Laboratory Technical Specialist

Salary: £31,236.00 - £34,610.00  per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 04 January 2026

The Role

Are you a laboratory technical specialist with a passion for stem cells and single cell genomics? Are you interested in joining a vibrant multi-disciplinary team working to understand in how mitochondrial DNA mutations affect people in different ways?

We are looking for a motivated technical specialist to join our dynamic research team, backed by significant funding from a recently awarded Wellcome Career Development Award. This is an exciting opportunity to collaborate with computational and wet-lab scientists at the forefront of pioneering research from the very start of a project. Our goal is to determine how the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes interact in mitochondrial DNA disease. You will harness the power of patient-derived stem cell models and large-scale single-cell genomics to address a fundamental question in the field of mitochondrial genomics – why do people who carry the same mitochondrial DNA mutation have such different disease outcomes? 

In this role, you will be based at our Newcastle Upon Tyne campus, which has fantastic transport links and state of the art facilities. You will join the world-class, multidisciplinary Newcastle Mitochondrial Research Group, renowned for our extensive experience in characterising mitochondrial function in both health and disease. The group also includes a vibrant Young Scientists Group. Our researchers work in close collaboration with NHS clinical activities, bridging basic and translational science to advance the understanding of mitochondrial biology to develop new therapies for patients and families. 

The position is full-time and available for a duration of 3.5 years in the first instance, starting in early 2026. We recognise and support diverse personal circumstances and are open to discuss flexible working arrangements.

To apply for the position, we’ll need your CV and a personal statement outlining how you are suitable for the role using evidence to highlight how you meet the essential criteria in the knowledge, skills and experience as listed in the job description.

Please focus your cover letter on the following key areas, outlining your ability and/or experience with:

• Culturing patient-derived cells, with an emphasis on iPSC experience
• Preparing patient-derived samples for single cell genomics analysis
• Providing general laboratory support
• Collaborating regularly with team members to ensure high-quality research and the timely achievement of project goals

For informal enquiries contact: Dr Sarah Pickett  sarah.pickett@ncl.ac.uk

Key Accountabilities

• Establish, culture and cryopreserve patient-derived iPSCs and iPSC-derived cell models
• Prepare patient-derived samples for single cell genomics analysis
• Prepare a range of human-derived cells and samples for genomic and proteomic analyses 
• Complete a range of routine and complex maintenance activities and repairs
• Liaise with suppliers and manufacturers to resolve both routine and complex problems and investigate replacement options
• Advise on equipment capabilities demonstrating how results can be achieved
• By developing local procedures, establish and maintain a safe/compliant working environment
• Hold devolved safety responsibilities relevant to the specialism
• Oversee compliance tasks ensuring timely completion and maintenance of appropriate records
• Maintain in-depth and up-to-date health and safety knowledge relevant to the specialism. Assist with the completion and updating of a wide range of safety paperwork
• Schedule, prioritize and monitor work in line with demands and deadlines
• Hold delegated responsibility from the academic lead for the planning, operation and supervision of laboratory spaces occupied by the specialism
• Be a key contributor to specialism development, delivery and planning
• Contribute to and support change
• Manage one or more budgets monitoring resource usage
• Source and negotiate with suppliers for a range of items including specialist parts/equipment
• Create, update and implement procedures to deliver an aligned, efficient and effective service
• Prepare and manufacture specimens/samples requiring specialist skills with limited direction
• Manage equipment bookings, calculate charges/costs and assist with re-charging
• Design, develop and deliver inductions, demonstrations and training covering complex techniques and specialist equipment
• Assist managers with the identification of training and development needs and mentor junior staff

The Person (Essential)

Knowledge, Skills and Experience 

• Knowledge and experience of mammalian and human cell culture techniques 
• Knowledge and experience of the preparation of samples for single cell genomics analysis
• Ability to prepare high quality samples for the analysis of proteins and nucleic acids from patient-derived samples 
• Demonstrable work experience in a relevant technical role
• Thorough working knowledge of Health and Safety procedures
• Excellent team working skills
• Demonstrates technical and problem-solving capacity.
• Demonstrates good organising ability to meet deadlines, with a positive and proactive approach to duties and diligence and attention to detail.
• Ability to adapt to changes in laboratory research priorities
• Specific lab or workshop and specific to role 

Attributes and Behaviour

• Tact, diplomacy and able to handle difficult situations
• Ability to meet deadlines with effective time and resource management
• Clear communicator and active listener
• Consistent and appropriate approach to staff and situations
• Use of feedback for process improvement and staff development
• Team player, self starter and able to manage complex workload
• Ability to respond enthusiastically and positively to undergraduate students

Qualifications

• BTEC  HNC / HND; or A’ level (or equivalent) qualification; or broad work experience acquired through a combination of vocational training and considerable on-the-job experience, demonstrating development through progressively more demanding relevant roles
• Professional registration with an accredited professional body (including HEA) or working towards this on appointment (Desirable)

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 28855