- Job Title
- Laboratory Technician
- Post Number
- 1006057
- Closing Date
- 17 Mar 2026
- Grade
- SC9
- Starting Salary
- Salary: £23,493 - £23,882
- Hours per week
- 37
- Project Title
- Technical support for vector design/construction, genotyping, transformation, seed harvest, and other lab tech tasks.
- Months Duration
- 36
Job Description
Main Purpose of the Job
The Ding Lab is looking to hire a lab technician for three years to help with vector design/construction, genotyping, Arabidopsis transformation, Arabidopsis seed harvest, and other lab tech tasks.
Key Relationships
Lab support helps the Postdoctoral Researchers conduct experiments on vector design/construction, genotyping, transformation, seed harvest, and other lab tech tasks.
Main Activities & Responsibilities
- Percentage
- Technical support for vector design/construction, genotyping, Arabidopsis transformation, Arabidopsis seed harvest, and other lab tech tasks
- 100
- As agreed with line manager, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the role
Person Profile
Education & Qualifications
- Requirement
- Importance
- 5 GCSEs A*-C (or equivalent), including science
- Essential
- BSc/Masters/PhD in plant science, molecular biology, genetics
- Desirable
Specialist Knowledge & Skills
- Requirement
- Importance
- Plant science and plant genetics
- Essential
- Good understanding of general Health and Safety requirements for laboratory environment
- Desirable
Relevant Experience
- Requirement
- Importance
- Arabidopsis sowing, harvesting, genotyping and plant transformation
- Essential
- Experience in growing Arabidopsis
- Essential
- Previous laboratory experience
- Desirable
Interpersonal & Communication Skills
- Requirement
- Importance
- Ability to follow instructions/Standard Operating Procedures
- Essential
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, using initiative and applying problem solving skills
- Essential
- Excellent time management and organisational skills
- Essential
- Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
- Essential
- Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to work as part of a team
- Essential
Additional Requirements
- Requirement
- Importance
- Attention to detail
- Essential
- Promotes equality and values diversity
- Essential
- Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviours of all staff at the Institute, ensuring it is a great place to work
- Essential
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and security of information where appropriate
- Essential
- Able to present a positive image of self and the institute; promoting both the international reputation and public engagement aims of the institute
- Essential
- Willingness to work outside standard working hours when required
- Essential
Who We Are
John Innes Centre
The John Innes Centre is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant and microbial genetics, carrying out fundamental and strategic research, to train scientists and making our findings available to society.
Our research makes use of a wide range of disciplines in the biological and chemical sciences including; cell biology, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics and molecular biology.
For more information about working at the John Innes Centre, please click here.
We pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive working environment for all. We have a diverse and multicultural scientific community and thrive on our European and international links, appointing staff from across the world. Any candidate who would like further information on current or anticipated immigration requirements can contact the HR Team on +44 (0)1603 450888 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk.
We are proud to hold a prestigious Athena SWAN Gold award, recognising the impact of our work in promoting gender equality in science. We are also a proud member of the Stonewall Diversity Champion’s programme, a founding signatory of the Tecnician Commitment and, as a Disability Confident employer, guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.
The John Innes Centre is a registered charity (No. 223852), limited by guarantee (registered in England No. 511709).
Department
Cell & Developmental Biology
Group Details
The Ding lab investigates the role of RNA structure in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, including translation, polyadenylation, RNA splicing, RNA stability, and RNA processing. We are also exploring how RNA structure alters in response to environmental changes and developing new experimental and analytical approaches for revealing RNA structure and RNA-protein interactions
Living in Norfolk
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Laboratory Technician
Salary: £23,493 - £23,882 per annum depending on qualifications and experience
Contract: 36 months full time
Location: John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK
Closing date: 17th March 2026
Reference: 1006057
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Laboratory Technician to join the Cell & Developmental Biology Department, to support the cutting-edge science of the John Innes Centre.
About the John Innes Centre:
The John Innes Centre is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant and microbial sciences. We nurture a creative, curiosity-led approach to answering fundamental questions in bioscience, and translate that knowledge into societal benefits. Our strategic vision, Healthy Plants, Healthy People, Healthy Planet, sets out our ambitious long-term goals for the game changing impact of our science globally.
Our employees enjoy access to state-of-the-art technology and a diverse range of specialist training opportunities, including support for leadership and management. Click here to find out more about working at the John Innes Centre.
About the Ding Group:
The Ding lab investigates the role of RNA structure in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, including translation, polyadenylation, RNA splicing, RNA stability, and RNA processing. We are also exploring how RNA structure alters in response to environmental changes and developing new experimental and analytical approaches for revealing RNA structure and RNA-protein interactions.
We developed novel and powerful platforms to study RNA structure in vivo and across diverse species at both the genome-wide scale and in individual RNAs. These breakthroughs have removed technological barriers and opened up new avenues for RNA biology research. Our lab utilises multidisciplinary knowledge and approaches in the areas of nucleic acid chemistry, RNA biology and bioinformatics.
The role:
The post holder will assist the Postdoctoral Researchers in conducting experiments on vector design/construction, genotyping, transformation, seed harvest, and other lab tech tasks.
The ideal candidate:
You will have a good general level of education, with a BSc, Masters, or PhD in biology or plant biology being advantageous. The post holder will have knowledge in plant and molecular biology, as well as experience working on vector design/construction, genotyping, transformation, seed harvest, and other lab tech tasks.
Additional information:
Please note, this post does not meet UKVI requirements to provide visa sponsorship.
We are an equal opportunities employer, actively supporting inclusivity and diversity. As a Disability Confident organisation, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy. We are proud to hold a prestigious Gold Athena SWAN award in recognition of our inclusive culture, commitment and good practices towards advancing of gender equality. We offer an exciting, stimulating, diverse research environment and actively promote a family friendly workplace. The Institute is also a member of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme.
The John Innes Centre is a registered charity (No. 223852) grant-aided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.