Global Genetics Program Administrator

Job Description

Note: This role is not suitable for students as it's full time.



QMUL is looking for Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2) Administrator.



The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (FMD) is a significant constituent of the University, which is organised into six separate Institutes.  The Wolfson Institute of Population Health harnesses expertise across a wide range of population based research and education activities and aims to be an internationally recognised centre of excellence in population health and preventive medicine. 



The Institute is organised into five separate research centres which, though complementary and following the Institute strategic plan, also have Centre-specific objectives and requirements.



The Preventive Neurology Unit (PNU) was set up with the aim of developing trials to prevent neurological disease. It is part of the Centre for Prevention, Detection and Diagnosis, which has a focus on academic discipline, research, the translation of research into public health strategies and their practical implementation – all dedicated to the reduction of disease and disabilities.



The post holder will be joining the Preventive Neurology Unit (PNU), at the Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London to work on the large-scale international Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2), a 36 million dollar project funded by the Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) initiative (www.gp2.org). The aims of the GP2 project are to:



 




  • Expand current understanding of the genetic architecture of PD;

  • Accelerate discovery and validation of novel disease-causing genetic mutations;

  • Provide training and resources to a broad, diverse base of scientists and clinicians.



 



Specifically, the post holder will join the Training Networking and Communication (TNC) working group (WG) led by the Professor in Neurology and Neuroepidemiology and coordinated by the project manager. The aim of the TNC-WG is to establish a virtual centre-of-excellence to promote training, networking and communication throughout the GP2 project. These three aspects will be delivered as follows:



 




  • Training - To develop and provide training opportunities for individuals and groups with a focus on PD genetics, and with a focus on promoting training in ‘under-represented’ regions of the world.

  • Networking - To create a network of trainees and collaborators, which will enable us to streamline opportunities, expertise, and data across the GP2 group.

  • Communication - To listen and respond to the needs of the GP2 community. To support the development of communication tools (website and social media).



 



The post holder will contribute and support all aspects of the TNC group’s work delivering project milestones for GP2, in collaboration with other working groups and with linked projects.



Main duties and responsibilities




  • Responsible for maintaining an up-to-date list (listserv) of GP2 members and trainees (e.g. weekly) and provide regular email communication to keep all members up-to-date.

  • Autonomously provide administrative support and guidance to a multitude of international stakeholders in a fast paced and complex matrix organisation.

  • Provide project support to the WG lead and project manager, including being responsible for keeping track of the project management of the WG, and dealing swiftly and independently with requests from international stakeholders.

  • Take the lead in providing administrative support to GP2 members requiring assistance in accessing common project materials for team working via the GP2 website.

  • Organise and support the project manager and leads to hold regular meetings between TNC WG members, including drafting an agenda and following-up action points.

  • Liaise with the GP2 website designers and developers to support the delivery and regular updates of website and social media content.

  • Support the TNC coordinator and leads in the administration of PhD, MSc, sabbaticals and other training opportunities funded through GP2. This will involve advertising the opportunities, handling submissions, setting up peer review, and providing feedback to candidates.

  • Liase with the GP2 steering committee to plan annual GP2 meetings, either virtual or in-person, in international locations for an global scientific audience.

  • Support regular blog posts from GP2 members and students benefiting from funding.

  • Liaise with other working groups within the GP2 study and attend other working group meetings periodically.

  • Maintain mentor and peer reviewer lists across the GP2 study.

  • Support the collection of materials from GP2 members and investigators for a monthly videocast, working with the Digital Learning Administrator to implement on the GP2 website.

  • Support regular communication of updates, research and training opportunities within the GP2 network.



 



 



The above list of responsibilities is not exhaustive and the jobholder may be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the level of the role, as reasonably requested by their line manager.



This job description accurately reflects the duties and responsibilities of the role at the time the job description was written. These duties and responsibilities may change over time without significantly impacting on the character of the role, the overall level of responsibility, or its grade.



Depending on strategic or operational needs, the jobholder may in the future be required to work for another existing or new organisational unit and/or at a different site within Queen Mary. This may be on a temporary or indefinite basis and may involve a change in line management and / or regularly working at more than one site.



