Internal Applicants Only - Senior Technician

Cardiff University

  • United Kingdom
  • £28,031-31,236 per year
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 5 days ago
School / DirectorateSchool of MedicineAdvertThis post is currently open to employees of Cardiff University only. Please do not apply if you do not have a current contract of employment with the University.Internal Applicants Only - Senior Technician
Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neuroscience
School of Medicine
College of Biomedical and Life SciencesWe are looking for a Grade 4 Senior Technician to join the Beccano-Kelly team in School of Medicine/Dementia Research Institute.In this role, you will:
  • Animal handling, surgery and maintenance.
  • Specific techniques including Photometry, qPCR and western blotting
  • Electrophysiological characterisation of neuronal tissue
We'd like to hear from you if you:
  • Are capable and have experience in the aforementioned techniques essential to the role.
  • You are an enthusiastic worker capable of meeting deadlines and provide innovative insight into data acquired. A knowledge of Parkinson's is also required.
  • Can work effectively on your own or in a group.
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.The UK DRI at Cardiff is one of 7 UK centres bringing together world-leading scientists to deliver a step-change in the scientific understanding of dementia, generating new targets for drug development, reinvigorating the therapeutic pipeline and helping to transform care.
A position is available for a senior animal technician in the group of Dr. Dayne Beccano-Kelly at the UK-DRI, Cardiff University. The post holder will provide comprehensive technical support for animal maintenance, photometry and electrophysiological experiments and biochemical and molecular assays for studying Parkinson's disease.The successful candidate will provide practical day to day assistance with animal maintenance and be required to carry out technically intricate photometry and Multi Electrode Array experiments. As part of the animal maintenance and welfare, the candidate will also have to check genotype and protein expression via qPCR and western blot, respectively. Experience in all these is essential.The UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) is a joint £290 million investment from the Medical Research Council (MRC), Alzheimer's Society and Alzheimer's Research UK. Centred on the need for innovative, early-stage science to advance our understanding of how dementias develop and progress, the UK DRI's research will bring new therapies to patients faster. The Institute's mission is to find new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent dementias, whilst finding better ways to provide care for people with dementia.This post is based at the Hadyn Ellis Building, Cathays campus.
The majority of roles at Cardiff University are currently operating under “blended working” arrangements, with staff having the flexibility to work partly from home and partly from the University campus depending on specific business requirements. Discussions around these arrangements can take place after the successful candidate has been appointed.Cardiff University offers many excellent benefits, including 40 days annual leave (incl bank holidays), local pension scheme, a cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives, annual increments within the pay scale, and more. It is an exciting and vibrant place to work, with many different challenges and is a proud Living Wage supporter.How we will support you in performing in this role -There are some things that you must have before you can start this role (see 'Essential Criteria'), but other things can be developed either through training, or just by general on-the-job experience. We want to support and develop you once you have started in the role using a combination of the following to get the best out of you: * Regular one-to-ones with your manager
  • An experienced and supportive team around you
  • Supporting you through job-relevant training and development that you may require
  • A mentoring scheme
For informal enquiries please contact Dr Dayne Beccano-Kelly ( )This post is full-time (35 hours per week), available from 01.04.2026 and fixed term until 31.12.2026Salary: £28,031 - £31,236 per annum (Grade 4). Appointments to roles at Cardiff University are usually made at bottom of scale unless in exceptional circumstances.Closing Date: Sunday, 14 September 2025External applications are currently not being considered for this post. If the decision is made to open the post to external candidates, the strapline at the top will be removed and you will be given ample time to apply - please check back periodically for details.Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at:Post Reference Number20523BRJob DescriptionJob Purpose
To provide a comprehensive provision of technical support to the Directorate/School in a supervisory/specialist functionDuties and Responsibilities
Key Duties
  • Following established guidelines train technical staff and students in technical procedures and in the use of equipment, specifically photometry and Multi Electrode Array.
  • Set up experimental systems and research apparatus, assisting students and staff in the use and construction of equipment and apparatus and with tests and experiments
  • Operate, maintain, service, adjust, test and repair complex equipment and apparatus, as above, photometry and Multi Electrode Array equipment in particular.
  • Participate in the development, modification and construction of special equipment and apparatus
  • Take responsibility for stock levels, security, maintenance and cleanliness of materials, apparatus and equipment within work area applicable to animal maintenance and all associated responsibility.
  • Record and perform detailed analysis on data, including responsibility for maintaining databases
  • Undertake reviews of technical processes and procedures, in collaboration with line management, and advise on options for improvement.
  • Support the department in the implementation of new procedures and systems
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
Salary Range Max.31,236GradeGrade 4Salary Range Min.28,031Job CategoryAcademic - Research, Health, Medical & Dental, TechnicalAdditional InformationIMPORTANT: Evidencing Criteria
Candidates should evidence that they meet ALL of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable criteria.As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement. Please ensure when submitting this document / attaching it to you application profile you name it with the vacancy reference number, in this instance, 20523BRCareer PathwayTechnicalPerson SpecificationEssential Criteria
Qualifications and Education * NVQ 3/A-Levels or equivalent qualification/work related experience, specifically in animal handling and western blotting
Knowledge, Skills and Experience * Substantial experience of working in the key areas specifically animal handling and maintenance, photometry, electrophysiological recordings and molecular assays such as qPCR and western blot.
  • Specialist knowledge and experience of maintaining, servicing and using appropriate equipment and apparatus specifically Photometry,and qPCR machinery
  • Ability to set up and review standard technical processes and procedures and recommend improvements to the service provision as appropriate
Communication and Team Working * Ability to communicate specialist and complex information effectively and professionally to a range of customers with varying levels of understanding
  • Experience of supervising the work of others to focus team efforts and motivate individuals
  • Ability to train technical staff in laboratory procedures and in the use of equipment and instruments, in particular photometry, qPCR and western blot.
  • Evidence of ability to explore and adapt the experiments accordingly to ensure a lab synergy is delivered.
Planning, Analysis and Problem Solving * Evidence of ability to solve problems using initiative and creativity; identify and propose practical solutions and to resolve problems where there are a range of potential options available.
  • Proven ability to work on own initiative, planning, organising and setting priorities for own work appropriately and to plan and manage small projects
Desirable Criteria * Degree or an equivalent qualification or equivalent work related experience
  • Experience of working in a Higher Education environment
  • Fluency in Welsh, written and oral

Cardiff University