Scientific Officer

Job Title: Scientific Officer

Starting salary: circa £25,000 (dependent upon experience)
Duration: Fixed term until 31 March 2027
Location: Manchester

About the role:
We are currently looking for a Scientific Officer to join our National Biomarker Centre. The National Biomarker Centre (NBC) group at CRUK Manchester Institute holds a leading position in the field of cancer biomarker sciences. The NBC consists of multiple complementary teams, including the Preclinical Pharmacology (PP) team that uses a variety of preclinical cancer model systems to interrogate the biology and dependencies of different cancers. An integral part of this is the generation, development, and use of animal models of cancer, with a particular focus on patient-derived models. The aim of this post is to support the day to day running of the preclinical team and carry out research under supervision as directed by the Group Leader, Preclinical Pharmacology Team Leader and In Vivo Team Manager.

About you:
You will have a BSc (or equivalent) in biology related discipline or have equivalent relevant experience and be a current or previous holder of a Home Office Personal Licence (PIL A and B) or equivalent under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. You will conduct in vivo preclinical pharmacology studies in collaboration with academic and industrial drug developers including the analysis of predictive and pharmacodynamic biomarkers. Ideally, you will have a basic knowledge of cancer biology along with experience in in vivo pharmacology and a strong desire to see their research translated for patient benefit.

Our Centre discovers, develops, validates and qualifies biomarkers in clinical studies and trials that detect cancer earlier and predict and monitor therapy responses to support optimised treatment of patients with cancer. Our advanced research programmes, agnostic to cancer type, develop biomarkers in tissue and less invasive clinical samples such as blood (liquid biopsy) with sophisticated bioinformatic and artificial intelligence solutions for multi-modal laboratory and clinical biomarker data analysis and interpretation. Our preclinical programmes focus on development of pharmacodynamic biomarker and evaluation the efficacy of novel therapeutics in patient derived models. As a bridge between discovery science and clinical research, we are highly collaborative across Manchester, nationally and internationally.

ORGANISATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

Day to day: I. NBC Preclinical in vivo team leader
Accountable to: I. NBC Preclinical in vivo team leader
II. NBC Preclinical Pharmacology Team Lead
III. NBC Group Leader

JOB PURPOSE

To conduct in vivo research in the Preclinical Pharmacology team within the National Biomarker Centre, primarily supporting research using lung cancer mouse models. The post holder will work with members of the team to generate and maintain preclinical mouse models of human cancer and may also become involved in testing the models for response to therapy.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Using established protocols and procedures and with in-house training where required, plan and execute own work after discussion with the Preclinical in vivo Team Leader.

All duties will be in accordance with the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

The post holder will:

• Be expected to hold a Home Office Personal Licence and work in accordance with the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
• Prepare patient samples (usually blood or tumour tissue) for
in vivo use.
• Perform in vivo work including implanting cells for xenograft studies or patient tumour tissue for PDX studies, drug administration, tumour monitoring (this may involve occasional weekend work), conducting surgical procedures and performing clinical observations.
• Use the automated data collection and study conduct software package to accurately record the details for all in vivo studies.
• Be responsible for all aspects of in vivo work from DISCO Therapeutics Collaboration.
• Perform ex vivo processing and analysis of xenograft tumour samples and circulating biomarkers.
• If required, conduct in vitro experiments (for example cell culture, drug treatment, western blotting) initially under close supervision with increasing independence as competence is demonstrated.
• Keep abreast of literature pertinent to current projects.
• Present at team/group meeting and journal club.
• Work efficiently, cost effectively, and in a flexible manner.
• Share knowledge of techniques and procedures for the benefit of others.
• Provide specialist advice and guidance to colleagues.
• Makes significant contributions to the overall success of the group.
• Undertake any other duties, as requested by the NBC Preclinical in vivo team leader.
• Ensure all regulatory tasks and training are completed on time avoiding backlogs.

STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE

 ? Work efficiently, cost-effectively and in a flexible manner
 ? To meet objectives within pre-determined timescales
 ? Effective communications to be maintained with staff at all levels
 ? Strict adherence to protocols and Institute policies
 ? To comply with Health & Safety requirements, including having an awareness of personal responsibilities to maintain a safe working environment
 ? To contribute to the University’s agenda for social responsibility, including sustainability
 ? To maintain confidentiality of information in line with data protection requirements and University policy
 ? Familiarise themselves with the University’s Equality and Diversity policies and to actively support these wherever possible
 ? Be a team player
 ? To strive to accomplish high quality of work
 ? The post holder will be required to receive a Hepatitis B vaccination if not already immunised.
 ? To complete a security check screening as and when required.

PERSON SPECIFICATION
The person specification should set out the qualifications, experience, skills, knowledge, personal competencies and other requirements which the post holder requires to perform the job to a satisfactory level.

Job Title: Scientific Officer

ESSENTIAL
The qualities without which a post holder could not be appointed DESIRABLE
Extra qualities which can be used to choose between candidates who meet all the essential criteria METHOD OF ASSESSMENT

QUALIFICATIONS • BSc (or equivalent) in biology related discipline or equivalent relevant experience • Completed Home Office Personal Licence Modular Training for PIL C or equivalent under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 Application form and Presentation of
certificate
• Current or previous holder of a Home Office Personal licence holder (PIL A and B) or equivalent under the Animals (Scientific
Procedures) Act 1986

EXPERIENCE • Relevant experience working in laboratory setting • Some experience in cancer research and/or pharmacology Application
form, references and
• Relevant experience working with rodent in vivo models, preferably mice • Some experience with mouse models of cancer
• Some experience of knowledge of the principles of good laboratory practice (GLP). interview
• Some experience of working with clinical colleagues

SKILLS • Creative thought regarding key scientific issues
• Good experimental/ technical skills
• After discussion with line manager, able to plan own experiments and interpret results
• Accurate comprehensive record keeping, attention to detail
• Effective communication skills, written and verbal
• Effective organisational skills and good multi- tasking ability
• Problem solving capabilities
• Ability to work well within a team framework as well as on an individual project • Ability to make intellectual & practical contributions to projects
• Previous experience of surgical procedures.
• Use of Studylog software or other automated data collection software designed for in vivo applications Application form, references and interview

KNOWLEDGE • Some knowledge of cell biology.
• Familiar with basic computing software (e.g. MS Office) • Cancer biology and pharmacology Application form, references and interview

OTHER • Self-motivated
• Collegiate and forward thinking
• Meticulous
• Interactive
• Technically focused
• Willingness to implement and learn new management and experimental techniques • Hepatitis B vaccination Application form, references, and interview

OTHER
contd… • To show commitment to equality and fairness and integrity in dealing with others
• To be willing to work across organisational boundaries.
• To seek new knowledge and share ideas.
• To be open and responsive to change and innovation Application form, references, and interview