 



 



Qualifications

Educated to A level, with GCSE grade C/4 or above or equivalent qualifications in Maths and English



 



Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience



Skills

Experience in independently arranging meetings and dealing with a large volume of stakeholders



Experience to operate independently in a fast paced role, providing administrative support to a multitude of international stakeholders with minimum supervision



Experience of having provided project support to a project coordinator / manager in a similar role



Experience in maintain spreadsheets of members of an organisation and using these for communication purposes



Experience working in research settings



Experience of working with web and digital agencies



Experience working within and providing administrative support to multi-disciplinary professional teams



Understanding of data management and the UK regulatory environment



Skills/Abilities



Excellent communication in written and verbal English



Able to operate efficiently in a complex, fast-paced environment and under time pressure



Demonstrable excellent IT skills, including e-mail, word processing and databases (Microsoft Office packages, other database programmes)



Critical attention to detail and high standards of accuracy



 

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The KCL Global Cultures Institute seeks a Research Assistant to work on the Hussein Shariffe Unhoused Archive project. This digital archiving and transnational outreach project focuses on the Sudanese artist-filmmaker Hussein Shariffe. It explores how research on audiovisual archives that are born in conditions of exile, migration and diaspora enables new thinking on questions of postcolonial restitution, repatriation and reparation. The RA role involves support with completion of a digital archive of Hussein Shariffe’s papers, and administrative support for a hybrid workshop series based in London and Cairo. The workshop series begins in January 2024, and explores methods and approaches for restitution and reparation. The RA will report to the Project PI, Erica Carter, and liaise with a working group that includes colleagues in the UK, Ireland, Germany and the MENA region.



Qualifications

You must be either a PGR student or postdoc.



Skills

The RA will need to be a postgraduate student or postdoc with native or near-native Arabic language competence; basic knowledge of document capture, scanning, spreadsheets and similar digital tools; good organisational and communication skills; some awareness of issues in postcolonial cultural history and/or heritage. Knowledge of issues in film history and audiovisual heritage is desirable but not essential. 



Pay is normally £20.02/hour but rates are graded according to qualifications.

Originally developed and launched by the Queen Mary Global Policy Institute (QMGPI) team in 2021, the 2024 Policy Associate Scheme is co-hosted by QMGPI and the Mile End Institute.



Queen Mary Global Policy Institute



The mission of the Queen Mary Global Policy Institute (QMGPI) is to be a leader in global research and policy solutions, upholding Queen Mary’s commitment to positive social change, community participation and diversity of views. The Institute works across multidisciplinary Strategic Pathways of Rights, Inclusion and Diversity (migration, surveillance, and the rule of law); Resilience and Sustainability (community cohesion, planetary health and biodiversity, and innovation and artificial intelligence); and Health, Recovery and Reform (reform of healthcare system, trauma and recovery).   



The Institute takes Queen Mary's world class research and helps to translate this expertise into positive social and practical dividends by addressing key global problems across a range of policy areas.



The QMGPI helps to make Queen Mary’s research relevant, useful, shared and impactful through a human centred vision that transforms policy and practice. Our aim is to improve the lives of the communities to which we all at Queen Mary are connected to.



 



Mile End Institute



The Mile End Institute (MEI) was founded in 2015 and brings together politicians, policymakers, the Queen Mary community, and the public to debate the major challenges facing East London and the UK. Our team of academics and policy professionals aim to stimulate and inform policy debate to achieve more effective decision-making, policy delivery and accountability across government and civil society. MEI staff and Fellows have direct experience of working in both academia and public policy, bringing a comprehensive understanding of practical policy processes, alongside the historical and political context in which policy debates and decisions are made. 



 



We are looking for up to 7 Policy Associates (4 based with QMGPI and 3 based with the MEI) to join our teams this winter. Associates will work with senior colleagues from both Institutes, Queen Mary academics and other internal and external stakeholders to co-design, develop and deliver a diverse programme of activity and engagement. We welcome applications from Queen Mary students from all degree levels (undergraduate, Masters and PhD).

