Isotope Laboratory Technician (ILT) (Job Number: 24001374)
Department of Earth Sciences
Grade 7: - £37,009 - £44,263 per annum
Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time
Contract Duration: N/A
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date: 20-Oct-2024, 5:59:00 PM
Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Not Applicable.
The Role and Department
The Durham Geochemistry Centre in the Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University seeks an Isotope Laboratory Technician (ILT) to be a core member of the DGC team.
The Isotope Laboratory Technician will work alongside the lab manager and academic staff members on a day-to-day basis, to:
- Maintain the clean laboratories and troubleshoot laboratory issues (e.g., de-ionised water supply, air handling, acid distillation) and mass spectrometry issues (e.g., cone changing, neb blocking, torches, software) in a time and cost-efficient manner;
- Provide clean laboratory and mass spectrometry training and supervision to established and new internal and external users;
- Train and supervise new users in the clean laboratory and mass spectrometry lab;
- Work with all users (PIs, staff, post-doctoral research fellows, undergraduate, masters, and graduate students) to develop and establish new laboratory and instrumentation procedures (e.g., reagent preparation, sample digestion and chemical purification, acid stills, development of isotope "spiking" techniques);
- Lead on routine radiogenic isotope analysis; (MC-ICP-MS, TIMS)
- Conduct their own research as time allows;
- Oversee clean laboratory chemistry orders and budgeting;
- Work with the lab manager on health and safety protocols;
- Provide support for trace element analysis, other duties permitting.
What you need to demonstrate when you apply/Person Specification
Your application should cover the following criteria:
Essential Criteria
Qualifications/Experience
- Educated to postgraduate (MSc or PhD) level or to have completed the postgraduate qualification by the start date of the contract.
- Experience in inorganic isotope ratio mass spectrometry: MC-ICPMS and/or TIMS.
- Experience in wet chemistry (e.g., sample digestion, ion chromatography).
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong digital competence and data processing skills.
- Excellent ability to share and discuss best practice and develop strong and productive working relationships.
Skills/Abilities/Knowledge
- Committed to continuing professional development.
- Ability to solve problems, prioritise, and plan appropriate solutions in mass spectrometry and clean laboratories.
- Ability to train others on mass spectrometry and clean laboratory technical skills.
Desirable Criteria
- Knowledge and/or experience of ensuring compliance with laboratory university and national level health and safety regulations legislation.
- Interest or experience in troubleshooting instrument and/or laboratory infrastructure problems in a logical manner.
- Experience with coding to assist in data reduction routines.
- Prior experience of training and supervision of lab users in the clean laboratory and/or on mass spectrometers.
How to Apply
To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification above. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria.
Submitting your application
- A CV including publications if applicable;
- A supporting statement or covering letter which outlines how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification.
- Statement outlining your thoughts on importance of collegiality, teamwork and maintaining equality, diversity and inclusion.
Contact Details
For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Kevin Burton (email: kevin.burton@durham.ac.uk)
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