Faculty of Medicine and Health
School of Medicine
Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology
Section of Pathology and Tumour Biology
Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Group
Research Technician
Fixed term until 30 June 2019
You will provide molecular pathology support for a highly productive research group investigating prognostic and predictive factors in gastrointestinal cancer.
With an advanced C&G; A/F IMLS; BTEC Higher National Certificate or Higher Diploma National Level II Units, you will have significant relevant laboratory experience. The ability to manage your time effectively and work under pressure is essential, along with effective interpersonal, communication, and team working skills.
This full time post is available immediately on a fixed term basis until 30 June 2019, and will be based at St James's University Hospital.
The University of Leeds is committed to providing equal opportunities for all and offers a range of family friendly policies (http://hr.leeds.ac.uk/homepage/4/policies). The University is a charter member of Athena SWAN and holds the Bronze award. The School of Medicine gained the Bronze award in 2013. We are committed to being an inclusive medical school that values all staff, and we are happy to consider job share applications and requests for flexible working arrangements from our employees.
University Grade 5 (£ 21,843 – 25,298 p.a.) depending on qualifications and experience
Informal enquiries regarding the post should be directed to Professor Phil Quirke, email:
If you have any specific enquiries about your online application please contact Rosemary Sannaee, email: or Sharon Collins, email:
Job Ref: MHCAP1090 Closing Date: 19 January 2017
Section of Pathology and Tumour Biology – Professor Phil Quirke BM, PhD, FRCPath, FMedSci
This section undertakes translational research in cancer (gastrointestinal cancer (Quirke, West, Richman, Wood, Hutchins), breast cancer (Hanby, Speirs, Verghese), Head and Neck and lymphomas (MacLennan) and ovarian cancer (Orsi) as well as digital pathology (Treanor).
Undergraduate education is supervised by Burns/Verghese/West and the intercalated BSc and Masters in Research programmes by Lee.
Our focus is on translational research moving basic scientific advances into patient care usually within the content of clinical trials.
We are part of the CRUK Cancer Centre, the Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre and the Leeds Institute of Data Analytics. We have programme grant funding from Yorkshire Cancer Research, the Breast cancer campaign, MRC Focus 4, the MRC S-CORT network and a wide range of other funders such as the MRC, NIHR, Special trustee's, Dr Hawden Trust etc... as well as a wide range of companies.
We are undertaking translation of research in over 30 UK clinical trials in colon, breast, stomach and oesophageal cancers. Our digital science can be seen atwww.virtualpathology.leeds.ac.ukand the breast cancer tissue bank athttps://breastcancertissuebank.org/about-tissue-bank.php. We publish on average 30 - 40 papers a year many in high impact factor Journals.
The Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Group is led by Professor Quirke who is focused on investigations in the lower gastrointestinal tract cancer (e.g. large bowel cancer). These investigations span basic pathology, digital pathology, molecular pathology, and novel diagnostics many delivered through national clinical trials.
The group works in a shared laboratory with the Breast Research and Perinatal Research groups and has excellent collaborative links with scientists, pathologists, oncologists and surgeons locally, nationally and internationally.
Main Purpose of the Post
The purpose of this post is to provide molecular pathology support to projects and trials investigating prognostic and predictive factors in gastrointestinal cancer. The applicant must have relevant laboratory experience.
Duties and Responsibilities
You will work under the supervision of Prof Phil Quirke within a research group comprising post-doctoral research fellows, PhD students, Clinical Fellows and research support staff involved in a range of projects related to human gastrointestinal cancer.
You will be expected to:
· Liaise closely with the Principal Investigator (PI) and co-investigators to plan and conduct experiments whilst working with minimal supervision on a day-to-day basis
· Be the first point of contact in the lab and supervise/mentor colleagues and students as appropriate.
· manage high-throughput sample analysis including expertise in handling very small sample biopsies critical for clinical trial compliance.
