英国Pirbright研究所招聘蚊子研究相关博士后

Mosquito Research Technician : Woking, United Kingdom

JOB TITLE: Mosquito Research Technician
POST REF: 16P-84

The Pirbright Institute is a unique national centre that works through its highly innovative fundamental and applied bioscience to enhance the UK capability to contain, control, and eliminate viral diseases of animals and viruses that spread from animals to humans. We thereby support the competitiveness of UK livestock and poultry producers, and improve the health and quality of life of both animals and people.

The Pirbright Institute is currently situated on two campuses, Pirbright Laboratory in Surrey and Compton Laboratory in Berkshire. The process of transferring Compton Laboratory activities to Pirbright is underway.

LOCATION
This post is based at Pirbright

PURPOSE

This position is funded through a Wellcome Trust Investigator Award to Prof Alphey, entitled “Developing methods for driving beneficial genetic traits into vector populations”.
Insect synthetic biologists are beginning to develop the technical ability to manipulate wild populations by introgressing into them synthetic genes and traits (gene introgression refers to the introduction and perhaps spread of a gene into a target population). There are a wide range of potentially interesting candidate traits for such an approach, including reduced-vector-competence (reduced ability to transmit a pathogen, for example dengue or chikungunya viruses), or reduced-fitness (leading to suppression or elimination of the target population). Most media attention has focused on nuclease-based systems (CRISPR/Cas9, based on earlier work using homing endonucleases). These are artificial selfish DNA systems; the most widely discussed have extremely strong self-propagating ability which will tend to mean that they will spread relentlessly through an entire species or species complex. While this may be desirable in some instances, there are perhaps many more instances when we wish to treat one population of a pest but not the entire species.

In principle, designs based on underdominance can achieve this (see Alphey, Ann Rev Entomol 2014 59:205-224 for more on gene drive), though none has yet been developed in a pest insect. We aim to extend the current state of the art by engineering underdominance-based gene drive systems, taking a synthetic biology approach. Several related designs share various components and will be developed in parallel, including one- and two-locus underdominant systems and also self-limiting “Killer-Rescue” systems. This is an iterative approach guided by mathematical models; conversely the models will be continuously refined by incorporating empirical data as it becomes available. The model organism will be the mosquito Aedes aegypti, the primary vector of dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever viruses. As well as being extremely important from a public health perspective this is a relatively robust and easily manipulated mosquito with which we have extensive experience of both laboratory work and field trials.

ORGANISATION POSITION

The post-holder will report to the Head of Arthropod Genetics, with day-to-day supervision from the senior postdoc employed on this project. The post-holder will be expected to develop expertise in insect rearing, colony maintenance, genetic transformation (transgenesis) and the analysis of transgenic insect strains. With increasing experience, the post-holder will play a key role in training additional members of the Group in these core skills.

Main duties and responsibilities

The successful applicant's work will focus on the smooth and productive running of the research insectary (insect rearing and manipulation laboratory) and experiments within it. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

· Insect genetic studies, including
o Rearing and colony maintenance of mosquitoes
o Assisting with insect transgenesis (micro-injection of DNA and associated procedures)
o Assisting with analysis of transgenic mosquitoes including fitness studies etc.
· Laboratory maintenance
· Communicating progress and problems internally; assisting with external reporting
· Assisting with training of other staff and students as required

This job description is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The jobholder will carry out any other duties as may be reasonably required by his/her line manager. The job description and personal specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the Human Resources Division and The Pirbright Institute.

All employees shall actively participate in the Institute- wide quality assurance system in conjunction with the Institute's Quality Manager. Employees are also expected to safeguard their own health and safety and security by following policies and all employees are responsible for the Health and Safety and security of staff under their management.

BENEFITS OF THE POST

The post is graded at a Band B and is a fixed-term contract with funding for three years. The salary is £21,463 to £22,736 depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full time role.

Pension

Qualifying staff will automatically be enrolled into the Pirbright Institute Group Personal Pension Scheme (subject to age and earnings) which is administered by Aviva. This is a salary exchange scheme. Those staff who do not immediately qualify will be given an opportunity to opt into the scheme. Shortly after commencing employment members of staff that have been auto-enrolled will receive separate information outlining the options open to them and the scheme details. This will be sent from the pension provider. The Institute does not make contributions to other personal pension schemes.

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment plus 10.5 days public and privilege days. The Institute has a subsidised child care scheme, staff restaurant and free parking.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

· Any offer of employment will be subject to security screening, health clearance, receipt of satisfactory references, and continued right to work and remain in the UK.

· The Institute is engaged in Research work on a number of viral diseases of livestock, several of which are highly infectious to livestock, compliance with the Disease Security Regulations is an essential requirement of employment. Where disease agents of birds and other domestic animals are being studied specific restrictions to contact with these species may apply off site/ at home. Such restrictions will be applied on a case by case basis subject to on the individual's work portfolio and access to relevant facility areas. In case of poultry and horses it may require 3-5 days of no contact after handling/having contact with these pathogens and materials potentially carrying these agents.

· For those applicants where English is not their first language, please note that the successful applicant must be able to prove their ability to communicate in English. The required standard for the Pirbright Institute has been set as an overall mark of 7.0 in the IELTS qualification (with no lower than 7.0 for listening and reading, no lower than 6.5 for speaking and no lower than 6.0 for writing) or the equivalent in an alternative qualification

Closing date: 29 February 2016

HOW TO APPLY

To view or apply for this vacancy please visit The Pirbright Institute vacancy website, where an application form and further details can be found: http://www.pirbright.ac.uk/jobs/Jobs.aspx (job reference 16P-84).

Please send applications to:
Human Resources, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Surrey, GU24 0NF
Email: pirbright.hr@pirbright.ac.uk

If you are unable to apply on-line, please contact The Pirbright Institute by telephone on 01483 232441 and ask for the Human Resources Department or email pirbright.hr@pirbright.ac.uk

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications and Experience

Essential
· Significant bench experience in a recognised R&D environment (s)
· Enthusiasm for working with insects (i)

Desirable
· Experience of insect research (i)

Specific skills

Essential
· Evidence of experience in and enthusiasm for scientific research (i)
· Evidence of excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively (i)

Desirable
· Evidence of ability to work effectively in a team (i)

Personal Skills

Essential
· Time management skills (i)
· Reliability under pressure (i)
· Decision making and problem solving skills (i)

Special Requirements

Desirable
· Capacity to travel within UK and overseas, with a flexible approach to hours and occasional overnight stays (i)