Field Technician

Job Purpose

We are seeking a seasonal Field Technician to support the project “Assessing the risk of mosquito vector-borne diseases in Scotland and their response to environmental change” working with Prof Heather Ferguson, Dr Davide Dominoni and Dr Francesco Baldini in SBOHVM.  Work will support the smooth and effective running of this project in line with the College/School Strategy.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide technical support to the investigators and the Postdoctoral Research Associate who will lead the field research related to entomological surveillance and environmental monitoring.  Contribute to the overall smooth and efficient running of field research activities to ensure project data collection goals are met.  This will include taking primary responsibility for driving the field vehicle to sites across Scotland.

2. Carry out a range of technical support activities including the use of specialist equipment, systems, procedures, protocols, models and/or techniques related to entomological and environmental sampling. Contribute to the creation and development of new technical resources and/or ways of working as directed by relevant senior staff. Identify, propose and implement technical solutions to a range of practical problems.

3. Keep clear and accurate records of research outputs and where relevant produce concise written summaries of results for senior staff. Analyse and interpret data using standard procedures and present findings accurately.

4. Contribute to the safe and well-organised functioning of field research and associated laboratory activities.  Maintain field equipment areas appropriately and identify and rectify any technical faults/problems.  Ensure that consumables and equipment are appropriately stocked and maintained.

5. To provide guidance to the research team in the best application and operation of technical resources.

6. Keep up to date with advances in relevant field methods such as insect sampling and environmental data collection, and seek to apply this knowledge to technical activities to further enhance the delivery of research aims.

Qualifications

Essential

A1. Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 5 or 6 [National 5 or 6, Scottish Vocational Qualification level 2 or 3] or equivalent, and experience of personal development in a similar role.

A2. Knowledge of invertebrate survey approaches, equipment, protocols, processes and procedures.

A3. Up to date knowledge of relevant Health and Safety legislation/policies.

A4. A valid UK Driver’s licence and willingness to drive the field vehicle (small van) to sites across Scotland.

Desirable

B1. HNC/HND in relevant discipline is desirable.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential

C1. Demonstrable technical skills aligned to ecological surveys and environmental monitoring.

C2. Strong IT skills including both standard and specialist software programmes.

C3. Ability to work effectively with others.

C4. Ability to plan and prioritise workload to meet competing demands.

C5. Ability to work independently, including the ability to use initiative and judgement to resolve problems.

C6. Accuracy and attention to detail.

C7. Demonstrable work experience in a similar technical role, with similar responsibilities.

C8. Experience of contributing to the creation or development of technical resources or ways of working.

C9. Experience of planning and organising own workload to meet the needs of service users.

Desirable:

D1. Experience conducting invertebrate surveillance, ideally of biting insects

D2. Knowledge and experience of insect taxonomy and identification

Additional Information

This post is funded through an award from the UKRI One Health Approaches to Vector-Borne Diseases; with a specific focus on investigating the risk of mosquito-borne pathogen transmission under current and future environmental conditions in Scotland. This project requires extensive sampling of mosquitoes at 24 or more sites spread throughout Scotland during the summer months.  The technician will work together with the Postdoctoral Research Associate leading the field activities including entomological sampling, processing and identification of specimens, and recording of data.  The postholder will require a driver’s licence to be able to travel to and between field sites.  It is anticipated that the field season will run for approx. 6 months (April – Sept 2024).

The postholder will be based in the School of BOHVM within the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, but may be required to change location and work from the field station SCENE as required after appropriate consultation. The nature of the field work requires flexible working hours, and the post holder should be available to work in the early morning if requested.  Additionally, some overnight stays will be required while carrying out sampling at sites more than a couple of hours drive from Glasgow

Our School is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. As we are a merging of two Athena Swan Silver award winning bodies (the School of Veterinary Medicine and the Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine) we aim to achieve an Athena Swan award for the School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine

The award demonstrates our commitment to best practice in recruiting and supporting the career development and progression of female scientists, addressing gender inequalities in higher education.  The Athena SWAN Charter recognises commitment to advancing gender equality in Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medicine (STEMM) employment in academia. https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/bohvm/athenaswan/

The College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences was re-shaped to create 8 new Schools that bring staff together around thematic strengths, across the strategic pillars of education, research and innovation.  More information on the College re-shape can be accessed here: MVLS 2025 with further plans mapped out in our MVLS 2033 strategy.  The new College shape took effect from August 2022 and this post will be based in the School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine.

http://www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/mvls/mvls2025/

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 4, £22,681 – £25,138 per annum.

This post is full time (35 hours per week), and has funding for up to 6 months. 

As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension – pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.