Research Assistant, Flow Cytometry - Generative Biology Institute Generative Biology Institute ...

At the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), we're on a mission to translate scientific discovery into real world impact. We bring together visionary scientists, technologists, engineers, researchers, educators, and innovators to tackle humanity's greatest challenges in four transformative areas:

• Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology
• Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture
• Climate Change & Managing CO
• Artificial Intelligence & Robotics

Led by Founding Director Jason Chin, the Generative Biology Institute (GBI) at EIT is tackling key challenges in making biology engineerable and unlocking its power for humanity. The vision of GBI is to lay the foundations for engineering biology and to unlock its potential for good, addressing challenges in health, agriculture, clean energy, and more.

Your Role:

We are seeking an experienced and detail oriented Research Assistant to join our Flow Cytometry team within a dynamic research environment. The successful candidate will support departmental research by providing expertise in flow cytometry analysis and cell sorting, working closely with diverse research groups in GBI to enable cutting edge discoveries.

Key Responsibilities:

• Operate flow cytometry analysers and cell sorters, ensuring accurate and high quality analytical and sorting performance.
• Develop and implement advanced flow cytometry workflows, adopting emerging technology and approaches for the characterisation of diverse sample types, including engineered cells and microbial populations.
• Perform data analysis using flow cytometry software (e.g. FlowJo), providing accurate and meaningful interpretation to support research outcomes.
• Provide hands on training and ongoing support to research colleagues, promoting user autonomy and best operational practice.
• Ensure strict adherence to workflow protocols and safety guidelines when handling and sorting biological samples.
• Collaborate with the team to maintain and update standard operating procedures (SOPs) and COSHH documentation, ensuring compliance and consistency.
• Maximise performance and instrument uptime through the maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting of cell analysers and sorters, including coordination of engineer visits for repairs.
• Execute daily quality control procedures.
• Maintain consumable stock levels, ensuring efficient and cost effective procurement when required.
• Work with Tech Hub colleagues to support operation of the Nikon confocal microscope, including coordination of user booking, assistance with training, and routine maintenance.

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• A degree in Life Sciences, Bioengineering, or a related field, with significant hands on laboratory experience.
• Practical experience in fluorescence based sample staining (e.g. antibody labelling) for flow cytometry or microscopy, including working with mammalian or microbial cells, and murine or human tissues.
• Ability to understand the technical complexity in flow cytometry instrumentation and applications, aligning facility capabilities with the broader objectives of the research programme.
• Good knowledge of flow cytometry principles; experience in troubleshooting and optimising sample preparation and staining procedures.
• Experience in supporting laboratory activities and operation, including ordering consumables, maintaining accurate records, and contributing to SOPs, risk assessment and COSHH documentation.
• Experience in training or mentoring others, with a proactive and collaborative approach.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to work methodically under time pressure while maintaining high standards.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse internal and external audiences.

Desirable skills:

• Flow cytometry applications such as DNA analysis, small particle detection.
• Flow cytometry data analysis using third party software such as FlowJo, FCS Express or Python/R.
• Cell sorting of microbial and/or mammalian cells.
• Experience with confocal microscopy or other fluorescence imaging techniques.

Our Benefits:

• Salary: Competitive + travel allowance + bonus
• Enhanced holiday pay
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance
• Hospital Cash Plan
• Therapy Services
• Perk Box
• Electric Car Scheme

Working Together - What It Involves:

• You must have the right to work permanently in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary. In certain cases, we can consider sponsorship, and this will be assessed on a case by case basis.
• You will live in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford (or be willing to relocate).