Laboratory Technician London, England
Job description
Would you like to play a key role in the delivery of the most high profile clinical vaccine research projects?
Are you an experienced and enthusiastic research or clinical laboratory technician looking for an opportunity to make a big impact delivering our COVID -19 research as well as an evolving portfolio of additional vaccine and treatment trials?
If so, then this role may be perfect for you!
Successful candidates will have experience of processing samples for clinical trials and excellent communication skills. You will have the support of a Laboratory Coordinator and Research matron as well as the opportunity to work with colleagues from across the Trust.
The team support delivery of a whole portfolio of COVID-19 related research including both treatment and prophylactic and vaccine research, in addition to an evolving portfolio of additional vaccine and treatment trials.
We are looking for an enthusiastic research laboratory technician to join the team taking responsibility for the processing and organisation of clinical trial biological samples. This will include centrifugation, pipetting, storage in -20 and -80 freezers and further the shipment of participant samples. The main laboratories you will work in are Containment level 2. You will support the Laboratory Coordinator to manage the flow of work coming through the sample preparation laboratories, ensuring that work is carried out in a timely and efficient manner in accordance with all relevant standards (eg SOP’s, policies, GCP etc.).
You will not be performing any analysis, all sample work is pre-analytical only.
You will be a team player, liaising with clinical and administrative staff to support the smooth running of the research clinics and studies. Some cross-site work across both Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital sites may be required.
Further information on the role and its requirements can be found in the attached job description and person specification documentation
The R&D Department at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (GSTFT) is one of the focal points for innovative research in London through its nationally recognised research portfolio and research infrastructure. We are systems leaders in NHS research with strong strategic partnerships across the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) and the Health Research Authority (HRA) and are active members of the organisations such as the Shelford Group, University Hospitals Association (previously AUKUH) and UKRD. Research is a top priority for the Trust which in 2021/22 was the top NHS organisation nationally for the number of NIHR portfolio studies open (417) and was the top recruiting organisation in South London (third nationally) recruiting over 19,000 participants into NIHR portfolio studies. This is approximately over 40% of the total number of participants of research studies within our Local Clinical Research Network in South London. For the financial year 2022/23, the NIHR budget for the R&D Department totalled approximately £25m. We are a the most active research partner in the King’s Health Partners Clinical Trials Office for contract commercial clinical trials with 60% of the commercial trials portfolio in 2021/22 lead by the Trust; we also collaborate in the South London NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC).
The main jobs required in this role include but are not limited to:
- To be responsible for the processing and organisation of clinical trial
- To ensure the research freezers are organised as per local policy and that they are regularly defrosted
- Use and demonstrate to others the safe use of expensive and complex equipment.
- Ensure that reagents and samples are prepared, stored and used in an appropriate manner
- To work in accordance with good working practices and local safety and quality initiatives
- To ensure appropriate processing and storage of laboratory information relating to patient reports
- To adhere to local laboratory based and national health and safety policies
