Overview
We have an exciting opportunity to join the Johnston lab within the School of Medicine and Population Health. The role is part of a major new externally funded interdisciplinary programme led by Dr Thomas Paterson, bringing together bioengineering, microbiology, neuroscience and translational neurotechnology.
The programme will explore whether engineered fungal networks can be developed as controllable bioelectronic interface materials. Current neural-interface technologies remain limited by trade-offs between surgical invasiveness, tissue compatibility, spatial coverage and long-term function. Fungal networks offer a distinctive biological platform: soft, three-dimensional structures that can be grown, modified and tested as part of future bioelectronic interface systems.
The appointed Research Technician will contribute to an ambitious research programme developing candidate fungal biointerfaces and evaluating them against clear safety, control and functional criteria as part of a large multidisciplinary team.
You will provide day-to-day technical support for fungal culture, strain handling, candidate preparation and laboratory organisation. The role will support fungal strain banking, recovery, routine culture, media and reagent preparation, stock control, sample tracking, quality-control checks, microscopy preparation and safe handling of live, arrested and non-viable fungal materials. You will help ensure that candidate fungal materials are prepared consistently and handed over to downstream biological and bioelectronic assays in a reliable, well-documented way.
This role would suit someone with strong practical laboratory skills, good organisation, attention to detail and experience in microbiology, fungal or microbial culture, molecular biology support, aseptic technique or regulated biological research environments. The post is intended to provide dedicated technical support for this funded research programme, with a focus on reliable research delivery, accurate records, safe working and day-to-day laboratory continuity.
Main duties and responsibilities
- Provide dedicated technical support to the funded fungal biointerface programme, working under the direction of the principal investigator, work package leads and senior research staff.
- Maintain routine fungal cultures, prepare media and reagents, monitor stock levels and support ordering of consumables required for fungal and biointerface experiments.
- Support fungal strain banking, recovery, passaging, sample labelling, storage, tracking and routine quality-control workflows.
- Prepare candidate fungal materials for downstream host-compatibility, BBB/vascular, neural-function and bioelectronic interface assays.
- Assist with baseline fungal characterisation, including growth, morphology, pigmentation/appearance, contamination checks, propagule/spore-related assays and microscopy sample preparation.
- Support preparation of live, arrested, non-viable and coated/interface-modified fungal materials according to approved protocols.
- Maintain strain/sample registers, experimental records, reagent inventories, risk documentation and candidate handoff records to a high standard.
- Assist with basic molecular biology or genotyping workflows where appropriate, under supervision of research staff.
- Assist with setup, cleaning, calibration, routine maintenance and safe use of laboratory equipment relevant to fungal culture and candidate preparation.
- Work with other project members to ensure fungal candidate materials are prepared reproducibly and transferred to other work packages in a timely manner.
- Assist with ordering, receiving, storage and tracking of laboratory supplies, biological materials and specialist consumables.
- Follow mandatory Health and Safety policies and procedures, including COSHH, biosafety, GM requirements where applicable, fungal handling procedures, waste disposal and standard operating procedures.
- Contribute to preparation and updating of SOPs, risk assessments and technical documentation for the project.
- Work collaboratively with research staff, technicians, facility staff and collaborators, while maintaining the post’s primary focus on delivery of the funded research programme.
- Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.
Person Specification
Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.
A Degree, HND, National Diploma or equivalent experience in a relevant scientific field such as microbiology, biological sciences, biomedical sciences, biotechnology, molecular biology or a related discipline
Experience providing technical support in a research laboratory, biological laboratory or related technical environment
Practical experience of aseptic technique and preparation of biological media, reagents or samples
Knowledge of safe working practices and experience applying Health and Safety procedures in a laboratory environment, including accurate record keeping
Ability to organise laboratory resources, maintain stocks, prepare supplies, track samples and progress routine work accurately against deadlines
Effective written and verbal communication skills, with ability to communicate clearly with research, technical and academic staff
Ability to work well within a team while also carrying out routine tasks independently and reliably
Experience with fungal or microbial culture, strain banking, microbiology workflows, molecular biology, microscopy preparation or work with regulated biological materials
Experience with sample tracking systems, SOP development, quality-control workflows, GM/contained-use work, or supporting interdisciplinary biological research projects
Further Information
£27,319-£31,236 (Grade 5)
Professor of Infection Biology
Ineligible roles: Grade 2-5 and Grade 6 roles (31 hours and below per week)
This role does not meet the criteria for Skilled Worker sponsorship under the UK Visa & Immigration points-based system. Information on alternative visa options is available on www.gov.uk.
If you do not currently hold the right to work in the UK, you can find more information here to help determine your visa eligibility. Additional guidance is also available on the UK Visa & Immigration website.
https://thejohnstonlab.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/
Next steps in the recruitment process
It is anticipated that the selection process will take place 2 weeks after close of the application submission deadline. This will consist of interview and presentation. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage 2 weeks after close of the application process. Contact
[email protected] if you require any reasonable adjustments.
Our vision and strategic plan
We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision ().
What we offer
- A minimum of 38 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
- Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
- Generous pension scheme.
- A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
- A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
- Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
- A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Technical Career Route
- A range of generous family-friendly policies
- paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
- access to menopause support in the workplace
- paid time off and support for fertility treatment
- and more
We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.
