Job Description

Job Title: SBS Flow Cytometry Specialist

School of Biological Sciences, Flow
Department / School:
Cytometry Facility
Reports To:
Academic Lead for Flow Cytometry

Job Purpose
Provide specialist flow cytometry training and scientific expertise to all researchers
using the flow cytometry facilities in the Ashworth Laboratories. Responsible for
operating and maintaining advanced flow cytometry laboratory instruments.
Contributing to and ensuring generation of high-quality data and ultimately the
research output of the Institute.

Main responsibilities
1. Apply specialist scientific and technical knowledge to advise 30%
investigators, of all levels, on sample preparation, experimental design
and instrument capabilities for producing high quality data and assisting
with the subsequent analysis.
Manage all user communications, requested through the online booking
system, email or other means, ensuring prompt and accurate and
detailed scientific responses. Disseminating all relevant information to
those needed to deliver an efficient and high-standard service.

September 2021
 2. Operate the sophisticated and sensitive equipment within the facility in 30%
preparation for researchers’ samples. This includes set up and
calibration of facility instruments, to ensure they are well maintained and
functioning optimally within established quality standards; and requires
the use of complex software packages. Current cytometers include
conventional (Fortessa, Canto and Aria) and spectral machines (Sony
ID7000; BD Discover S8).
Undertake intermediate level equipment repairs, which requires an
advanced understanding of the system components and processes.
Liaise with manufacturer engineers and consumable representatives to
ensure that facility equipment is maintained, serviced and repaired as
required.
3. Deliver the facility training programme, designing and implementing new 10%
topics and updating current material. Utilising University digital
packages to produce different formats appropriate to the programme
structure.
Ensure maintenance of all facility records with regards to user training.
Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Facility
documentation to support the training and enhance the user use and
experience in facility equipment. Provide assistance and/or supervision
of trainee users.

4. Daily management of the facility laboratories through the requisition of 10%

consumables and reagents via various procurement systems, ensuring
ordering records are kept current.
Perform general housekeeping to ensure the laboratory runs efficiently
and to facility policy, including waste management and sustainability.

5. Liaise with the SBS Health and Safety team as needed to support safe 10%
operation of the flow cytometers, offering specialist input to methods
that use flow cytometry. Ensure appropriate certification is kept current.
Introduce and confirm that users of the facility have completed all
relevant paperwork and comply with local regulations.

6. Actively participate in and represent the facility within local, national 5%

and international flow cytometry and technical societies and
communities. Pursuing development opportunities to keep abreast of
the technology and its applications. Deliver presentations and support
training to increase awareness and improve standards within the field.

7. Grow public engagement of the facility through development of website 5%

and social media platforms, increasing presence to actively engage
with the scientific community, including publication announcements.
Utilise and develop digital skills to maintain the facility website,
publication archive and produce biannual metric reports.

Key Contacts/Relationships
The post holder will establish good working relationships with all members of staff
especially the customer base of the facility. It is important to build a reliable
partnership with the manufacturing companies to ensure that the instruments within
the facility are well maintained. The interaction with other scientific facilities and the
wider technical community is vital to have a broad knowledge base and to introduce
new techniques and good practice.

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Planning & Organising
The post holder will have responsibility for their own workload, within the confines of
the facility service requirements.
They must be ready to respond to questions and problems from the facilities
customers and react rapidly to any unexpected problems, such as breakdowns.
As well as the daily duties to ensure all aspects of the facility are functioning at a
high standard, the postholder will also be working on both short-term and long-term
specialised technical and methodological projects and must prioritise the work
accordingly to ensure progress and delivery on time. This requires excellent
organisational skills and good record-keeping with an ability to multi-task and
manage their time effectively.

Problem Solving
The post holder will be expected to deal with and resolve all issues within the facility
on a daily basis. They must be able to troubleshoot any scientific problems due to
sample preparation and identify any mechanical faults and software issues that may
arise. This requires not only the provision of technical support but also an
understanding of scientific rationale behind the research. Only issues of a more
serious nature will be reported to the appropriate line manager.
Decision Making
The post holder will arrange their own daily schedule ensuring that objectives are
met in an efficient and timely manner. This often requires prioritising the research
requirements of the service, while ensuring all requests are effectively
accommodated. The post holder must have the experience, ability and confidence
to make reasoned decisions for onward communication to the researchers.
The specialist will bring to attention, suggestions and potential improvements to
service output, procedures and H&S, in consultation with the facility manager.

Knowledge Skills and Experience

Attribute Essential Desirable

Education,  Life Sciences degree  Postgraduate degree
Qualifications  Minimum 6 years working in in relevant subject
& Training a relevant laboratory
environment
Knowledge &  Minimum 3 years practical  Supervisory
Experience experience of flow experience
cytometry or a related  Experience in cell
technology, such as imaging sorting
 Knowledge of Biosafety
legislation
 Excellent interpersonal and
time management skills

Dimensions

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As a member of core scientific staff, the post holder is responsible for operating and
maintaining specialised equipment in a multi-million pound facility run from a College
of Science and Engineering business plan. The facility provides services across
Kings Buildings, a science campus serving the over 2,700 staff and 8,000 students
of UoE’s College of Science & Engineering, and for a wider community of Bioscience
researchers including colleagues at the Roslin and Moredun Reseach Institutes and
elsewhere.

Additional Information
Flow cytometry is a continually expanding technology and the facility is an essential
scientific hub in the School of Biological Sciences. It is important that the post holder
has a flexible approach to work and is able to accommodate the requirements of
multiple researchers thus maintaining a high-quality service. They will actively
participate within the flow cytometry community and have the ability to adapt to
changes within the field acquiring new skills and knowledge in line with any
advances. This will allow them to contribute to the future development of the facility
and ensure the specialist support is cutting edge.

Key Job hazard information specific to the role

This role may result in potential exposure to certain hazards as listed below. These
will be risk assessed by the school or department, which may require you to
participate in, for example, health surveillance or follow other health and safety
requirements.
 Working with pathogens or pathogen infected materials.
 Working with Human tissues and blood.
 Work or contact with non-ionising radiation sources such as Lasers and
hazardous EMF sources.
 International travel on behalf of the University and/or high hazard fieldwork
 Other - Please specify. Aerosolisation of hazardous (GM2/HG2) samples.
Specialist understanding of the cell sorting process is required and the
containment systems in place.

If you require this document in an alternative format please contact HR by email at

[email protected] or by telephone on 0131 651 5151.

September 2021