Job summary
- Main area
- Health Sciences
- Grade
- Band 6
- Contract
- Fixed term: 18 months (N/A)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 284-25-7487753-COCM
- Employer
- Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Birmingham Women's Hospital
- Town
- Birmingham
- Salary
- £38,682 - £46,580 Per Annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 12/11/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Research Laboratory Associate
Band 6
Flexible working arrangements may be considered and discussions with the recruiting manager regarding this are encouraged.
Job overview
Are you a motivated and organised scientist who would like a new challenge? Do you have or want experience working in a clinically affiliated research laboratory? We seek to appoint a highly motivated laboratory associate to perform gamete quality and function assays, with an interest/experience in infertility treatment, to join the Centre for Human Reproductive Science.
The Centre is a joint research unit across Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital and The Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, College of Medical & Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham. Our team includes the international leaders in sperm signaling and motility research and we pride ourselves on being a centre of excellence in Andrology.
Main duties of the job
The research carried out in this post will focus on the delivery of lab-based mechanistic research work in clinical trials and research related to diagnosis and therapeutics based on human sperm, but it will also provide general support to the ChRS director and Group. The position will not be based in the clinical treatment lab.
Organisational skills, collaborative spirit and interactive communication skills are a must. Candidates should have previous laboratory experience. Andrology and in-depth experience with cell imaging is a plus. Experience with recruiting patients for research is desirable.
This post is subject to change to reflect the needs of the services and projects available. Please note that this is an 18-month, fixed term post.
In the event of an exceptionally high level of response, we reserve the right to close the post before the date stated to prevent the number of applications received being unmanageable. You are advised to submit your completed application as soon as possible to have the best chance of being considered.
Informal enquiries are encouraged. For more information, please contact Jackson Kirkman-Brown MBE PhD, Director - Centre for Human Reproductive Science (ChRS) at [email protected]
Working for our organisation
Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust is the first of its type in the UK. Our Trust was formed in February 2017 to drive forward our commitment to provide the highest quality, world-class physical and mental health care for our women, children and families. Uniting our hospitals means more seamless care; more investment to make greater advances in our specialist treatment and world-leading neo-natal and fetal work. Importantly, it also gives us a greater voice in shaping the future of family-centred care.
Birmingham Children's Hospital is a UK leading specialist paediatric centre with an international reputation in several areas.
Birmingham Women's Hospital is one of two dedicated women's hospitals in the UK, with the busiest single site maternity unit, delivering more than 8,200 babies a year offering a full range of gynaecological, maternity and neonatal care.
Forward Thinking Birmingham (FTB) Mental Health Services are a unique, innovative community and inpatient mental health partnership. Alongside partners FTB offers care pathways of mental health assessment and treatment for young people aged 0-25 years old.
Our Trust is committed to creating the best place to work. We believe in promoting and enhancing inclusion, diversity and equality and encourage applications from all areas of the community, who meet the criteria for the role, regardless of age, gender identity, disability, race, religion or sexual orientation.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification to view the full details for this opportunity at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.
When completing your application, please ensure you have evidenced how you meet the job description and person specification to include transferable experience, qualifications, skills along with professional registration details (if applicable).
Occasionally we receive a large number of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.
Person specification
Knowledge & Nature of Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working in a regulated laboratory e.g. HTA, MHRA, HFEA
- Experience of performing validated assays, analysing data generated and deciding on appropriate action.
- Excellent organisational skills
- Experience of orally presenting work to colleagues
Desirable criteria
- Experience with semen samples and processing
- Experience of advanced microscopy skills or automated image capture
- Experience or theoretical knowledge and understanding of specialist sperm-related assays including the TUNEL assay and other methods of assessing cell status
- Experience of presenting work more widely e.g. at conferences
Analytical and Judgement Skills
Essential criteria
- Works methodically and carefully, generating reproducible data
- Able to work in a team and autonomously and organise own workload
- Demonstrate ability to use own initiative and the ability to work well under pressure
- Maintaining study stock, resources, and equipment
Professional/Managerial/Specialist Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Proficient at interacting with patients or members of the public
- Computer Literacy
- A positive role model
Personal Skills/Abilities and Attributes
Essential criteria
- Experience of working independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Good communication skills, both verbal and written
- Able to multi-task
- Excellent time management
- Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required Able to multi-task
- Demonstrate an understanding of the practices of equality and inclusion in the delivery of this role
- Demonstrate alignment with the values and beliefs of the Trust
- Assertive and strong patient advocate
- Demonstrate an understanding of professional accountability
Other Requirements
Essential criteria
- Standing/walking for majority of the working day
- Manual dexterity for laboratory processes
- Hours of Duty: Flexible - most often 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday with occasional evenings and weekends as required
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Degree in life sciences related subject, or equivalent
Desirable criteria
- Masters or PhD level or relevant experience related to reproductive biology
- ESHRE Basic Semen Analysis course qualified, or equivalent
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Jackson Kirkman-Brown
- Job title
- Science Lead-Birmingham Women's, Director-ChRS
- Email address
- [email protected]
List jobs with Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust in Health Science Services or all sectors