 March 2023 

This is a full-time  post - 100% full time equivalent

Key responsibilities

• Planning and arrangement of DRI facilities in conjunction with academic staff to ensure smooth running of the DRI labs, with especial focus on organisation and management of cell culture rooms.
• Monitor and maintain DRI laboratory stocks of chemicals and consumables including ordering: general laboratory chemicals, supplies, consumables, and organisation/storage of cell lines.
• Training all new DRI users of cell culture rooms, and supervising/maintaining order and cleanliness in conjunction with the BCN Laboratory Manager.
• Organise the sending and delivery of packages including hazardous material in compliance with relevant regulations.
• Arrange the purchase of DRI laboratory equipment; liaise with suppliers; arrange best quotes, etc in conjunction with the BCN Laboratory Manager.
• Ensure all equipment is operational by arranging equipment service contracts, repairs and carrying out monitoring and regular maintenance of equipment in conjunction with the BCN Laboratory Technical Team.
• Coordinate with different laboratories and the BCN Laboratory Manager for service visits and repairs of communal lab equipment.
• Provide support for autoclaving goods, waste and glass washing as required.
• Maintain tidy and organised communal DRI laboratory spaces.
• Manage competing priorities
• DRI laboratory space induction along with other local inductions e.g. HPLC, cell culture induction
• Prepare competent bacteria and selected stock solutions for general use (e.g. XL10, Stbl3 or whoever people use for cloning). 10x PBS, 10xTBS, 20xMOPS/MES, autoclaved ddH2O), LB-Agar plates.
• Assisting with cell culture experiments on specific projects (upon Director’s approval to ensure that help is fairly distributed.

Other 

• Willingness to contribute to research
• Willingness to serve as DRI committee member (technologists, 3Rs champions)
• Willingness to serve as a sustainability champion with the departmental laboratory management team

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience

• 3 years’ demonstrable experience in laboratory or relevant research support role
• Proven skills and evidence of attention to detail, including the ability to concentrate on singular tasks for extended periods and solve technical problems
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and time management skills
• Demonstratable experience in a practical research or hospital laboratory environment and experience of practical problem solving and troubleshooting, combined with a willingness to contribute ideas in developing support provided by the team.
• Knowledge of current Health and Safety requirements within a practical research environment is essential, along with excellent communications skills and a can-do attitude
• Self-motivated and able to manage own time and multiple priorities with little direct supervision

Essential criteria

1.    BSc in Biological Sciences or equivalent degree

2.    Experience in histology, cell biology and molecular biology methods

3.    Knowledge of developmental neuroscience, or related area

4.    Experience of managing a range of laboratory research facilities across different disciplines and promoting improvement of these facilities

5.    Experience of running maintenance programmes for both general and highly specialised equipment

6.    Minimum three years laboratory or relevant research support experience

7.    Experience of financial management

8.    Working knowledge of health and safety legislation – COSHH

Desirable criteria

1. Experience in a similar role and a working knowledge of scientific research environments is desirable.
2. Experience in microscopy

Further information

The Centre actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. We particularly welcome applications from women and /or candidates from a BME background for this vacancy as they are currently under-represented at this level in our department.