Medical Technical Officer

Applications are invited from enthusiastic and motivated candidates for the post of Medical Technical Officer 1 position (AFC equivalent band 4) to join our Prenatal and Reproductive Genetics Team within the South East Genomic Laboratory Hub (SEGLH), based at Guy’s Hospital. This is for a fixed term of 12 months.

The post holder will perform routine and complex genetic diagnostic tests and associated administration duties, with minimal supervision. The post holder will undertake laboratory duties such as prenatal sample preparation, DNA extraction, PCR set-up, capillary-based electrophoresis, cell culture and slide making. There will be a range of other routine tasks including general laboratory housekeeping duties and administration duties.

Preference will be given to those candidates with experience of working in a genetics laboratory; knowledge of prenatal samples is beneficial. Attention to details, excellent communication skills and the ability to prioritise work in a busy environment are all essential qualities for recruitment to this post. The post holder will work as part of a technical team under the line management of a senior technologist and will be expected to collaborate with clinical scientists and technicians from across the GLH.

The post holder will work as part of the PreRep technical team, line managed by the Senior Medical Technical Officers. They will support the PreRep Clinical Scientists and Operational Leads in providing a comprehensive, high quality and responsive laboratory service. As a member of the PreRep team, you may be required to work with technical and scientific staff from other teams across the Genomics Laboratory Hub and Synnovis. Excellent communication skills are required to work effectively.

The Synnovis Genetics Laboratory has been designated the hub laboratory for the SEGLH Network led by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (GSTfT) to provide the new National Genomic Medicine Service for NHS England. This network of laboratory providers is responsible for delivering genomic testing to a population of 8.6 million across South London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

The SEGLH provides a wide range of tests for detection of germline and somatic variants using state of the art technologies including whole exome sequencing, long-read sequencing and array CGH. The department has a number of ongoing R&D projects involving the application of NIPD and nanopore sequencing and works collaboratively with other groups such as GSTfT Biomedical Research Centre, GSTfT Genomics Innovation Unit and the GSTfT Assisted Conception Unit for Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis.

Your development and learning

You will have a suite of learning opportunities available through The Synnovis Way Development programme, the Scientific Learning and Development Fund and the Synnovis Academy through which you can receive funding / support for advanced qualifications.

Through our Innovation Accelerator Fund, you can apply for finance to get that new innovative scientific project off the ground, and participate with the wider scientific community through symposiums, conferences and other peer group meetings.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Perform a range of cytogenetic and molecular genetic techniques to generate high quality data
• Contribute to service delivery and the maintenance of turnaround times within the department

Technical

• Use laboratory information systems according to protocols
• Preparation of reagents, solutions and media used within the department
• Responsible for monitoring stock levels within department and informing appropriate staff members of the need to order reagents and consumables
• Undertake routine and complex sample preparation with accuracy and precision
• Prepare and process samples under supervision for clinical trials and research and development projects as and when required
• Liaise with Technical Lead and/or Clinical Scientists regarding technical matters, sample preparation and further tests required
• Perform automated, semi-automated and manual processing of specimens which may require a high level of dexterity
• Ensure quality control measures are carried out to monitor analytical performance, take corrective action where applicable and report any failures to a senior member of staff
• Use of various laboratory equipment for sample processing
• Set up equipment for use by other members of staff
• Undertake preventative maintenance of automated analysers as and when required
• Undertake basic troubleshooting of expensive analytical instruments and automated analysers under supervision of senior staff
• File samples following appropriate protocols and keep records as required
• Dispose of excess and tested samples according to Health and Safety protocols
• Admin and other general duties.

Synnovis is a pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and Ireland, and the NHS, including sites, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to deliver and transform pathology services across South East London.

The partnership provides services to 1.7 million people living in South East London, as well as to hundreds of thousands of patients from outside the region who use local healthcare services.

The partnership provides diagnostics, testing and digital pathology for hospital trusts, GP services and other healthcare providers.

Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital Foundation Trust is a major emergency and specialist teaching Trust which has all the specialties associated with a fascinating and career defining case load including: Women’s Services, Fetal Medicine, Haematology, Oncology, Transplantation, and is also home to the Evelina Children’s Hospital and the Cancer Centre on the Guy’s site.

You will be close to the vibrant Borough Market and the South Bank, which are exceptional London locations; perfect places to work and relax next to such iconic venues as Big Ben, The London Eye and The Shard!