Assistant Technical Specialist - Department of Microbes, Infection and Microbiomes - 107341 - Grade 6

Position Details

Department of Microbes, Infection and Microbiomes, School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

As this vacancy has limited funding the maximum salary that can be offered is Grade 6, salary £33,002 - £34,610.

Grade: 6

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to March 2028 

Closing date: 13th May 2026

Background

This post is within the College of Medicine & Health, School of Infection Inflammation & Immunology, Department of Microbes, Infection & Microbiomes. Funded by the BBSRC, the role holder will be working in the laboratory of Dr Carolin Kobras. 

This post requires proven specialist knowledge of high-throughput phenotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of bacterial pathogens.

There will be also be a requirement to supervise and mentor junior support staff and students and to ensure compliance with local SOPs, College and local H&S policies in order to establish and maintain a safe and productive local working environment.

Role Summary

The role holder will provide specialist technical expertise in high-throughput phenotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of bacterial pathogens, and practical and specialist operation of equipment within the laboratory with the ability to test and implement new approaches.

The role holder may supervise a number of technical staff and students but even where you do not directly supervise staff you will still be expected to act as a role model and coach others as appropriate.

The role holder should have knowledge of the research questions, techniques and experimental protocols being used in the laboratory. You will be able to use your in-depth knowledge to advise on procedures, diagnose and resolve problems, and pragmatically and proactively suggest solutions to issues which arise. You may need to operate out of normal working hours to accommodate experimental procedures.

Main Duties

The role holder will plan and perform a variety of specialist techniques to understand how antibiotics affect target strains of interest. This will include microbiology techniques such as culturing/growth assays, serial dilution spot plating, microbrothdilution, cloning, DNA extraction and sequencing, and the use of high-throughput phenotyping specialist equipment. Successful candidates will have an excellent understanding of the strategies that bacteria employ to survive antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. The role holder maybe point of contact for University research staff/external collaborators wishing to work with the laboratory and will provide expert advice/guidance in establishing the exact needs of the collaborator.

The role will include, but is not limited to, the following duties:

• Administration of bacterial strains/isolates to ensure correct storage, traceability and process timelines including communication with collaborators, help with organisation of sample transfer and initiation of administrative processes for material transfer agreements as and where required and liaison with the Human Biomaterial Resource Centre.
• Performing experimental microbiology techniques in the laboratory, including the analysis of scientific data from a variety of sources, reviewing and refining working hypotheses as appropriate. 
• Use specialist scientific equipment in a laboratory environment, working in a safety conscious manner that meets with local safety regulations. 
• Identification and diagnosing instrument problems and affecting solutions.
• Keeping accurate records of all analyses, evaluation and interpretation of results.
• Analysing results and make recommendations for next steps.
• Modification and development of new methods as appropriate.
• Collate and present data to other researchers including group leaders and their research groups, external collaborators and/or Industry partners, in weeky lab meetings and external meetings, where appropriate.
• Maintenance and quality control of the laboratory ensuring that GCLP/GCP and UKAS accreditation standards are achieved for assays where appropriate. Including day to day maintenance of relevant records.
• Test and implement new approaches and adapt protocols to ensure effectiveness and efficiency of the laboratory, and play a proactive role in future strategic planning for future applications where appropriate/feasible.
• You will be responsible for assisting in managing the experimental laboratories.
• You will use your in-depth knowledge of methods and procedures to advise on techniques and experimental procedures being used by researchers and/or students. This will involve communicating with colleagues at a range of levels and inexperienced students. 
• You will need to be able to diagnose and resolve problems and suggest solutions in regard to techniques and experiments.
• Carry out specialist technical and experimental procedures which will need you to use your judgment to assess the correct technique to use, and to consider how these may be improved, referring to your Supervisor for approval on any proposed changes.
• You will need to maintain accurate records of all techniques and experimental procedures you carry out, and for any other research activities you may be involved in including results. 
• Ensure compliance with legislation relevant to the area of research/activity.
• Comply with and promote the operating procedures for the area, including the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures regulation.
• You may contribute to internal and external audit procedures and to regulatory inspections.