· evaluate methods, techniques and results obtained by other researchers and to relate such evaluations appropriately to own work
· work independently to carry out a range of immunohistochemical, nucleic acid/protein extraction and PCR based methods. Design and construction of tissue microarrays
· use knowledge of specialised histological techniques to review H&E stained pathology slides and use judgement to mark tumour and normal areas for microdissection and tissue microarray construction
· undertake assessment of slides for tumour cell density
· develop methods and techniques applicable to your own research work and overcome experimental difficulties by troubleshooting research methodology
· using knowledge of university finance procedures to monitor expenditure within budgets on research grant and internal order accounts
· provide training and support to academic and clinical staff in the laboratory
· day to day supervision of research technicians and students within the research group
· using a working knowledge of university purchasing systems and guidelines to ensure adequate stocks of research supplies, procurement and appropriate maintenance of specialised equipment.
· ensure that all procedures are performed according to the standards and practices of the Institute and that legal and regulatory guidelines are followed. Active management of clinical trial material in the context of Human Tissue Act and ethical approval.
· maintain laboratory records including managing clinical trials sample databases
· ability to communicate, including in writing and in oral presentations to research group, external visitors and at UK/international conferences.
· contribution to grant applications and research papers for publication.
· make and contribute to decisions on day-to-day matters that affect own work and that of the team
· encourage and promote good working practices within the team and within the Institute, write COSHH assessments when appropriate and ensure Health and Safety compliance
· Be responsible for spot counting analysis in a number of different projects, training staff in spot counting techniques, selecting slides, setting grids scoring and ensuring quality control of work carried out by other staff.
· Travel to UK and overseas laboratories to learn research techniques and implementation of these methodologies in the laboratory.
· support and adhere to the Institute’s commitment to Equality and Diversity.
· Maintain continuous professional development and develop new research techniques/skills necessary for the project.
· Ensure all work is carried out according to GCLP guidelines
· Assist the laboratory manager in day to day tasks where help is required (deputising should be down to the grade 6 techs)
Relationships
The appointment will be made through the Section of Pathology and Tumour Biology, Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology (LICAP). The appointee will be directly responsible to Professor Quirke, and through him to the Head of Institute, Professor Tim Bishop, the Dean of the Medical School and the Faculty, Professor Paul Stewart.
University Values
All staff are expected to operate in line with the university’s values and standards, which work as an integral part of our strategy and set out the principles of how we work together. More information about the university’s strategy and values is available at http://www.leeds.ac.uk/comms/strategy/
Person specification
Essential
· A relevant first degree and relevant pathology laboratory and research project experience
· Experience of and willingness to handle clinical samples
· Experience of using a microtome to section paraffin embedded tissue and create H&E’s and other special stains
· Experience of histological techniques including immunohistochemistry
· Experience of DNA, RNA and protein extraction, PCR based techniques and quality control of extracted nucleic acids and proteins. Running of microarray chips
· Computer Literacy, experience of managing clinical trials sample tracking databases
Desirable
· Experience of supervising and supporting junior technical staff and students
· Good background knowledge of bowel cancer research
· Evidence of an ability to work individually and in a research team
· Evidence of an ability to organise own work and to meet deadlines
· Effective interpersonal skills andgood ability to communicate, including in writing and in presentations
· Willingness to work flexibly, when necessary, to fulfil the needs of the research project
· An understanding of health and safety issues within the laboratory setting
· Knowledge of Human Tissue Act and ethical approval requirements in the context of the laboratory
· Knowledge of GCLP guidelines and practices and holding GCP accreditation
· Experience in training undergraduate and postgraduate students in immunohistochemical techniques and nucleic acid and protein extraction
· Experience of managing computerised clinical trials sample tracking data.
· A good understanding of digital pathology and the use of imagescope to undertake image analysis
Faculty Information
With more than 6,000 students, 1,600 staff and annual research income of £50m, the Faculty of Medicine and Health at Leeds is bigger than some universities. Leeds has one of the largest medical and bioscience research bases in the UK, and is an acknowledged world leader in cancer, cardiovascular, psychiatric, genetic, musculo-skeletal and health services research. Treatments developed in Leeds are transforming the lives of people around the world living with conditions such as HIV, TB, diabetes and malaria.