 



The opportunity will be structured in such a way as to ensure that interns can point to tangible achievements at the conclusion of the internship. A commitment of 10 hours per week is envisaged, with the scheduling of working hours to be agreed based on the course timetable of successful candidates.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact Audrey Tan, Policy Partnerships Manager (audrey.tan@qmul.ac.uk).



Please see QMGPI-MEI news item for further information.



 



 



Associates may be invited to work on the following:




  • Mapping internal Queen Mary expertise in relation to QMGPI and MEI strategic themes

  • Supporting the Institutes’ social media presences

  • Internal promotion of the Institutes within Queen Mary

  • Media and press activity

  • Researching potential funding and collaboration opportunities

  • Database development and maintenance

  • Development of executive education / continual professional development opportunities

  • Any other duties as required



 



Deliverables during the Internship:




  • Co-authorship, editing and curation of QMGPI and MEI opinion pieces and blogs

  • Coordination and drafting of responses to Parliamentary Select Committee inquiries and other Government consultations

  • Planning, organisation and delivery of events

    • A reflective, written blog piece

    • A video blog/diary

    • Project deliverables as specified by supervisors





Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in any subject (completed or studying towards)



 



To be considered for this opportunity, please note that all applicants will need to submit a CV and complete the following application form: https://forms.office.com/e/u0hKUCdrZz



 



Skills

To be considered for this opportunity, please note that all applicants will need to submit a CV and complete the following application form: https://forms.office.com/e/u0hKUCdrZz



 



Essential




  • A clear interest and/or experience in the GPI strategic themes

  • Strong verbal and written communication skills

  • Excellent drafting, report writing and proof reading skills

  • Experience in the organisation and servicing of events

  • Full proficiency in Microsoft Office

  • Self-starter, with experience of working independently

  • An interest in international issues and policy development



 



Desirable:




  • Current QM postgraduate student (Masters or PhD)

  • Experience of managing social media accounts

QMUL is looking for Laboratory Operations Technician to support Laboratory Operations Managers in the delivery of strategies, policies and guidance, ensuring the safe and smooth operation of the Barts Cancer Institute’s laboratories.



Job context



The Barts Cancer Institute (BCI) is a Cancer Research UK Centre of Excellence whose work aims to transform the lives of those with and at risk of cancer through innovative research in the laboratory, in patients and in populations. BCI is internationally renowned in many areas of cancer research and it combines ground-breaking basic research with the expertise of clinicians and clinician scientists from the Centre for Experimental Cancer Medicine and the Barts NHS Trust to achieve improvements in cancer patient care. BCI is also a partner in the CRUK City of London Major Centre (together with UCL, Kings and the Francis Crick Institute) which is a Centre of Excellence in Biotherapeutics. BCI is committed in supporting and developing future cancer researchers through its extensive postgraduate training. It is one of six institutes within The School of Medicine and Dentistry (SMD), Queen Mary University of London.



 Main Duties and Responsibilities:



General Laboratory Operations and Management




  • Ensure the safe operation, maintenance and efficient day-to-day functioning of BCI Research and Teaching laboratories and facilities.

  • Act as-first-point-of-contact for laboratory staff and students to resolves problems/issues with laboratory equipment, escalating to the Laboratory Operations Manager as appropriate. Liaise with companies, service technicians and engineers when on site.

  • Ensure laboratory equipment and their accessories are calibrated and maintained to appropriate regulatory standards. To carry out checks of essential equipment, facilities and areas as required. Ensure problems are reported and rectified, and if required, liaise with the scientists and suppliers regarding servicing, repair and maintenance.

  • Support Laboratory Managers and Research staff with out of hours` emergencies, such as freezer breakdowns. Ensure appropriate emergency call out records are maintained and key back up resources are maintained.

  • Responsible for updating local files and records of staff training, equipment database, laboratory resources and where appropriate, maintain databases keeping accurate records, in line with requirements of GDPR.

  • Maintain and update laboratory rotas to ensure all laboratories are maintained to a high standard, supporting a Quality Management system.

  • Support the Cryostorage Facility, covering duties as necessary during colleagues’ absences and at times of additional pressure. Dealing with requests for storage and retrieval of frozen samples for researchers, tissue bank and clinical trial staff. Establish a repository of validated cell lines, carryout out routine quality checks such as STR profile and mycoplasma tests to ensure biological resources are regularly authenticated to ensure experimental validity.