Health and Safety duties

• Ensuring staff and students, working within the area of responsibility comply with all basic University / College Health & Safety policies.
• This may include being required to look after a communal area as part of your duties. Comply with all current rules and ensure all required assessments are in place, approved and up to date.
• Fully understand the safety aspects of equipment operation and be able to demonstrate/train staff (at all levels) on the correct usage of the equipment.
• Ensuring that regular maintenance processes are carried out and that appropriate records are maintained. 
• Reporting any breaches or non-compliance with H&S procedures to the relevant manager(s).
• Upholding the correct waste disposal stream as governed by College and local policy for laboratory.
• Postholders may be asked to undergo training as a First Aider {or Fire Warden.} 

General Administration and Organisation

• Ensuring all records are accurate and kept up to date.
• Proactively maintain stocks of consumables, and when required generate purchase order requisitions using University systems.
• Receipt and correct storage of consumables/equipment and chemical reagents, ensuring, where necessary this is in compliance with GCLP/GCP requirements.
• Monitoring income and expenditure of the laboratory and clearly communicating outcomes to the PI.
• Ensuring that the laboratory is maintained in a clean, functional and safe condition, reporting any problems through the appropriate channels.
• Ensuring the best use of equipment through online booking systems, if appropriate.
• Ensuring that PAT testing, calibration of equipment and locally held equipment inventories are up to date and maintained. 
• Adopt a proactive attitude to assisting with and implementing carbon reduction and energy saving measures. 
• Maintaining up to date protocol change or maintaining relevant research lab databases/records.

Other Duties

• In collaboration with the relevant manager the post holder will take an active role in the training and mentoring process for junior or newly appointed staff.
• Supports equality and values diversity, moderates own behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others. 
• Embed the principles of mutual respect, equality, diversity, inclusivity in all aspects of your work. 
• Any other duties as may reasonably be required.
• Fosters a fair and equitable workplace for all staff.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

Essential

• Extensive relevant practical and technical workplace experience, professional qualification or degree in an appropriate subject, such as microbiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, biomedical sciences or other relevant subjects, together with relevant practical experience for this role.
• Extensive experience in microbiology practical methodologies, including aseptic technique, growing bacterial cultures, spot plating, measuring antibiotic susceptibility in a high-throughput manner.
• Previous experience in molecular biology techniques such as nucleic acid purification, PCR, or cloning methodologies in bacteria.
• Interest in and excellent understanding of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms.
• Ability to think creatively and contribute new ideas for research projects.
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to work supportively in a laboratory environment and to collaborate with colleagues and students.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to contribute to writing for publication, and research proposals and present their work at meetings.
• Outstanding organisation and time management skills, demonstrating flexibility in terms of work practices/requirements.
• Ability to work independently/under minimal supervision of the PI but function as part of a team. 
• Knowledge of current legislation relevant to the role.
• Knowledge of current H&S policies and ability to uphold same.
• Proficiency in commonly used software packages, including word and excel.
• Understands the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace.
• Ability to identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics and duties under the Equality Act 2010. Including fostering good relations and advancing the universities Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED).

Desirable

• Experience in working with bacterial pathogens (BSL-2).
• Experience in working with staphylococci, or other Gram positive bacteria.
• Experience in using specialist high-throughput equipment for phenotyping bacteria, such as liquid handling robots, plate readers, and DNA extraction machines. 
• Experience in functional genomics, such as Tn-seq or RNA-seq.
• Experience in command line, analysis of sequencing results, and using bioinformatics and comparative genomics approaches.

Further particulars can be found here

Informal enquiries to Carolin Kobras, email: c.m.kobras@bham.ac.uk

View our staff values and behaviours here

Use of AI in applications: We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.