Project Officer (Microbiology)

Unit : 
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
Salary : 
£39,347
Location : 
Milton Keynes
Please quote reference : 
21407
Fixed-term contract for 9 months, Full-time post
Closing Date : 
31 January, 2024 – 12:00

Flexible working patterns will be considered.

The successful candidate will be required to travel to the University of Strathclyde initially for training (approximately 1 week in the first two months) followed by some other attendance at the UofS.  However, this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that attendance in the office will be required.

Change your career, change lives

The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education.

The Faculty of STEM consists of 2500 staff including 1,800 Associate Lecturers. The Faculty delivers over 185 modules across undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum, supporting nearly 19,000 students (full time equivalents) which is 29% of the OU total.  The Faculty generates more research income (circa £17M) than any other Faculty in the University, supported by a comprehensive laboratory infrastructure. We are proud of our distinctive values and capabilities underpinning our aspiration. We are an inclusive institution.

The role

The Open University is recruiting for a Project Officer. In their role, the post-holder will contribute to the research objectives of the AstrobiologyOU research team and the OSC project Extremophiles Against Antibiotic Resistance. This includes, mining metagenomic datasets for biosynthetic genes of interest, designing and ordering synthesised biosynthetic genes into vectors, growing chassis microbes and the ESKAPE pathogens, screening for antimicrobial activity, analysis of results, data interpretation, and contribution to research projects by identifying and implementing innovative experimental techniques.

Skills and experience

• Master’s degree or equivalent in microbiology or molecular biology.
• A record of research and/or knowledge exchange that is commensurate to the position.
• Cultivation of microbes and bioinformatics experience.
• Proven project management ability, handling multiple projects efficiently.

More information can be provided via a link to the Job Description.

If you would like to discuss the application or recruitment process before making an application, please contact Emma Jones at Resourcing Hub on 01908 655544 or [email protected] quoting the reference VRF 21407.

What you get in return

We have a strong commitment to providing training and development in and beyond your current role. This includes thorough induction into the organisation and regular reviews of your training and development needs.

We also offer a great range of benefits that support our employees and their families for the long term. Staff Benefits include an attractive pension proposition and 33 days holiday per annum pro rata, plus Bank Holidays and Christmas closure days.

How to apply

Unless otherwise stated in the advert, all applications are completed online via the instructions on The OU Job’s page. Applications submitted via 3rd party websites will not be received.

Access details for disabled applicants are available from the Resourcing Hub, telephone: 01908 655544, quoting the vacancy reference above.

To apply for this role please submit the following as one document;

• CV
• Personal statement, up to 1,000 words, you should set out in your statement why you’re interested in this role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the required competencies for this role as detailed in the job and person specification.

Please save your document with the following file name as appropriate to the vacancy you are applying for: reference, surname, forename.

You will need to have your documents ready ahead of submitting the electronic application. Please click on the APPLY NOW button below to be redirected to our application page.

APPLY NOW

You will receive updates regarding your application from [email protected] . Please ensure this email address is added to your list of trusted senders so it does not go to your junk folder.

You can view your application communications on the Candidate portal .

Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to YouTube by clicking this link).

The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential.  We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength.  We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.

Job related information : 

Attachment	Size

Attachment	Size
Job Description – Project Officer Microbiology.docx	60.63 KB

• Terms and Conditions – Research Staff  (PDF)

• Terms and Conditions – Research Staff  (Word document)

Posting Date : 
10 January, 2024 – 17:00