Job Purpose
To manage technical aspects of the research on behalf of the Principal Investigator PI, including providing specialist technical expertise in the relevant discipline and being responsible for the creation/set up and/or operation of all technical resources to aid the delivery of research objectives. In addition, the postholder will undertake a range of technical support activities in line with the College/School Strategy.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
1. Undertake specialist technical aspects of the specified research as a member of the research group. This will include insect husbandry, dissecting germ cells, collecting haemolymph samples, monitoring survival, and managing the database.
2. Provide specialist technical advice to research team including research, teaching and technical staff and undergraduate and post-graduate/PhD students. Where required, support the supervision of students within the research group.
3. Progress technical aspects of research objectives in accordance with pre- determined timescales as set out by the PI.
4. Independently generate ideas and implement agreed proposals for experimental strategies.
5. Design and create experiments, systems, protocols, equipment, and/or other technical resources to support the delivery of research objectives.
6. Keep up to date with developments in relevant research/technical areas and within the broader discipline to ensure contribution to research goals is optimised.
7. Be responsible for the management of technical aspects of the research project, including where relevant, management of the laboratory, technical resources, and technical staff. Ensure operational delivery of technical resources is optimised and seek to continuously improve the technical service.
8. Be responsible for troubleshooting complex technical problems, including issues with the design and operation of technical resources and/or with the data which is generated.
9. Undertake complex data analysis, identifying trends, problems or anomalies, and present findings clearly to research group and/or to wider audiences via presentations or within appropriate research publications.
10. Where relevant, take day to day control of research budget, creating spending plans, monitoring outgoings and targets and providing summary reports to PIs as required.
11. Be responsible for the day to day management of and compliance with relevant Health and Safety and/or other specialist legal requirements. Maintain all necessary records in accordance with set requirements, keep up to date with developments or legal changes relevant to the work of the research group and advise and train group members as appropriate. Report any potential issues to the PI and/or relevant internal or external bodies timeously.
12. Work collaboratively with others, including within the wider College/School and where relevant with external contacts, to enhance the delivery of the research aims and support the broader strategic aims of the University.
The above duties are not exhaustive and the postholder will be required to undertake any other relevant duties as required by the line manager which are commensurate with the grade of the post.
Qualifications
Essential
A1 Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 8 Scottish Vocational Qualification level 4, Higher National Diploma or equivalent, and experience of personal development in a similar role.
A2 Significant breath or depth of technical knowledge and recognised as an expert in the relevant discipline.
A3 Up to date knowledge of relevant legislative requirements applicable to the role, including by not limited to Health and Safety.
Desirable
B1 Degree or equivalent in relevant discipline such as entomology or zoology desirable.
B2 Working towards Professional Registration with relevant body.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Essential
C1 Demonstrable specialist technical skills aligned to the specified discipline or research project. Details of the discipline/project are as described in the post-specific information and advert.
C2 Significant IT skills, including proficient user of relevant specialist or bespoke software packages.
C3 Significant analytical and problem-solving capability, including high degree of accuracy and attention to detail when dealing with complex data
C4 Proven interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to understand, conceptualise and interpret technical requirements of a research group and adapt own style to meet the needs of others
C5 Excellent teamworking skills and where relevant to the post, supervisory or line management skills.
C6 Ability to plan and prioritise a broad range of technical work to meet competing demands.
C7 Significant relevant work experience within a similar research environment, including evidence of previous outputs and professional development.
C8 Experience of understanding and interpreting complex technical requirements of service users and implementing appropriate methods of achieving their needs.
C9 Experience of managing budgets, including approving spends and monitoring outgoings on behalf of others.
C10 Experience of operating independently in progressing and delivering research goals within set timescales.
Additional project information
How ageing occurs, why it varies across individuals, and what determines its pace, pattern, and form are crucial questions for understanding life-history diversity. The role of environmental and other non-genetic factors has been relatively understudied. In this context, how parental age affects lifespan and fitness of descendants across generations urgently requires more attention. Our aim in this project is to investigate the effects of parental age at breeding on offspring quality. We will address a series of questions about how parental age may impact offspring fitness and the mechanisms that drives these effects. Using outbred Gryllus bimaculatus we will manipulate the rate of ageing by controlling the temperature. This will enable us to identify the (negative) effects of accelerated biological age at breeding on offspring performance as well as unravelling the underlying somatic mechanistic underpinnings. This project will take place in our cricket lab at the Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment on the shores of Loch Lomond, an hour away from Glasgow.
Additional Information
Our School is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. As we are a merging of two Athena Swan Silver award winning bodies (the School of Veterinary Medicine and the Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine) we aim to achieve an Athena Swan award for the School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
The award demonstrates our commitment to best practice in recruiting and supporting the career development and progression of female scientists, addressing gender inequalities in higher education. The Athena SWAN Charter recognises commitment to advancing gender equality in Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medicine (STEMM) employment in academia. https: // www. gla.ac.uk/schools/bohvm/athenaswan/
The College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences is re-shaping this year to create 8 new Schools that bring staff together around thematic strengths, across the strategic pillars of education, research and innovation. More information on the College re-shape can be accessed here: MVLS 2025. The new College shape took effect from 1 August 2022 and this post will be based in the School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine.
https:// www. gla.ac.uk/colleges/mvls/mvls2025/
Terms and Conditions
Salary will be Grade 6, £30,502 - £34,308 per annum.
This post is full time, and has funding for up to 12 months
As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.
As a valued member of our team, you can expect:
1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.
2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https: // www. gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.
3 A flexible approach to working.
4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University https: // www. gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.
We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https: // www. gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.
We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https: // www. gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.
We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https: // www. gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.
Vacancy Ref : 107488 Close Date : 10-Feb-2023 23:45