Research Assistant – Pathology


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Details

Reference number

325162

Salary

£26,534
Appointments to Forest Research are made at the entry level of the salary quoted above except in exceptional circumstances where a candidate’s experience and skills may justify a higher starting salary.
A
Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Job grade

Administrative Officer
Pay Band 6a

Contract type

Fixed Term

Length of employment

This is a Fixed Term Appointment until the end of May 2024, with the possibility of extension but no guarantee.

Business area

FR – Forest Protection

Type of role

Environment and Sustainability
Science

Working pattern

Full-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

This role is based at Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9SY. The expectation is that the majority of the week would be in the workplace. There may be occasional opportunities for fieldwork or home-based completion of certain tasks . Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.

Job summary

 

Want to work at the cutting edge of environmental science?  Passionate about making a difference and playing your part in tackling the climate and nature crisis?  Forest Research is all about giving top quality evidence and advice to policymakers and practitioners to make a positive impact on the ground. Internationally recognised, we need people who have the skills and passion to work on excellent science and provide practical solutions for nature.

We’re small enough that your voice is heard, yet large enough, as part of the Forestry Commission, that we have everything on hand to get the job done, as well as a variety of career pathways.  Our staff are dedicated to their work and sharing it with others to bring positive change for our planet.  And you will find us a flexible and inclusive employer, so you can have a work life balance that is tailor-made to your circumstances. So whether it’s climate or carbon, pests or pathogens, behaviour or biodiversity that interests you, you can be assured of a warm welcome to the team. To find out more, visit forestresearch.gov.uk.

 

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Research Assistant to support projects related to tree pathology. This position will be part of the Tree Health team at Forest Research and is a critical role underpinning the scientific activities which they undertake. The role will provide general support for experimental research including preparation of laboratory materials, assisting with experimental work set-up, sample collection and analysis using a range of methods such as molecular, morphological and microscopy. The activities carried out will be at the forefront of science and evidence, providing expertise to enable decisions on tree and forest policy and practices and providing the reassurance and advice that customers deserve and require.

Job description

The Research Assistant role supports a variety of research activities related to tree pathology projects in the Forest Research laboratories.

  

The successful candidate’s key work areas will be:

  • Assist and support laboratory research projects in the  Forest Research tree health laboratories, to contribute to delivery of project milestones
  • Support laboratory experiments (e.g. DNA extraction, culture of tree pathogens) and investigations into the biology of plant pathogens (e.g. spore trapping)
  • Adhere to health and safety requirements, assisting with risk and COSHH assessments
  • Contribute to the wider activities of the Tree Health research group including the fulfilment of professional duties as required

  Specific tasks will include:

  1.  Assisting with sample collection and the set-up of experiments in the laboratory,  and investigations into the biology of plant pathogens, occasionally in the forest
  2. Carrying out molecular, morphological, and microscopy work to support the study of plant-pathogen interactions
  3. Helping to maintain materials and resources needed for project research activities
  4. Accurately documenting experimental results
  5. Communicating experimental results to line manager or other tree health staff
  6. Helping the team to ensure laboratory spaces are maintained
  7. Assisting with the documentation required for COSHH, risk assessments, and SOPs as required
  8. Safely disposing of all risk materials in accordance with the quarantine licence to work on regulated organisms

Person specification

 Essential Criteria

  • Bachelor of Science Degree in plant biological sciences, forestry or microbiology (however, other equivalent laboratory- based experience will be considered)
  • Previous experience of molecular biology methods such as DNA extraction, PCR, and sequencing
  • Skills in good laboratory practice
  • Demonstrable practical experience in a research environment
  • Excellent record keeping and attention to detail
  • Ability to work to tight deadlines, prioritising tasks, using specialist knowledge to inform decisions
  • Good standard of verbal and written communication
  • Competent IT user with experience of MS Office packages

 

 Desirable Criteria

  • Knowledge of basic techniques used in mycology, bacteriology or identification of pathogens including culturing or preservation of specimens
  • Knowledge of plant diseases and pests and experience in a plant biology research environment
  • Experience with technical laboratory tasks such as making stock solutions, media preparation, and waste sterilisation and disposal
  • Experience of working in the field or glasshouse environments

Behaviours

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

Alongside your salary of £26,534, Forestry Commission – Forest Research contributes
£7,164 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Your career

  • Excellent professional development opportunities which are tailored to your role, with paid professional membership subscriptions, mentoring, and Civil Service Learning available to all
  • access to world class laboratory facilities, as well as state of the art buildings within forest or science park settings

Your work/life balance

  • flexible working options such as: up to two days flexi leave per month, blended working, part-time working, paid special leave, career breaks, and unpaid leave. Parents and carers will be supported to enable you to manage work and family responsibilities
  • A generous annual leave allowance of 25 days on entry increasing by 1 day each year to a maximum of 30 days (pro-rata for part-timers). Plus 2.5 days of additional leave and 8 days’ paid bank/public holidays

Your wellbeing

  • A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment
  • A range of wellbeing benefits including Employee Assistance Programme 24/7
  • We want you to feel part of something bigger and we encourage a community feel in our workplaces, with everything from cookery competitions to Pilates and fell running, plus topical talks at Wellbeing Wednesdays and Feelgood Fridays
  • Paid volunteering leave of 3 days per year so you can give back to your community and charitable causes by sharing your skills and time

Your benefits

  • a highly competitive Civil Service Pension where employer contributions starting at  26% of your salary
  • an employee benefits scheme offering discounts on groceries, gym memberships, holidays, days out, online retailers and high street shops
  • Cycle to Work scheme and Interest free loans
  • Free parking is offered on-site, alongside electric car charging ports
  • With maternity, adoption, and/or shared parental leave there’s the flexibility to have up to 26 weeks full pay, followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid leave. Paternity leave of up to two weeks is available with full pay.

Any move to Forest Research from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Sift Date:              week commencing 4th December 2023
Interview Date:     week commencing 11th December 2023

If a large volume of applications is received, then we will sift on Experience/Technical Expertise and the Lead Behaviour, Working Together.  However, candidates will be expected to answer questions on all behaviours at the interview stage.  

Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Forest Research which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.

Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success and we welcome applications from all people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role.

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
  • Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available.
You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

  • Name : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk
  • Email : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk

Recruitment team

  • Email : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk

Further information

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact FR HR Services by email: hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.

Attachments

CS_Behaviours_2018 Opens in new window (pdf, 1043kB)

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