Senior Laboratory Research Scientist

Senior Laboratory Research Scientist

Reporting to: Emma Nye, Experimental Histopathology Lead

This is a full-time permanent position on Crick Terms and Conditions of Employment.

Context

The Francis Crick institute (the Crick) is a partnership between the Medical Research Council (MRC), Cancer Research UK (CRUK), the Wellcome Trust, University College London (UCL), Imperial College London and Kings College London. It is a registered charity whose purpose is to conduct biomedical research into all aspects of human health and disease.

The institute will be a world-leading centre of biomedical research and innovation. It will promote connections between researchers and disciplines and between academic institutions, healthcare organisations and businesses. Dedicated to research excellence, the institute will have the scale, vision and expertise to tackle the most challenging scientific questions underpinning health and disease.

Experimental Histopathology (EHP) is a Science Technology Platform (STP) within the Crick, providing a comprehensive and interactive centre for the histology-based analysis of experimental tissues and human bio resources/clinical trials, with the aim of relating experimental models to the pathology of human disease.

The purpose of this post is to provide comprehensive support in the operations of the EHP STP. The post responsibilities include shared responsibility for the smooth running and efficient operation of the EHP STP via the implementation of in house-established Histology-based techniques and workflows, operation of instruments, general laboratory organisation and interaction with other members of the STP and the Crick and new technology development. The post holder will also be required to investigate and develop new technologies to enhance the capabilities of the STP.

Crick scientists are encouraged to collaborate with, and work in the EHP STP, and training Crick scientists is an essential activity of the laboratory.

Organisation and Objectives

The post-holder will work in the Experimental Histopathology STP, providing advice, training, and expertise in a range of techniques to analyse cells and tissues from experimental models and human tissue.

Their time will be spent in the lab, where they will support multiple tasks, but will have responsibility for consulting collaboratively and performing Immunohistochemical (IHC), multiplex Immunofluorescence (mIF) and RNAScope on a wide variety of experimental tissues, (both paraffin, frozen and other formats). This will include antibody optimisation and high-plex staining on Leica Bond RX platforms. The post holder will also be involved in new technology development and must be proactive, exceptionally well organised, motivated and an excellent team-player with a extensive experience in project management and troubleshooting.

Other responsibilities will include histological sample preparation, embedding and sectioning plus general lab organisation/administration.

The post holder will report to the EHP deputy and the head of the laboratory, Emma Nye, and will interact closely with 8 other Laboratory staff, plus post-docs, students, scientists, and technicians from other labs at the Crick, as well as scientific partners of the Crick.

Key responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:

• Exemplifying and maintaining standards for the service
• Supporting and contributing to existing projects through effectively and efficiently performing established techniques
• Conducting experimental work autonomously and by own initiative on projects as agreed with the deputy and STP Lead
• Operating as a technical specialist in IHC/mIF and ISH (RNAScope) staining and spatial transcriptomics staining projects
• Interacting with and consulting collaboratively with researchers to help plan experiments
• Liaising with other members of the EHP team; actively supporting and training team members to develop their skills and promote collective success
• To provide specialised training to researchers, visitors, and other Crick staff when necessary
• Use of knowledge to build on existing methodologies and innovate through Identification, assessment and development of new technologies, to expand the capabilities of the facility under guidance of deputy and STP lead
• Contribution to the day-to-day operations to ensure the laboratory runs as efficiently as possible, including reagent preparation, operation and maintenance of STP equipment, sample accession and preparation, maintenance of safety standards and general lab organisation.
• Communication and participation in lab work discussions, lab meetings and STP talks, to keep colleagues informed of developments
• Striving for continuous performance improvement
• Maintaining professional development through attending meetings, seminars and reading relevant literature

Person Specification

The post holder should embody and demonstrate our core Crick values: Bold, Open, and Collegiate, in addition to the following:

Essential

• Degree (or equivalent) or extensive relevant experience

• Evidence of extensive experience/skills in IHC/IF
• Experience running Bond RX automated stainers
• Proven evidence of independent thinking, problem solving and troubleshooting
• Flexible working practice
• Ability to work with day-to-day independence but able to take direction when necessary

• High degree of self-motivation
• Ability to multi-task and integrate the demands of different activities in parallel to maintaining operation of the laboratory.
• Excellent communication skills
• Computer literacy
• Open and interactive approach with line manager, laboratory colleagues and collaborators.

Desirable

• PhD in a relevant discipline
• Experience with spatial transcriptomics platforms (CosMx, GeoMx, Visium, Xenium)
• Experience in RNAScope (ISH) staining
• Experience in working in an academic environment
• Experience working in a service environment
• Experience in Image acquisition and analysis

• Experience in rodent adult/embryonic dissection
• Histological sectioning and staining experience