Research Technician (3432626CM)

The Opportunity

We are seeking a highly motivated Research Technician to join an exciting translational oncology programme focused on improving precision approaches to cancer treatment.

Working within a multidisciplinary research environment, the successful candidate will support laboratory and translational activities underpinning an innovative cancer research programme with strong clinical relevance.

This role offers the opportunity to work closely with researchers and clinicians involved in advanced cancer biology, experimental therapeutics, and translational research. The postholder will contribute to the establishment and maintenance of experimental systems, processing of clinical samples, and generation of high-quality research data to support programme development.

The position is ideally suited to an individual who enjoys hands-on laboratory work, thrives in collaborative environments, and is interested in contributing to clinically impactful research.

The Role

The Research Technician will support the day-to-day laboratory and technical activities of the programme, including:

• processing and handling clinical research samples
• establishing and maintaining experimental cell culture systems
• supporting functional laboratory assays and data generation
• maintaining accurate laboratory records and sample tracking systems
• contributing to optimisation and standardisation of laboratory workflows
• assisting with laboratory organisation, stock management, and equipment maintenance
• supporting compliance with health and safety and research governance procedures

The role will involve close interaction with researchers, clinicians, and laboratory staff across the wider translational research team.

 What we are looking for

We are looking for an organised and enthusiastic individual with strong technical skills and attention to detail.

Essential:

• Vocational qualification, A-levels, HNC/NVQ3, or equivalent laboratory experience 
• Practical experience in laboratory techniques, particularly mammalian cell culture 
• Ability to follow established protocols accurately and consistently 
• Experience maintaining organised experimental records 
• Good organisational and communication skills 
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team 
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to high-quality laboratory practice 

Desirable:

• Degree in a biological or biomedical science discipline 
• Experience working with primary biological samples or translational research material 
• Familiarity with molecular or cellular biology techniques 
• Experience in cancer, biomedical, or translational research environments 
• Experience with flow cytometry, imaging, or related laboratory techniques 
• Experience using databases, spreadsheets, and laboratory data systems

The Environment

The successful candidate will join a collaborative multidisciplinary research environment spanning:

• translational cancer biology 
• clinical oncology and surgery 
• molecular profiling and computational analysis 

The programme provides access to established infrastructure, and strong translational support and opportunities to contribute to clinically relevant research activities.

Why this role is different

This is an opportunity to contribute to a translational research programme designed to bridge laboratory science and future clinical application.

Rather than supporting isolated experiments, the successful candidate will become part of a collaborative effort focused on developing research approaches with clear potential clinical impact.

The role offers excellent experience for individuals interested in:

• translational cancer research 
• advanced laboratory techniques 
• clinically aligned biomedical science 
• future progression within research or technical specialist careers

Informal enquiries

For informal discussion of the role, please contact the Innovation for Translation Research Group leads:

Professor Zoë Walters (Z.S.Walters@soton.ac.uk)
Professor Tim Underwood (T.J.Underwood@soton.ac.uk)