Research Technician New

Job Summary: 
We're on the lookout for a detail-driven Auxiliary Technician to join the CDN Fly Facility in a pioneering sustainability initiative. This role is at the heart of transforming how we work?by helping us move away from single-use plastic fly vials toward a reusable, zero-waste model. 

Currently, fly vials?used to house and feed research flies?are disposed of after just one use, entering the clinical waste stream and ending up in high-temperature incineration. This not only carries a hefty cost but also significantly contributes to our carbon footprint. 

By transitioning to reusable vials, you'll be part of a groundbreaking effort to slash single-use plastic in our labs, cut down on Scope 3 emissions, and move the Department?and King?s College London?closer to its Net Zero goal. If you're passionate about sustainability and keen to make a tangible impact in research operations, we?d love to hear from you. 

The project will be based in New Hunts House CDN, working with the labs that use the facility and the  technical manager and fly technician to determine a cleaning protocol for fly vials, test the validity of the protocol through microbiology techniques, and determine the effect, if any, of the change on the fruit flies. The student would work with wild type fruit flies to determine their reaction to reused vials that had previously been used for chemical or drug work, and in doing so will learn basic fly maintenance techniques.   

Once the project is complete, the student will have created a protocol for cleaning the glass fly vials, considered the cost of moving to reusable vials, calculated the labour requirements and equipment purchases needed to make this a viable long-term solution, assess current fly protocols and suggest areas where further changes can be made. The assessment will be presented to Technical Managers and PI?s using the facility.   

Responsibilities: 

Facility & Equipment Maintenance: 

Read all relevant literature to the project.

Develop a protocol for cleaning and reusing glass vials. 

Develop a protocol in the case of glass smashing/fly escape.

Validate different decontamination methods (freezing vs autoclaving) and the energy associated with each one. 

Identify equipment which needs to be purchased for the pilot and future transition. 

Collect data on the baseline and after the pilot on the amount of waste saved, energy used and loss of glass vials or H&S issues. 

Collate and present data on the glass pilot project. 

Collect, clean, scrub, and wash Drosophila glass and plastic vials. 

Operate laboratory equipment, including mixing vessels, autoclaves, dishwashers, and other relevant tools. 

Organize and restock vials in trays for reuse. 

Maintain a supply of chemicals and consumables for media preparation. 

Assist in maintaining lab equipment and supplies. 

Support for Research & Experiments: 

Assist with Drosophila-related experimental procedures when required. 

Maintain accurate records of media preparation and fly stock organization. 

Follow strict safety protocols and laboratory procedures. 

undergraduate wet-lab based science degree or actively completing one.

Skills & Qualifications: 

Technical Skills: 

Ability to operate lab equipment (autoclave, dishwasher, mixing vessels). 

Experience with Drosophila or other laboratory animals is a plus. 

Ability to carry out manual handling tasks (e.g., lifting and loading vials into dishwashers/autoclaves). 

Other Attributes: 

Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. 

Presentation skills.

Ability to work independently and within a team. 

Commitment to maintaining a clean and efficient work environment. 

OSCE Invigilation

Tuesday 22nd July 2025 & Wednesday 23nd July 2025 Guys Campus

Applicants must NOT be part of the MBBS course at King's College London or the Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine.

You will be invigilating for OSCE Exams for the Medical Students. OSCEs (Objective Structured Clinical Exams) are split into different circuits made up of 6 stations. Each station has a different scenario, which lasts 8 minutes. Students will be examined on their performance of each station.

Once they complete a station, they will move on to the next station, which is in numerical order. The exam runs as a loop, so if there are 6 stations, the student will go back to station 1 after finishing station 6. The exam finishes when they have completed all the stations of the circuit.

After the students have completed the circuit, they return to the student holding rooms whilst the supporting staff (incl. invigilators) prepare the stations & circuits for the next group of students as well as collate the examiner feedback sheets for them to be returned to the students before they are dismissed.

Key responsibilities   

• To support the Lead Invigilator in carrying out their duties by attending briefing sessions prior to and following exam sessions as required.  
• To assist with setting up the circuit(s): putting out clipboards, sharp pencils, and rubbers inside each station. 
• Assist with the set-up of equipment (training will be given for the setting up of props or the resetting of station equipment). 
• To assist students before the exam begins, ensuring that all students are correctly located and ready for the exam.   
• To invigilate the examination circuits and guide students between stations during the exam.  
• Direct examiners, patients, simulated patients to the correct stations. 
• Be the first response for examiner questions or concerns, raising issues with the lead invigilator or senior examiner quickly and efficiently. 
• To vigilantly monitor the room/allocated area throughout the exam in session whilst not disrupting the candidates; and ensuring a calm environment conducive to supporting students to be successful in their exams.  
• To ensure that noise levels on the examination circuit are kept to a minimum and that examination conditions are maintained throughout 
• To promptly report any incidents that may impact a candidate's performance to the Lead Invigilator, Circuit Lead (Marshall), OSCE Site Lead, or Senior Examiner. 
• To ensure that, at the end of the exam, all iPads and materials are collected and returned to the relevant place according to set procedures as advised by the Lead Invigilator.   

N/A

• Must be available for both days (Tuesday 22nd & Wednesday 23rd July 2025).
• Available for a prompt start at 08:00am to 13:30pm on both days.
• Professional.
• Observant.
• Shows initiative.
• Handles confidential documents responsibly.
• Available for the full duration of the exam.

APPLICANTS MUST NOT BE PART OF THE MBBS COURSE or FACULTY OF LIFE SCIENCES & MEDICINE at King's College London.

Formation and testing of hydrogels

Manipulation of signalling pathways

BSc in relevant biomed/biotech field or equivalent

Knowledge of mouse TMJ

Knowledge of hydrogels

Knowledge of signalling pathways