Covid-19 Assessment Laboratory Scientist

Contingent Worker Role Descriptors – Covid-19 Assessment Laboratory Scientist (CL C/D)
This facility will be used for high throughput screening for COVID-19 screening of AstraZeneca Key Workers. Staff within this laboratory will be expected to work a shift pattern to enable 16 hours a day operation across 5 days a week – Tuesday to Saturday. Hours are 6am-2pm, 10am-6pm or 4pm-11pm. Please apply only if you are satisfied you can accommodate these shift patterns.

This role covers responsibilities in two main areas: the Sample Handling Laboratories and the Molecular Biology Laboratories. Applicants can specify a preference to work in either area, or to flex across both.
Sample Handling: Scientists working in the Sample handling Laboratories are responsible for all process stages from arrival of human assessment specimens (currently saliva or nasal swabs) at the sample handling labs to the transfer of virally inactivated samples to the adjacent molecular biology labs. This work is performed to Biological Safety Level 2 (BSL2) in LAF containment facilities with appropriate PPE. Prior experience of working with infectious biological material to BS2 and with PPE is a key requirement for working in the sample handling laboratories.
Primary responsibilities include: visually inspecting specimens for packaging integrity (correct intact number of barrier layers, no evidence of leakage/spillage); assessment suitability (e.g., rejecting samples not properly labelled, containing foreign matter, incorrect volumes etc.); ensuring they are accounted for on the specimen manifest; following inspection, the removal of specimen transport tubes from the kit packaging; scanning into the LIMS system; and transfer to racks for further processing in suitably contained liquid handling automation. Tube to plate transfer, sample lysis and inactivation will be performed on the automation, and once completed the plates will be transferred to the adjacent molecular biology laboratories. On occasion this process may be run manually requiring experience with manual pipetting. Individuals will receive full technical and safety training for this whole process which will be performed to strictly defined COVID-19 specific SOPs.

Key Requirements for this role:
• Work in BSL2 lab with pervious experience of aseptic technique preferred.
• Work with human biological specimens. HepB Vaccination advised.
• Work with infectious samples, ideally experience that may contain SARS-Cov-2 would be desirable
• Attention to detail to ensure chain of custody of all samples, strictly adhering to SOPs
• Working and communicating across a fast-paced cross organisational team.
• Experience of liquid handling automation would be desirable

Molecular Biology: Scientists working in the Molecular Biology Laboratories are responsible for all process stages from fully automated RNA extraction and RT-PCR workflows to the delivery of PCR based results to data analysts. This work is performed to Biological Safety Level 1 (BSL1) with appropriate PPE. Applicants should be comfortable performing this process while using PPE.
Primary responsibilities include: the operation of Beckman I series robotics to perform automated magnetic bead RNA extraction procedures; tracking samples through the LIMS system; RT-PCR reaction setup including manual pipetting as well as automated plate preparation using benchtop automation equipment; setting up molecular assays on qPCR instruments; and inspection and exporting of primary and QC results for subsequent downstream analysis by Data/QC analysts. Individuals will receive full technical and safety training for this whole process which will be performed to strictly defined COVID-19 specific SOPs.

Key Requirements for this role:
• Work in BSL1 lab with previous experience of automation and molecular biology techniques preferred.
• Work with human biological specimens. HepB Vaccination advised.
• Work with samples which may contain SARS-Cov-2 would be desirable.
• Attention to detail to ensure chain of custody of all samples, strictly adhering to SOPs
• Working and communicating across a fast-paced cross organisational team.
• Experience with RT-PCR data analysis would be desirable