Research Technician

Role Description

The Department of Biology is recognised as one of the leading and most accomplished departments at York, with a global reputation for excellence in both teaching and research. We are committed to fostering a supportive environment where staff and students can thrive, contribute their best, and achieve their full potential. We take great pride in holding the Athena Swan Gold Award.

We are looking for a highly motivated research technician to join the Department of Biology at the University of York. You will work with Dr Vicki Jennings and her group within the Jack Birch Unit of Molecular Carcinogenesis investigating the use of virally induced extracellular vesicles as cancer therapies.

By joining our team you will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and be part of the internationally recognised York Biomedical Research Institute and collaborate with leading scientists. You will join a team of researchers focusing on oncolytic virus-based cancer research, cancer immunology and epithelial cancer biology. 

Role

Your main responsibilities will be to comprehensively characterise extracellular vesicles (EVs) produced in response to oncolytic virus treatment and to evaluate their suitability for therapeutic development in ovarian cancer. You will work across both in vitro and in vivo ovarian cancer models, following the work packages outlined in the research grant to ensure timely and successful project delivery. As part of our team, you will gain hands-on experience with EV isolation and molecular profiling techniques, including LC¿MS–based lipidomics and proteomics, as well as nucleic acid sequencing approaches used to analyse EV cargo. In addition, you will also be expected to assist in the general upkeep and administration of the laboratory, ensuring an organised environment that facilitates the successful delivery of our research objectives

Skills, Experience & Qualification needed

The successful candidate will have a background in biomedical research, specifically in cancer biology, immunology, and/or virology and be interested in applying their expertise to the study of ovarian cancer immunotherapy. We are looking for a candidate who combines technical precision with a proactive approach to laboratory stewardship, ensuring the successful and timely delivery of our research objectives. 

Specifically, you will have:

• A first degree BSc in a biological science such as Biology, Biochemistry or Biomedical sciences
• Experience of mammalian cell culture;
• Practical experience of protein and RNA biochemistry and analysis;
• Practical experience in immune cell phenotyping (e.g. using immunomagnetic cell selection and multicolour flow cytometry) 
• Have a collaborative spirit, keen attention to detail, and be able to contribute to a lively, friendly and supportive team atmosphere

You may also have:

• A personal home office licence (or equivalent if not from the UK) and practical experience of preclinical work in rodents, ideally incorporating cancer models;
• Proven experience in working with both rodent and human cell systems;
• Practical experience in biological safety level (BSL) 2 containment.

Interview date: To be confirmed

For informal enquiries: please contact Dr. Vicki Jennings via email vicki.jennings@york.ac.uk

The University strives to be diverse and inclusive  – a place where we can ALL be ourselves.

We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University. 

We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements, with forums and inclusive facilities to support our staff. #EqualityatYork

As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum (essential) criteria for each position will be offered an interview.  Read more about the University of York’s commitments under the Disability Confident scheme.