Inductions and Training




  • Provide training for research staff and students (MSc and PhD) in the safe use of laboratories and lab equipment.

  • Supporting the BCI MSc programme in the set-up of practical classes, assisting the Laboratory Resource Manager with management of teaching laboratory.

  • To support the Laboratory Management in generating and providing documentation relevant to staff procedures, including Standard Operating Protocols (SOP’s) guidance documents and policies and be involved in the implementation of college procedures.



Health and Safety




  • Support BCI Laboratory Safety Officers by implementing, promoting and policing all aspects of Health and Safety in all laboratory areas. Arrange and undertake programmed laboratory audits and inspections as per Health and Safety support plans.

  • Manage waste streams in the laboratory including chemical and biological waste, ensuring that waste is correctly packaged. Monitor daily collection and disposal by Laboratory Support Assistant team. Any misuse of the facilities is to be identified and dealt with in an effective and fast manner.



Procurement




  • Procurement of research and laboratory supplies for BCI laboratories and the BCI Purchase Store, maintaining essential stock and carry out laboratory stock inventories.

  • Meeting with suppliers and negotiating for provision on consumables and obtaining discounts where possible



Sustainability




  • Working sustainably in the labs and encouraging others to do so. Supporting the Laboratory Operations Manager on sustainability activities such as LEAF and contributing towards wider sustainability initiatives within the Institute.



Other:




  • Prioritising own workload to ensure deadlines are met using skill and judgement and delegating to assigned Laboratory Support Assistants within the laboratory management team.

  • The post holder must at all times carry out their responsibilities with due regard to the Queen Mary's Equal Opportunities and Health and Safety policies.

  • The duties of the post outlined above are not exhaustive, and the post holder will be expected to be co-operative and flexible, undertaking such administrative and other duties as may from time to time be reasonably expected of a member of research grade staff in a university.

  • These duties will be subject to review in line with the changing requirements of the Centre, Institute, School or Queen Mary, and with the development needs of the post holder as identified through regular review/appraisal processes.



The above list of responsibilities is not exhaustive and the jobholder may be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the level of the role, as reasonably requested by their line manager.



This job description accurately reflects the duties and responsibilities of the role at the time the job description was written. These duties and responsibilities may change over time without significantly impacting on the character of the role, the overall level of responsibility, or its grade.



Depending on strategic or operational needs, the jobholder may in the future be required to work for another existing or new organisational unit and/or at a different site within Queen Mary. This may be on a temporary or indefinite basis and may involve a change in line management and / or regularly working at more than one site.



 



Qualifications

BSc or equivalent in a biological or related science  (Essential)



An appropriate professional safety qualification (e.g. IOSH/NEBOSH)  (Desirable)



Skills

Essential:



Experience of working in a laboratory, preferably in a research environment.



Experience in handling and disposal of hazardous chemical and biological agents



Knowledge of health & safety issues relevant to work in a life-science laboratory environment



Ability to work to deadlines and manage time effectively



Good communication skills, written and oral



Able to work independently on own initiative and to demonstrate problem solving skills



High level of accuracy and attention to detail



Experience of common biological research techniques, such as cell culture, histology



Able to carry out duties, which require extensive manual handling and lifting of heavy objects



Evidence of good team-working, establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with others



Flexible and co-operative approach to work and be willing to provide an out of hours callout service for the Institute



Self-motivated, taking proactive steps with the intention to provide excellent service



Willingness to learn new skills and develop within the role



Willingness to work and travel between campuses as far as duties may require



Desirable:



Experience in use and maintenance of common items of laboratory equipment e.g. incubators, safety cabinets, centrifuges



Knowledge of management systems and legislation relating to work with genetically modified organisms and/or human tissue



Experience of preparing risk assessments and SOPs



Sourcing/purchasing of laboratory consumables and/or equipment



Experience in providing training to new staff and students



Ability to maintain good laboratory records with experience of using databases



Experience of collaborative working with building-maintenance staff and external contractors

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