The School of Medicine
Dean: Professor Paul Stewart
The School of Medicine at the University of Leeds is a major international centre for research and education. Our ambition is to improve health and reduce health inequalities, locally and globally, through excellent scientific research and the translation of that research into healthcare practice, and through the education of future scientific and clinical leaders who will advocate and practise an evidence-based approach. Our major strategic aims are to:
· Deliver outstanding research including basic discovery science through to applied health research that makes a significant difference to health.
· Produce exceptional graduates, clinicians, educators, doctoral and post-doctoral fellows whose learning has been informed and inspired by our research excellence and who will form the next generation of academic and clinical leaders.
· Develop and support knowledge transfer activities that flow from our academic activities.
· Create and maintain an efficient and sustainable environment for research and teaching within an organisational culture and management style that enacts and supports the university’s core values of community, inclusiveness, integrity and professionalism.
The School of Medicine is organised into seven Institutes. All are committed to high quality research-led teaching, through their training of postgraduate research students, delivery of postgraduate taught courses, and its leadership in undergraduate teaching. The School works closely with the local NHS trusts, having a number of jointly funded clinical posts to ensure this relationship is effective and strong for both research and student education.
Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology (LICAP)
Director: Professor Tim Bishop
The Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology addresses both laboratory based and clinical research into cancer with a major focus on translational science. LICAP is one of the largest cancer institutes in the country and has major financial support from the cancer charities. The laboratories and clinical research are all based on the St James’s site with laboratory activities being located in the Wellcome Trust Brenner Building and adjacent buildings while the clinical work is based within Bexley Wing. The Institute consists of seven Sections: Epidemiology & Biostatistics; Experimental Haematology; Experimental Oncology; Oncology & Clinical Research (Clinical); Oncology & Clinical Research (Laboratory); Patient Centred Outcome Research; and Pathology & Tumour Biology.
http://medhealth.leeds.ac.uk/info/900/leeds_institute_of_cancer_and_pathology
Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine (LICAMM)
Director: Professor Mark Kearney
LICAMM integrates basic and clinical scientists with a common goal of understanding the mechanisms underpinning common chronic diseases of human health and developing new approaches to treating patients at an individual and population level. At the heart of LICAMM’s philosophy is a vibrant multidisciplinary approach to science that provides a platform to deliver internationally competitive translational research and teaching in disorders including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases) our key aim is to improve the lives of our patients and the experience of our students. http://medhealth.leeds.ac.uk/info/500/leeds_institute_of_cardiovascular_and_metabolic_medicine
Leeds Institute of Health Sciences (LIHS)
Director: Professor Tim Ensor
LIHS has a national and international reputation for the methodological rigour and innovation of its research which is overwhelmingly problem-driven and applied. Our primary aim is to develop and apply the best available methods to address health and healthcare challenges of national and international importance.. Our interdisciplinary approach incorporates expertise in applied health research designs, health implementation sciences, social sciences, health economics, informatics and statistics, as well as skills in communicating with basic scientists, policy makers, healthcare providers, public and patients. An extensive network of national and international collaborations (including in low resource countries) is fundamental to our research. We conduct research at the individual, population and organisational level. As well as delivering part of postgraduate the undergraduate medical degree, LIHS offers a wide range of research and taught opportunities. http://medhealth.leeds.ac.uk/lihs
Leeds Institute of Medical Education (LIME) Director
Professor Trudie Roberts
LIME provides the administrative support, co-ordination and leadership for the School of Medicine’s undergraduate medical degree, including admissions, curriculum development, assessment, student support and clinical placement liaison. It provides the technology-enhanced learning and innovation support for the School of Medicine. LIME also has a very active scholarship programme of research and innovation in medical education and uses its expertise to influence medical education policy and practice nationally and internationally. To achieve this it works with a range of stakeholders including the academic community, the profession, the public, regulators and policy makers. http://medhealth.leeds.ac.uk/info/800/leeds_institute_of_medical_education