Technical Specialist - Cardiff, United Kingdom - Cardiff University

Cardiff University

Verified Company

Cardiff, United Kingdom

3 weeks ago

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

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Description

Job Purpose

Support the University within the Neurosciences and Mental Health Innovation Institute (NMHII) by providing technical support for the day-to-day research activities; primary duties will employ the use of various methods, analyses and other appropriate techniques for the behavioural and neurobiological characterisation of transgenic in vivo models of neuropsychiatric disease.

You will carry out supporting work, providing advice, guidance and support, and leading projects within this area.

Additional duties may include lab support for cellular and molecular work in the NMHII and the Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences.

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Duties and Responsibilities

Key Duties

Provide professional advice and guidance on in vivo model behavioural analysis processes and procedures to internal and external customers, using judgement and creativity to suggest the most appropriate course of action where appropriate, and ensuring complex and conceptual issues are understood.
Investigate and analyse specific issues within the methods used for the neurobiological characterisation of transgenic in vivo models, creating recommendation reports, supported by advances within the research field.
Ensure that the provision of the management and maintenance of specific lines of transgenic in vivo models, and to write and maintain accurate records of the work being undertaken, liaising closely with the PPL Home Office licence holder on a daytoday basis while ensuring the accurate and timely return of information to the Home Office is delivered to the institution, proactively changing the delivery according to customer requirements.
Collaborate with others in order to make recommendations for developments of established processes and procedures.
Establish working relationships with key contacts, developing appropriate communication links with the University's Schools/Directorates and outside bodies as required.
Create specific working groups from colleagues across the University to achieve NMHII/Divisional objectives.
Supervise specific project teams on an occasional basis to accomplish key objectives.
Develop and deliver training within in vivo model behaviour analysis.
Undertake a variety of administrative duties to support the department (e.g., ordering, stock control, housekeeping duties).
Ensure that the provision of the data analysis is delivered to the NMHII and to schedule, proactively changing the delivery according to customer requirements.
Additional duties may include lab support for cellular and molecular work in the NMHII and Division.

General Duties

Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties.
Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity.
Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria
Qualifications and Education

Degree/NVQ 4 or equivalent Professional membership/experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Substantial experience of working within specialist discipline area of animal husbandry and behavioural analysis:
Maintaining and characterising transgenic lines;
Knowledge of husbandry, genotyping methods and record keeping;
Behavioural analysis, employing assays of sensorimotor, motivational, emotional and cognitive processes, including the use of operant computercontrolled methods where appropriate.
Able to demonstrate professional knowledge within specialist discipline to give advice and guidance to internal and external customers, including experience with keeping Home Office records and liaison with PPL and PIL Home Office Licence Holders and experience in molecular biological techniques, e.g. PCR, qPCR, Western.
Ability to set up standard office systems and procedures and make improvements as appropriate.

Customer Service, Communication and Team Working

Ability to communicate conceptually detailed and complex information effectively and professionally with a wide range of people.
Evidence of ability to explore customers' needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure delivery of a quality service.

Planning, Analysis and Problem solving

Evidence of ability to solve expansive problems using initiative and creativity; identifying and proposing practical solutions and resolving problems with range of potential outcomes.
Evidence of demonstrable knowledge of key advances within specialist discipline.
Evidence of ability to work unsupervised to deadlines, planning and setting priorities for own work and that of others and monitoring progress.

Other