Fermentation Facility Technician

The University of Edinburgh - School of Chemistry - CSE - University of Edinburgh

Location:	Edinburgh
Salary:	£34,610 to £39,906 per annum (Grade 6)
Hours:	Full Time
Contract Type:	Fixed-Term/Contract

Placed On:	30th January 2026
Closes:	14th February 2026
Job Ref:	13664

Full time: 35 hours per week

Fixed term: for 12 months (Post available from 1^stApril 2026)

The opportunity:

Turn fermentation know‑how into real‑world impact. We’re seeking a technician to keep our Fermentation Facility running at peak performance and help deliver breakthrough research in the fermentation of exo‑polysaccharides.

Why join us

• Play a key technical role in a vibrant, research‑active facility.
• Work directly with bench‑scale bioreactors, sensors and associated analytics.
• Collaborate with academic teams and industrial partners on milestone‑driven projects.
• Shape robust methods and standards that enable reliable, reproducible science.

The role

You will:

• Operate and maintain the Fermentation Facility to defined technical and safety standards (calibration, preventative maintenance, housekeeping, stock control, documentation).
• Develop, optimise and document reproducible technical methods and analytical workflows for exo‑polysaccharide bioproduction and characterisation; analyse data and prepare concise technical summaries.
• Install, commission and verify new/updated instrumentation (bioreactors, sensors, peripherals); coordinate with suppliers, Estates and IT; draft SOPs and verification checks.
• Train, guide and provide day‑to‑day technical supervision to users; set and monitor technical standards and good record‑keeping.
• Liaise with the PI, sponsor and industrial partners; contribute technical input on feasibility, scheduling and risk; support technology transfer.
• Maintain accurate, auditable records (ELN/LIMS as applicable); contribute to continuous improvement of facility processes.