Glassware and Media Prep Technician – Plant Biology Institute

Join us at EIT: At the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), we translate scientific discovery into real world impact. We bring together scientists, technologists, engineers, researchers, educators and innovators to tackle humanity’s greatest challenges.

• Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology
• Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture
• Artificial Intelligence & Robotics

The Plant Biology Institute, headed by Professor Steve Kelly, is a key part of EIT Oxford. It aims to develop impactful, commercially sustainable solutions for improving global food production and planetary health through pioneering plant science research.

• Improved plant productivity, both indoors and outside
• Reduced reliance on inputs including water, fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides
• Novel decarbonised plant‑based production platforms for food and medicines
• Advanced technologies that speed up discovery and deployment in plants

Your Role

EIT is seeking a highly organised and detail‑oriented Glassware Technician to support laboratory operations within its Plant Biology Institute (PBI) research programme.

• Prepare a wide range of microbiological and plant tissue culture media, buffers, agar plates, and specialised growth solutions in accordance with approved SOPs and research requirements
• Operate autoclaves and other sterilisation equipment, performing routine checks and promptly reporting faults
• Ensure correct preparation, handling, labelling, storage, and distribution of media to prevent contamination and maintain quality standards
• Maintain accurate records of media preparation, sterilisation cycles, batch numbers, and stock levels to ensure regulatory compliance
• Assist with completing and updating a wide range of safety documentation
• Manage and monitor stock levels of reagents and consumables, conducting regular expiry checks and ordering as required
• Maintain safe handling, segregation, and disposal of contaminated and non‑contaminated materials in line with biosafety, GM regulations, COSHH, and institutional health & safety policies
• Conduct routine laboratory cleaning and waste collection and disposal
• Support laboratory workflows by ensuring a consistent and timely supply of media and materials
• Collect, wash, sterilise (autoclave), and restock laboratory glassware to maintain operational efficiency
• Clean, maintain, and report issues with media preparation equipment, including autoclaves, refrigerators, storage facilities, and automated plate pourers
• Troubleshoot and resolve quality control issues related to media preparation and sterilisation processes
• Maintain high standards of housekeeping and good laboratory practice (GLP)
• Provide technical support to scientific staff, assisting with experimental support and responding to research requests

Essential Skills, Qualifications & Experience

• 5x GCSEs or equivalent
• Experience in laboratory support, technical services, or a related role within an academic, research, or industrial laboratory is required; plant handling experience desirable but not essential
• Ability to follow SOPs accurately and consistently
• Practical experience preparing, sterilising, and handling laboratory media, buffers, and solutions (e.g. plant tissue culture, microbiological, or biochemical media)
• Strong understanding of aseptic techniques and contamination control
• Knowledge of health & safety regulations, including COSHH, biohazard handling, autoclave safety, and laboratory quality assurance systems
• Awareness of regulatory requirements associated with GM organisms (training can be provided if required)

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Ability to safely perform manual handling tasks and operate laboratory equipment such as an automated culture media plate pourer
• Strong organisational and time‑management skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks in a busy research environment
• Basic IT skills for maintaining records, inventory, and maintenance logs
• Willingness to undertake additional training to expand technical expertise
• Well organised, able to prioritise tasks, and comfortable managing multiple responsibilities in a busy lab setting

Benefits

• Salary dependent on experience + travel allowance + bonus
• Enhanced holiday + options to buy additional days
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance
• Hospital Cash Plan
• Therapy Services
• Perk Box
• Electric Car Scheme
• Childcare benefit

Working Together – What It Involves

• You must have the right to work permanently in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary. In certain cases, sponsorship can be considered on a case‑by‑case basis.
• You will live in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford (or be willing to relocate).

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