Senior Scientist

The focus of the team is to review, evaluate, develop, and implement diagnostic assays for the Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL). We also evaluate diagnostic assays for external stakeholders and distribution across the healthcare network in the event of outbreaks or incident response.

The team is part of the Diagnostics and Pathogen Characterisation division at UKHSA Porton Down. The division's work covers a broad range of projects involving the development and evaluation of interventions into a range of infectious diseases e.g. Ebola, Zika, CCHF, Q Fever, Anthrax, Melioidosis and Mpox. This placement is vital in our role of transitioning developmental assays for rare pathogens into a frontline clinical diagnostic laboratory that is subject to ISO15189:2022 standards and IVDR regulations.

The post holder will be expected to learn about the pathogen of interest, research available diagnostic assays, be they commercial or developmental, and investigate their utility against clinical need. These tests can be for nucleic acids, protein antigens or patient antibodies. These tests must then be introduced into RIPL with SOPs, risk assessments and compliance documentation.

This role will also involve line management of junior team members and training of staff.There may also be a requirement to support RIPL under the direction of qualified Biomedical scientists and opportunity to join the RIPL on-call team. This work includes working at containment level 2 and 3.

Main duties of the job

Your key responsibilities will include:

o Work with the Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory to provide diagnostic tests for ACDP hazard group 2, 3 and 4 pathogens, to support the diagnosis and treatment of patients. This service is to ISO15189:2022 standards.oCollaborate with other teams on the UKHSA Porton site with specialities in, but not limited to, high containment microbiology, pathogen characterisation, sequencing & genomics, commercial diagnostics acceleration and serology. o Provide reagents and materials at pace to support diagnostic activities across UKHSA and the wider NHS network.o Conduct assurance work for existing and newly developed testso Take lead responsibility for the supervision and training of junior staff allocated to the project in specific areas of expertise.o Participate in laboratory work and the maintenance of the equipment and laboratories.o Provide reports and compliance documentation through the collation of data using software and databases as necessary, to meet project targets and
lead on preparation of presentations and publications.o Complete and maintain mandatory Civil Service, UKHSA, NHS and Porton specific training and competencies required for the role.o Establish links and collaborations within and outside UKHSA as necessary to benefit the team and RIPL.o To ensure that the project team undertakes work in accordance with UKHSA's Code of Safety Practice and to work within any Quality Systems that are applicable to the site.

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.