The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is seeking two laboratory scientists to join its avian viral diseases team.
The chosen candidates will support the delivery of the research projects and perform diagnostic tests to support outbreak response, commercial and statutory diagnosis of a broad range of viruses.
The successful candidates will either work within the avian endemics team or in the outbreak response team.
The salary range is £30,827 – £32,074 and the deadline to apply is 11:55p.m on Monday, June 17, 2024.
The chosen candidates will conduct and support experimental studies involving a variety of avian viral diseases.
They will assist with the maintenance and management of the conventional and molecular test portfolio for viral diseases.
They will also conduct experimental and diagnostic work, some of which could involve the handling and sampling of laboratory animals and assistance with managing and maintaining insectaries.
Skills and qualifications
APHA said the chosen candidates will need a biological science degree or equivalent experience.
As well as this, they will need to demonstrate good written and oral communication skills as well as numeracy and IT literacy.
They will need technical laboratory experience in the following areas:
- Virology experience e.g. cell/virus culture, titration;
- Molecular biology e.g. nucleic acid extraction, PCR, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis;
- Serology assays e.g. ELISA, immuno-diffusion assays, virus neutralisation.
The candidates will need the ability to input into the design, management, write up and presentation of work and will need to display willingness to work at Biocontainment levels 2 and 3 and have an understanding of SAPO/ACDP compliance.
