Senior Research Technician

You are invited to apply for the position of Senior Research Technician to join Professor James Chalmers’ research team at the University of Oxford. Professor James Chalmers specialises in translational and clinical research on respiratory diseases, including bronchiectasis, COPD and pneumonia, with a focus on microbiology, immunology, disease mechanisms and therapeutic strategies. You will be expected to provide high quality technical assistance to Prof. Chalmers and the other members of the research team. Core laboratory tasks may include managing biobanking of samples, ELISA, qPCR and molecular methods, preparation of cells and biological samples including blood, sputum, and bacteria, for storage or downstream processing such as functional assays, flow cytometry and proteomics. Training will be provided for techniques so prior knowledge is not essential. You will work collaboratively with clinical and laboratory team members to flexibly support multiple ongoing research studies. You will also work with external collaborators and internal departments such as the Clinical Research Centre and university core facilities to ensure the timely completion of research studies.

You will be responsible for assisting in managing the technician team and monitoring quality control. You will have responsibilities in managing the biobank, obtaining GCP/ISO certification of the lab and maintaining standards. Additional responsibilities include assisting in procurement processes, coordinating multi-centre studies including maintaining supplies, managing national and international shipments and liaising with collaborators, ensuring the high standard and outputs of the group are upheld.

The post is full time and fixed-term for 1 year. The post is only available as full-time on-site.

About You

To be considered for this position you should:

• Have experience supervising, teaching, and working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams
• Strong data analysis, interpretation, and presentation skills in professional settings
• Proven research experience, including hypothesis testing, independent projects, generating reports to GCLP standards and contributing to publications
• Ability to manage multiple projects, take initiative, prioritise effectively, and work to deadlines
• Hands-on laboratory experience, including assays such as ELISA, flow cytometry, and qPCR
• Able to work with Category 2 biological materials (full training will be provided)
• Degree in a relevant scientific discipline (BSc or equivalent experience)
• Strong problem-solving skills, including troubleshooting experiments and communicating solutions clearly
• High attention to detail with accurate sample organisation and record-keeping
• Proficient IT skills (Word, Excel/database management, PowerPoint, statistical software)
• Knowledge of laboratory health and safety regulations