Laboratory Assistant
Location: Pentlands Science Park, Edinburgh, UK
Salary: £25,000 - £28,000
Contract type: Permanent full-time (40 hours per week)
We are seeking a proactive, reliable and well-organised Laboratory Assistant to maintain and improve the smooth running of our laboratory and prepare sterile materials for our research and production teams.
Role Description
About Green Bioactives
At Green Bioactives we are passionate about improving lives and making a positive impact on the world by developing and commercialising sustainable plant-derived natural products made using our innovative biomanufacturing platform.
Our proprietary Plant Cell Culture Technology has enabled us to revolutionise the way that plant-derived ingredients are produced, using sustainable methods of cultivation without the need to destroy trees or habitats. This means that, in a natural and sustainable way, we can reliably produce ingredients that may otherwise be challenging to obtain year-round at the required volumes.
Everyone at Green Bioactives is driven to do the right thing. We believe in a culture of honesty and transparency, where feedback is considered an opportunity for us to contribute to each other’s professional growth and development. We recognise the value of diversity and are an equal opportunity employer.
We are a highly collaborative team of scientists, technologists, industry experts and entrepreneurs, united by our mission to protect the environment and revolutionise plant biotechnology.
Position
As a Laboratory Assistant, your role will involve performing routine laboratory tasks with care and attention to detail, enabling smooth operations in our facility. You will provide clean and sterile materials, prepare growth media and solutions, and maintain the tidiness and cleanliness of the lab.
The role will suit someone who likes to be busy and is naturally proactive at identifying and implementing ways of making the lab run more effectively and efficiently. Potential advancement opportunities include promotion to Laboratory Manager.
Key responsibilities
Prepare growth media batches according to specifications.
Formulate stock solutions and aliquot commonly used reagents.
Operate glass-washing and autoclave units to ensure a routine supply of sterile consumables, glassware, and growth media.
Conduct routine quality control tests of media and solution stocks.
Source routine consumables from the on-site store.
Handle deliveries.
Monitor stock levels of consumables and reagents for media preparation, reporting low levels to your Line Manager.
Handle laboratory waste and recyclables, ensuring proper disposal.
Maintain lab cleanliness by cleaning and organising the media and chemical preparation areas and tissue culture area and returning items to their designated places.
Participate in laboratory meetings and training sessions.
Follow and update standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Comply with company quality management system policies and procedures.
Prioritise health and safety, complying with company health and safety policies and procedures at all times.
Qualifications and skills
Essential Criteria:
Prior experience working in a laboratory.
Ability to follow protocols accurately and systematically.
Attention to detail while performing routine or repetitive tasks.
Computer literate (including Microsoft SharePoint, Word, Excel, and Outlook).
Ability to calculate dilutions.
Reliability and adaptability to changing priorities.
Good time management skills to keep up with the pace of a busy research and production environment.
Effective communication and teamwork skills.
Proactive at seeking and implementing operational improvements.
Willingness to learn, adapt, and take on new challenges.
Commitment to laboratory safety and best practice.
Desirable Criteria:
Experience working in a similar role, ideally in an industrial biotechnology laboratory setting.
Experience operating autoclaves.
Experience producing cell culture media.
Experience using electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) or electronic laboratory information management system (eLIMS) software (ideally Labguru).
Experience working under a quality management system.
Qualifications in Maths, English, and at least one science subject at a minimum of National 5 grade C, GCSE grade 4 (formerly grade C) or equivalent.
Additional information
Job Title: Laboratory Assistant
Job Location: Pentlands Science Park, Edinburgh
Job Type: Permanent, full-time
Hours of Work: 40 hours per week worked Monday to Friday including a paid lunch break of up to 1 hour per day. Flexibility around the core working hours of 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Salary: £25,000 - £28,000 per annum depending on experience.
Benefits: 33 days’ holiday (pro-rated, inclusive of 8 public holidays), pension scheme, EMI share options.
Right to Work in the UK: Essential.
References: To be made available upon request.
At Green Bioactives, we value diversity and are committed to promoting equality of opportunity and eliminating discrimination. We offer support and make reasonable adjustments to facilitate full participation in the recruitment process. Please inform us of any requirements you may have, and we will consider reasonable adjustments.