Assistant Technical Specialist - Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy - 107995 - Grade 6

Position Details

Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £33,002 to £35,608 with potential progression once in post to £39,906

Grade: 6

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to November 2027

Closing date: 23rd September 2026

This role is also open as an internal secondment opportunity which would need to be agreed by your current line manager.

Background

This post is within the College of Medicine and Health, School of Infection Inflammation & Immunology. The post holder will work with Professor Ye Oo (Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy) on the project starting from 1/10/2026.

The post will support the work within Oo group, investigating induced Treg biology and its cross talk with other immune, parenchyma and epithelial cells in autoimmune liver diseases.

Background: regulatory T cell (Treg) could be induced from effector CD4 cells. This could lead to a rapid generation of Treg. These cells can change their lineage in inflammatory microenvironment. Thus stabilisation of FoxP3, Treg transcription factor is crucial. This project will generate induced Treg from CD4 effector cells, stabilise cells epigenome and test the function and phenotype of cells in inflammatory liver microenvironment setting with established liver models.

This post requires proven specialist knowledge of techniques including flow cytometry, cell culture, human tissue handling following GCP and HTA regulations, molecular, genetic analysis and interpretation of the results. The post holder will work with clinical and post-doctoral fellows in Oo group in Birmingham liver lab.

The role holder will be collaborating with other stakeholders such as members of the group, and wider University, clinical staff at local trusts and external investigators. Regular 2 weekly meetings are essential component of the project.

There will be also be a requirement to supervise and mentor junior support staff and students and to ensure compliance with local SOPs, College and local H&S policies in order to establish and maintain a safe and productive local working environment.

Role Summary

The role holder will provide specialist technical expertise, practical and specialist operation and development of the equipment and facility with the ability to test and implement new approaches, services or systems. The role holder is likely to have a technical qualification (or equivalent) and substantial experience and will typically be perceived to be an expert.

The role holder may supervise a number of technical staff but even where you do not directly supervise staff you will still be expected to act as a role model and coach others as appropriate.

The role holder should have knowledge of the research questions, techniques and experimental protocols being used in the facility. You will be able to use your in-depth knowledge to advise on procedures, diagnose and resolve problems, and pragmatically and proactively suggest solutions to issues which arise. You may need to operate out of normal working hours to accommodate experimental procedures.

In order to flexibly use resource you may be offered the opportunity to work in different areas of the department or wider university.

Main Duties

The role holder will plan and perform a variety of specialist techniques including but not exclusively:

• Isolation and enrichment of cell subsets from whole blood, and liver and the subsequent phenotypic and functional characterisation of the cells
• Culture and phenotype of cells
• T cell receptor and T cell receptor analysis with Citeseq
• Multi-colour flow cytometry and cell sorting including analysis of the data
• DNA and RNA extraction and TSDR analysis
• PCR techniques including real time PCR and endpoint PCR
• T and B cell ELISPOTs
• Analysis of TSDR epigenetic sequencing data

The role will include, but is not limited to, the following duties:

• Sample administration to ensure correct storage, traceability and process timelines including communication with clients/customers, help with organisation of sample transfer and initiation of administrative processes for material transfer agreements as and where required and liaison with the Human Biomaterial Resource Centre.
• Biological sample preparation and use of the facility
• Identification and diagnosing instrument problems and affecting solutions
• Keeping accurate records of all analyses, evaluation and interpretation of results
• Analysing results and make recommendations to customers/collaborators.
• Modification and development of new methods as appropriate
• Collate and present data to service users including group leaders and their research groups, external collaborators and/or Industry clients,for example at seminars and as posters, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof.
• Maintenance and quality control of the facility ensuring that GCLP/GCP standards are achieved for assays where appropriate. Including day to day maintenance of relevant records
• Test and implement new approaches to ensure effectiveness and efficiency of the facilityYou will be responsible for assisting in managing the experimental laboratories.
• You will use your in-depth knowledge of methods and procedures to advise on techniques and experimental procedures being used by researchers and/or students. This will involve communicating with colleagues at a range of levels and inexperienced students.
• You will need to be able to diagnose and resolve problems and suggest solutions in regard to techniques and experiments.
• Carry out specialist technical and experimental procedures which will need you to use your judgment to assess the correct technique to use, and to consider how these may be improved, referring to your Supervisor for approval on any proposed changes.
• You will need to maintain accurate records of all techniques and experimental procedures you carry out, and for any other research activities you may be involved in including results.
• Ensure compliance with legislation relevant to the area of research/activity.
• Comply with and promote the operating procedures for the area, including the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures regulation.
• You may contribute to internal and external audit procedures and to regulatory inspections.

Health and Safety duties

• Ensuring staff and students, working within the area of responsibility comply with all basic University / College Health & Safety policies
• This may include being required to look after a communal area as part of your duties. Comply with all current rules and ensure all required assessments are in place, approved and up to date.
• Fully understand the safety aspects of equipment operation and be able to demonstrate/train staff (at all levels) on the correct usage of the equipment.
• Ensuring that regular maintenance processes are carried out and that appropriate records are maintained.
• Reporting any breaches or non-compliance with H&S procedures to the relevant manager(s).
• Upholding the correct waste disposal stream as governed by College and local policy for laboratory.
• Postholders may be asked to undergo training as a First Aider or Fire Warden.

General Administration and Organisation

• Ensuring all records are accurate and kept up to date.
• Proactively maintain stocks of consumables, and when required generate purchase order requisitions using University systems.
• Receipt and correct storage of consumables/equipment and chemical reagents, ensuring, where necessary this is in compliance with GCLP/GCP requirements
• Monitoring income and expenditure for the facility and clearly communicating outcomes to Facility Manager
• Ensuring that the facilities are maintained in a clean, functional and safe condition, reporting any problems through the appropriate channels.
• Ensuring the best use of equipment through online booking systems, if appropriate
• Ensuring that PAT testing, calibration of equipment and locally and centrally held equipment inventories are up to date and maintained.
• Adopt a proactive attitude to assisting with and implementing carbon reduction and energy saving measures.
• Maintaining up to date protocol change or maintaining relevant research lab databases/records.

Other Duties

• In collaboration with the relevant manager the post holder will take an active role in the training and mentoring process for junior or newly appointed staff.
• Supports equality and values diversity, moderates own behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others.
• Any other duties as may reasonably be required.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Substantial practical and technical experience of a wide range of techniques as stated above.
• Extensive relevant practical and technical workplace experience, professional qualification or degree in an appropriate subject.
• GCSE level 2 (A*- C) or equivalent level 2 qualification in mathematics and English.
• In-depth practical knowledge of relevant technical and scientific methods.
• Extensive experience of similar laboratory-based work, together with familiarity with a wide range of laboratory equipment including the ability to work to GCLP standard.
• Positive service attitude and shows courtesy in dealing with others.
• Ability to organise and manage own work load and demonstrate flexibility in terms of work practices/requirements.
• Ability to work under minimal supervision but function as part of a team.
• Knowledge of current legislation relevant to the role including the Human Tissue Act.
• Knowledge of current H&S policies and ability to uphold same.
• Proficiency in commonly used software packages.
• Understands the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace
• Ability to identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant policies and procedures

Further particulars can be found here

Informal enquiries to Ye Oo, email: [email protected]

Use of AI in applications: We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyoneon our website .