Laboratory Technician

Join us at EIT: At the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), we're on a mission to translate scientific discovery into real world impact. We bring together visionary scientists, technologists, engineers, researchers, educators and innovators to tackle humanity's greatest challenges in four transformative areas:

• Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology
• Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture
• Climate Change & Managing CO₂
• Artificial Intelligence & Robotics

This is ambitious work - work that demands curiosity, courage, and a relentless drive to make a difference. At EIT, you'll join a community built on excellence, innovation, tenacity, trust, and collaboration, where bold ideas become real-world breakthroughs. Together, we push boundaries, embrace complexity, and create solutions to scale ideas from lab to society. Explore more at www.eit.org.

Your Role: We are looking for a Laboratory Technician with demonstrable experience to assist in the smooth and efficient operation of our laboratories by providing essential logistical, maintenance and support functions. This role will support our laboratory services, supporting cutting-edge research. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone interested in laboratory operations to further their hands-on experience in a dynamic, fast-paced, collaborative research environment.

This role will be responsible for maintaining the laboratories cleanliness, organisation and overall operational efficiency. It will involve supporting laboratory staff with basic technical tasks, inventory management and ensuring that the laboratory environment meets the required standards for safe and effective research. The ideal candidate will be detail-orientated, able to multitask and demonstrate excellent communication skills, with a strong focus on maintaining laboratory supplies, equipment and workflow.

Hours of work will generally be Monday to Friday, core hours 08:30 - 17:30 and will be office/site based. However, due to the nature of the role and organisation there may be times where flexibility is required during the evening and occasionally weekends.

Your Responsibilities: Laboratory Support and Maintenance:

• General laboratory maintenance with guidance from Scientific Operations Manager and existing technicians.
• Keep the laboratory clean and organised, including regularly cleaning common spaces and ensuring waste streams are appropriately managed
• Ensure that all equipment is properly received, logged, stored, calibrated, and maintained. Assist with equipment setup and basic troubleshooting where requested
• Act as point of contact for maintenance and servicing from external stakeholders, ensuring laboratory code of conduct is maintained throughout visits.
• Disinfect and sterilise laboratory tools, consumables, and areas according to established protocols or where requested
• Ensure that laboratory safety standards are adhered to, including proper handling and disposal of waste materials

Inventory Management:

• Assist in managing inventory of reagents, consumables, and laboratory supplies
• Keep accurate records of inventory levels, assist with ordering new stock, and ensure that supplies are replenished in a timely manner
• Work alongside finance business partners and procurement to ensure that logistics and deliveries are maintained, and adequate equipment/instruments have been specified and procured.
• Ensure that all reagents and materials are correctly labelled, stored, and easily accessible for workflows.
• Assist with the transport and preparation of biological samples, ensuring that proper documentation and labelling procedures are followed.
• Handle and deliver consumables or samples to designated researchers or technical teams

Health & Safety Compliance:

• Assist with maintaining a safe and compliant laboratory environment by adhering to health and safety guidelines
• Assist in monitoring laboratory conditions, including temperature-sensitive storage for reagents or biological samples
• Help to ensure that laboratory personnel are following all safety protocols and that safety equipment (e.g., personal protective equipment, eyewash stations) is properly maintained and accessible

Requirements Essential Skills, Qualifications & Experience:

• BSc qualification in a related field
• Experience in laboratory maintenance and familiarity with basic laboratory techniques and safety protocols.
• Strong attention to detail and a focus on organisation and cleanliness
• Ability to follow instructions and maintain accurate records
• Good communication skills and the ability to work effectively within a team
• Ability to manage time efficiently and handle multiple tasks
• Basic understanding of laboratory safety practices and handling of biological materials
• Comfortable with lifting and moving supplies and equipment, as well as standing for extended periods

Desirable Skills, Qualifications & Experience:

• Experience with AI & Robotics or Device Engineering is not essential, but highly desirable

Benefits We offer the following benefits:

• Competitive salary + travel allowance + bonus
• Enhanced holiday. Our annual leave allowance is 25 days plus 8 bank holidays and an additional 3 days between Christmas and New Year. You will also have the opportunity to purchase an additional 5 days annual leave in January and July.
• Pension - Employer contribution 7.5%, minimum employee contribution 5%
• Life Assurance.
• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance as standard for you, your partner and any dependents. Including hospital Cash Plan
• Employee discounts
• Electric car scheme
• Nursery Salary Sacrifice scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Family Planning
• Neurodiversity support including advise and assessments
• Coaching & Therapy services

Working Together - What It Involves:

• You must have the right to work permanently in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary. We do not offer sponsorship for this role
• You will live in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford (or be willing to relocate) and can commit to being site based during the week with occasional weekend working
• We are looking for the Laboratory Technician to start as soon as possible