Job Purpose

To provide technical assistance, maintenance, and practical laboratory support to academic, postgraduate, and undergraduate service users within the histopathology and clinical pathology laboratories. Work will support the smooth and effective running of diagnostic services, teaching laboratories, and/or assigned research projects in line with the College/School/Group Strategy.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Diagnostic Service

1.       Provide technical support in histopathology duties, including slide preparation, routine staining, focusing on supporting the lab.

2.       Provide technical support in clinical pathology duties, including sample preparation, centrifugation and separation, focusing on supporting the lab.

3.       Aid the slide scanning service.

4.       Provide support within veterinary diagnostic services specimen reception: checking mail, labelling and assigning diagnostic samples to relevant laboratories and preparing paperwork and packaging samples for forwarding to external laboratories.

5.       Take responsibility for the maintenance of the clinical pathology slide archive (slide cleaning, drying and storage) as well as the histopathology slide and paraffin block archive.

6.       Contribute to the safe and well-organised functioning of the laboratory by preparing all buffers, stains and reagents as required.

7.       Monitor consumable and reagent stock supplies, ensuring areas are appropriately stocked and advising senior laboratory staff when replenishment is needed.

8.       Notify senior laboratory staff of any maintenance requirements on equipment to ensure that the workflow remains uninterrupted.

9.       Keep accurate records and follow standard operating procedures.

10.  Liaise with office staff and colleagues from other laboratories within the diagnostic services to ensure the efficient running of the service.

11.  Keep up to date with current developments in the subject field and health and safety regulations relating to the discipline.

12.  Carry out any other relevant duties under the guidance of the senior laboratory technicians commensurate with the grade of the post.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/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 in Biology and/or Chemistry and experience of personal development in a similar role.

A2 Up-to-date knowledge of relevant laboratory Health and Safety legislation/policies.

Desirable

B1 An HNC in Biological Sciences or a related subject.

Skills

Essential

C1 Demonstrable technical skills aligned to the laboratory environment.

C2 Ability to work effectively with others, including your own team and the wider team within veterinary diagnostic services.

C3 Competent numeracy and IT skills.

C4 Flexibility and the ability to adapt to changing priorities in a complex working environment.

C5 Good organisational skills and the ability to manage and prioritise workload with minimal supervision.

C6 High level of accuracy and attention to detail.

C7 Ability to use initiative and judgement to resolve problems.

Experience

Essential

E1 Some experience of working in a laboratory environment.

E2 Experience of undertaking a range of technical support activities independently

Desirable

F1 Specific experience of working in a diagnostic laboratory environment.

F2 Experience and/or training in First Aid and/or Fire Warden.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 4, £25,804 - £27,319 per annum.

This post is full time and open ended.

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.

Closing date: 23:45 on Tuesday 31st March 2026