Laboratory Assistant

Vacancy reference: JJ/NHM/LA
Location: South Kensington
Area of business: Science Facilities

Role description:
The Molecular Laboratories are a core facility and many scientists use these resources for their research. There is a laboratory management team who maintains the space, equipment and resources, and supports the researchers attain their goals.

The team are now recruiting for a technician within the Molecular Laboratories. For more detail on the department: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/science-facilities/molecular-labs

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to provide laboratory support in the Museum’s Molecular Biology Laboratories. Laboratory support is primarily routine daily maintenance of the laboratory environment and equipment in a well-stocked, clean and tidy manner with full consideration to health and safety. It may also involve occasional additional specified assistance on the request of the laboratory management

The successful candidate will have experience of maintaining a high standard of cleanliness within a laboratory or similar environment and the ability to work well on own initiative.
- Experience of micro-pipetting is highly desirable for some tasks but training can be given
- Excellent organisation, communication and team working skills are also essential for this post

This post is ideally suited to someone looking for an introduction to working in a laboratory environment.

Salary: £16,260 per annum plus benefits

Contract: Part-time 12 month Fixed-Term Contract

Closing date: Midnight on Thursday 23rd April 2015

Role competences:
BEFORE beginning your application - Please read the section below about the ‘Online Application Process’ carefully.

If you wish to be considered for this role you will need to address each of the following competences in the ‘other information’ section of your online application:

1. Experience of maintaining a high standard of cleanliness in a laboratory or similar environment
2. Demonstrable organisational skills such as a store room and stock control
3. The ability to work independently using time management to complete tasks in a prioritised way is essential
4. Excellent numeracy skills, with clear and concise note taking and the ability to maintain accurate records.
5. Good verbal and written communication skills are essential
6. Previous work or volunteer experience or involvement within a team is essential
7. The ability to work well within a team as well as on own initiative. Ideally previous experience of using micropipettes accurately
8. The ability to use basic computer software eg Word and Excel.
9. Demonstrable Interest in Life or Natural Science

Online application process:
You are required to provide a response to ALL of the role competences listed above within the ‘Other Information’ section of the online application form (up to 140 words per competence). In order to demonstrate how you meet each competence fully, please provide specific examples from your achievements, knowledge, skills and/or experience.

IMPORTANT: The ‘Other Information’ section will ‘timeout’ after 35 minutes and any information not saved during this time will be lost. Please therefore prepare your answers on a separate document before transferring and saving them to your application.

The ‘Additional Questions’ regarding right to work in the UK and age are mandatory questions and any applications received without these answers will not be considered.

Please review your application fully before pressing ‘submit application’ as you will not be able to make any further amends after submitting, and any applications received which have not addressed ALL competences in full and/or the mandatory questions will be rejected.

Please note that CVs will not be accepted outside of the online application process or as a substitute for completion of the competences.

The attached ‘Role Specification’ provides further information on the role and how to apply.

Please also be aware that we are not able to offer a certificate of sponsorship for this role. If you do not have the right to work in the UK without a visa sponsored by NHM, then unfortunately you will not be eligible to apply for this vacancy.