Laboratory Scientist (ID4792, ID4618, ID4811)

Job summary

Do you wish to be part of an amazing, diverse team on the frontline in researching, investigating, and acting to protect the UK’s animal, plant and bee health? If so, why not join us and make a difference.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and works on behalf of the Scottish Government and Welsh Government. Our diverse teams of over 3,000 skilled and committed professionals come together to provide research, advice and support to UK Government for safeguarding animal, public and plant health for benefit of the environment and economy.

APHA is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, because it helps us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We are dedicated to being an inclusive employer, offering equitable opportunities for all individuals. Our goal is to build a diverse workforce, and we hope to attract applications from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups.

The Science Directorate (SD) delivers high quality, high impact and highly relevant multidisciplinary science. Our People are diverse, talented, engaged and inspired to deliver innovative outcomes.

The Virology department is a multi-disciplinary team with a statutory remit in named reportable, endemic, notifiable and exotic diseases for the delivery of research, diagnostic services and surveillance programmes. We currently have two laboratory scientist positions available in the Influenza and Avian Virology Workgroup; one in the National Reference Laboratory for avian influenza, swine influenza and Newcastle disease and the other in the Outbreak Response team.

As a Laboratory Scientist you will be asked to deliver a range of techniques and work in the biological containment level 3 (BSL-3) facilities. In the National Reference Laboratory, you will conduct testing to exclude for trade for avian and swine influenza viruses, and Newcastle disease virus. You will be involved in the development of tests for avian endemic disease such as Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV), Infectious Laryngotracheitis (ILT), Duck Viral Enteritis (DVE), Duck Viral Hepatitis (DVH) as well as support the outbreak response for avian influenza. In the outbreak response team, you will assist in the frontline diagnostic delivery for diseases such as avian influenza, carrying out molecular and serological diagnostics, test development and fitness for purpose testing. You will also be involved in the reporting of negative and positive report cases.

Job description

Main areas of work will include:

• Conduct and support experimental laboratory studies involving a variety of veterinary viral diseases, but particularly avian and swine influenza viruses, Newcastle disease virus and endemic avian viruses.
• Conduct diagnostic work, some of which could involve the handling and sampling of laboratory animals.
• Conduct sequencing and bioinformatics analysis with a variety of viral veterinary pathogens.
• Establish new techniques, write and implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and maintain, troubleshoot or improve existing methods.
• Maintain Safety standards while working in biological containment level 2 and 3 facilities (ACDP3 – Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens, SAPO4 – Specified Animal Pathogen Order), including writing and implementing risk assessments.
• Assist the department in maintaining an efficient and effective quality management system meeting the requirements of ISO9001:2015 certification and ISO17025 accreditation.
• Present scientific data at laboratory meetings and prepare written reports for inclusion into manuscripts, publications and project reports.
• Manage junior staff and train new staff members, visiting scientists and students as required.
• Be an integral member of the National Reference Laboratory for Avian influenza and Newcastle disease viruses and a part of the Core capability team to support other groups within the Virology department to perform serological/molecular diagnostic tests in the event of an outbreak or to provide support for other World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)/World Health Organisation (WHO)/Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reference laboratories.
• Working with viable eggs for use of diagnostics and minor non-invasive postmortem investigations of avian carcasses.
• Front line diagnostics to prove freedom from disease for animal export
• Development and refinement of assays for the detection and characterisation of avian endemic disease
• Propagation of various viruses from a variety of animal samples to generate a comprehensive virus database.

Person specification

You will need to demonstrate the following:

• Laboratory technical capability including virology experience (e.g. propagation of viruses, virus titration), molecular biology experience (e.g. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), sequencing and phylogenetic analysis), serology assays experience (e.g. enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and serum neutralisation)
• Experience of working in CL-2 laboratories and willingness to work in CL-3 laboratories (ACDP3, SAPO4) and understanding of safety requirements for working in a laboratory
• Good understanding and experience of quality standards (such as UKAS17025, ISO9001).
• Good written and oral communication skills, ability to work as part of a team, and ability to present work within the team or to stakeholders
• Numeracy and IT literacy (e.g. Microsoft Office particularly Excel, SharePoint Online, statistical software packages)
• An understanding of coding in python or similar language

Specific requirements of ability:

• You will require manual dexterity in order to use pipettes on a daily basis
• Ability to work at a laboratory bench or in a microbiological safety cabinet for up to 6 hours a day.

Qualifications
A Biological Science degree (in veterinary/medical biosciences or similar) or equivalent experience as detailed in the Personal Specification

Security clearance
The Weybridge site is a strategically important national asset due to its role as a reference laboratory supporting the Government’s response to national emergencies including disease outbreaks. For this reason all postholders based on the APHA Weybridge site must hold a valid Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) security clearance or above. It is up to each person applying for a post at APHA Weybridge to ensure they meet the residency criteria. Applicantsmust be currently resident in the UKhave at least three years continuous UK residency as this is a requirement to work at the Weybridge site where the team and work is situated.

Ways of Working
Periodic travel within the UK and Europe may be required to attend training courses, conferences and scientific meetings. A valid full driving licence is necessary or access to an alternative means of transport.

Out of hours work may be required. When overtime or out-of-hours work is required, APHA Management reserves the right to change overtime patterns to meet requirements. You may be eligible for overtime payments and where overtime is approved you will receive appropriate payment.

The successful candidate will need to comply with a number of health protocols and wear protective clothing and Respiratory Personal Protective Equipment (RPPE) as required. The work involved in this post can be physically demanding as it involves long periods of time on your feet working in the laborator