EIT Oxford Laboratory Technician Job at Plant Biology Institute, UK | Biology Candidates, Apply Online

Support plant science research addressing food production and planetary health. The EIT Oxford Laboratory Technician role combines experimental support, plant cultivation and molecular biology with the practical work needed to keep research laboratories running safely and efficiently. The position suits a detail-oriented, proactive candidate with relevant laboratory skills.

  • Position: Laboratory Technician – Plant Biology Institute

  • Location: Oxford, England, United Kingdom

About The Institute

EIT translates scientific discovery into practical impact across four areas:

  • Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology.

  • Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture.

  • Climate Change & Managing CO2.

  • Artificial Intelligence & Robotics.

Its community is built on excellence, innovation, tenacity, trust and collaboration.

The Plant Biology Institute, headed by Professor Steve Kelly, develops commercially sustainable plant science solutions. Its research aims to improve plant productivity, reduce dependence on agricultural inputs and advance decarbonised plant-based production platforms for food and medicines.

The institute offers advanced laboratories and plant-growth facilities, substantial long-term funding, and collaboration with specialists in AI, automation and generative biology.

EIT Oxford Laboratory Technician: Role Overview

The technician provides laboratory and experimental support across Plant Sciences research programmes. Responsibilities span plant and microbial work, biochemical analyses, molecular workflows, equipment upkeep and accurate research documentation.

Experimental Responsibilities

  • Grow and maintain plants in controlled growth chambers.

  • Prepare reagents, buffers, media and transformation constructs.

  • Support Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.

  • Prepare plant and microbial samples, inoculations and controlled environments.

  • Assist with protein extraction, purification and quantification, SDS-PAGE, Western blotting and plate-reader assays.

  • Maintain tissue cultures under sterile conditions.

  • Support plant or microbial cell culture, upstream and downstream processing, genotyping and metabolic analysis.

  • Perform routine molecular biology workflows.

  • Operate small-scale bioreactors or fermenters.

Laboratory Operations and Documentation

  • In this Plant Biology Institute technician role, maintain laboratory cleanliness, organisation and stock levels.

  • Support equipment calibration, maintenance and troubleshooting.

  • Carry out sterilisation and appropriate waste disposal.

  • Follow SOPs, GMO regulations, biosafety and plant quarantine requirements.

  • Record procedures and data, organise datasets and label samples accurately.

  • Manage reagent and consumable ordering, storage and labelling.

  • Transport and document samples between laboratories.

Essential Qualifications and Skills

Applicants should hold a relevant qualification up to BSc level, for example in Biology, Biochemistry or Molecular Genetics.

Essential practical knowledge includes:

  • Media preparation, sterilisation and autoclaving.

  • Working with plants and microorganisms under sterile conditions.

  • Primer design, genotyping and PCR.

  • Plasmid mini-, midi- and maxipreparation.

  • DNA/RNA extraction and quantification.

  • Bacterial transformation, agarose gel electrophoresis and cloning.

  • Construct design.

  • Health and safety, COSHH and laboratory safety awareness.

Desirable Experience

The following would be advantageous:

  • Agrobacterium or plant transformation.

  • Plant cell culture and suspension cultures.

  • Histology and leaf sectioning using a vibratome or microtome.

  • Light, fluorescence, dissecting or confocal microscopy.

  • Microaerobic or anaerobic work.

Benefits include:

  • Enhanced holiday entitlement with an option to buy additional days.

  • Pension, life assurance and income protection.

  • Private medical insurance and a hospital cash plan.

  • Therapy services and Perkbox.

  • Electric car scheme.

  • Childcare benefit.

For candidates who enjoy varied experimental work, the EIT Oxford Laboratory Technician role offers an opportunity to apply plant and molecular biology skills within research focused on more productive, sustainable agricultural systems.

APPLY ONLINE HERE