Ref Number
B02-10632
Professional Expertise
Laboratory Technical and Lab Support
Department
School of Life & Medical Sciences (B02)
Location
London
Working Pattern
Part time
Salary
£36,433-£41,833
Contract Type
Permanent
Working Type
On site
Available for Secondment
No
Closing Date
23-Jun-2026
The Faculty of Life Sciences brings together cutting-edge research and teaching across the biological and biomedical sciences, pharmacy, and neuroscience. Its work addresses major global challenges, including disease, climate change, sustainability, technological change and the data revolution, and inequality. We are ranked 6th globally for Life Sciences, 9th for Biological Sciences and 3rd for Pharmacy & Pharmacology (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026). The Faculty comprises four academic Divisions: the School of Pharmacy, Biosciences, the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour and the Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit and includes specialist teaching facilities at the Cruciform Teaching Laboratories.
Biosciences is one of the largest Divisions within UCL with 600 staff and 2040 undergraduate and postgraduate taught students, and a leading centre for research and teaching in the biological sciences. It brings together one of the UK’s largest and most diverse life sciences communities, with strong integration across experimental, field, and computational approaches. Research spans evolutionary and population genetics, ecology and the environment, cell and developmental biology, computational biology, neuroscience, and structural and molecular biology. This work is supported by advanced scientific infrastructure and platforms (including light, electron and cryoEM microscopy, NMR, mass spectrometry, molecular biology and genomics) and a large community of 350 postgraduate research students integrated within doctoral research programmes.
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Biosciences Media Preparation Facility as part of a 0.5 FTE Grade 6 job share arrangement, working closely with a second 0.5 FTE Grade 6 postholder to support the delivery and operational running of the facility.
The role will support the research and teaching community by delivering specialist technical support to ensure the efficient day-to-day operation of the Media Preparation Facility. The postholder will contribute to the preparation of large volumes of specialised media for Drosophila melanogaster, C. elegans, and other model organisms, while supporting the maintenance of high standards of service delivery, organisation, safety, and compliance across the facility.
Working collaboratively as part of the Facility Technical Team and alongside the wider Core Technical Teams, the postholder will coordinate technical practices and continuous improvement initiatives.
Continuation of essential research strongly relies on the dependable service the Media Preparation Facility Technical Team provide. To deliver this, the individual must be reliable, adaptable and have excellent problem solving and organisational skills.
Please note: this position requires regular manual handling tasks, including the lifting, moving, and carrying of materials as part of the daily duties.
You will be an experienced and motivated technical professional with a strong understanding of laboratory operations and experience supporting research environments or scientific facilities. You should hold a Level 5 qualification (HNC, HND, Foundation Degree or equivalent) in a relevant Biological Sciences subject, or have equivalent practical experience. A BSc or equivalent Level 6 qualification in Biological Sciences or a related discipline would be desirable.
You will be confident working independently while also collaborating effectively with colleagues, researchers, students, and wider technical teams. Experience preparing laboratory media and buffers, using laboratory equipment, and supporting operational laboratory activities is essential.
You should be comfortable managing competing priorities in a busy operational environment, with the ability to organise work efficiently, solve problems proactively, and maintain high standards of accuracy and service delivery. You will contribute to the day-to-day running of a specialist facility, including supporting equipment maintenance, stock management, compliance activities, health and safety processes and supporting junior members of the facility team.
We are looking for someone with excellent communication and interpersonal skills who can support and train others where appropriate and engage constructively with continuous improvement initiatives. The successful candidate will demonstrate a collaborative and inclusive approach, a commitment to sustainability and safe working practices. You have a strong understanding and appreciation of how high-quality technical support contributes to excellent research and teaching outcomes.
As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:
- 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
- Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
- Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
- Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
- Immigration loan and expenses
- Relocation scheme for certain posts
- On-Site nursery
- On-site gym
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
- Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
- Discounted medical insurance
Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.
As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.
We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.
These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.
Our division holds an Athena SWAN Silver award, in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality.
You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/
