New Technician Champion Pilot Project <ARCHIVE>

This project will promote short-term shadowing placements across the Medical Sciences Division. ‘Tech Shadow and Share’ is a project related to a point within the Career Development section of our wider Technician Commitment Action Plan, and the aim is for the pilot to lead to the development of a shadowing scheme that can be offered to the University’s wider technical staff community.

If you are a host, please visit the host page for further details about the process. 

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We are looking for current research technical staff (e.g., working in research laboratories or facilities) who are seeking a learning and development opportunity, to participate in this pilot. You may wish to: 

  • Make new connections with labs or facilities that have a similar interest 
  • Seek troubleshooting support with an issue 
  • Broaden the applications of a technology you are already using 
  • Learn a new technology or technique, or get a refresher 
  • Observe a role you would like to pursue in the future  

If you are interested in being a participant, please visit the participant page for further details about the process.

A 2023 survey of the University’s technical staff indicated that development opportunities are a top priority as a factor for their job satisfaction. If you are a line manager of a person working in a research technical role, here are some reasons to consider encouraging them to participate:  

  • The pilot is voluntary, supports continuing professional development, and supports staff so they feel valued 
  • Participants will have opportunity to broaden their experience and expertise, and bring this back to your team 
  • New connections may facilitate future collaborations  

Should your budget allow, you may also wish to consider supporting any additional travel costs that your staff incur through travel to a different site for the placement. Please discuss with them if this may be available.

Hosts

The following hosts have all kindly agreed to volunteer to share and exchange their vast knowledge and expertise through enabling short voluntary placements – thank you!  Please be aware there are only a limited number of opportunities available as part of this pilot. Placement opportunities cannot be guaranteed.

A summary of the laboratories, facilities or SRFs that have expressed an interest in hosting a placement are shown below.

Name of host lab, facility or SRF

Location

(Links to location maps for purposes of planning travel only)

Brief overview of placement

Maximum placement duration, and number or participants

Any pre-requisites?

Dates available

 

Kennedy Institute Mass Cytometry SRF

Email host

Botnar Research Centre, NDORMS, Old Road Campus

Multiparameter cytometry and imaging. Participant to observe the preparation & acquisition of samples on our Helios mass cytometer & Hyperion Imager.

1 week

Up to 2 participants simultaneously

None required. A knowledge of flow cytometry would help.

July 2025;

If selected, Friday July 4th would finish at 1pm.

 

Micron Bioimaging Facility

Email host

Department of Biochemistry

The participant will be immersed in the full daily operations of Micron from training to the QC checks we do on the equipment.

1-2 weeks

1 placement

Basic understanding of biology and lab practices. Department visitor health and safety induction required.

July 2025

 

Kennedy Microscopy Facility

Email host

Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, NDORMS

The role involves managing and maintaining equipment, providing microscopy training to users, giving imaging advice.

2-3 days

1 placement

Experience with fluorescent microscopy. Limited suitability for individuals with accessibility needs.

June and July 2025;

Last week of July not available.

 

WIMM Flow Cytometry Facility

Email host

WIMM, RDM

Cell analysis and a cell sorting services. The participant would be able to observe the daily routines of staff working in the Facility.

2 days

1 -2 placements

It would be helpful for the participant to be interested in cell biology and have some limited knowledge of Flow Cytometry.

July 2025;

Limited availability week beginning 14th July.

 

Advanced Proteomics Facility

Email host

Biochemistry / Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building (DCHB)

In our proteomics facility, the participant will observe biological sample preparation, mass spectrometry and bioinformatic data analysis.

2 weeks

2 placements

Laboratory bench skills. Visitor access to the department, which includes a building induction, will be required.

June and July 2025;

No availability 28/07/25-31/07/25.

 

Translational Support Unit

Email host

Department of Oncology, Old Road Campus Research Building, Headington

Participants can observe PBMC and plasma processing, and learn about risk assessments, LAPs, SOPs, and GCP regulations.

1-2 days

1-5 placements

Basic understanding of biology and lab practices. Department visitor health and safety induction required.

July 2025

WIMM Mass Cytometry Facility

Email host

WIMM, RDM

Sample preparation for suspension or imaging cytof/antibody conjugations/facility management aspects incl. leadership roles.

1-2 days

1 -2 placements

Basic lab skills.

Placement filled

June and July 2025;

No availability 23-25 June, 22-25 July

 

The Oxford University Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (OxCIN)

Email host

FMRIB Building (located at John Radcliffe Hospital)

We are a neuroimaging research facility. Placement would be with the radiographers and the participant would be able to observe research MRI scanning.

5 days

1 placement

The visitor would need to undergo MR screening to check it would be safe for them to be around MRI.

Placement filled

June 2025

The Oxford University Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (OxCIN)

Email host

FMRIB and OHBA

Human brain imaging and brain stimulation - participant could shadow experiments using MRI, MEG, TMS etc.

Likely a day

1 -2 placements

No.

June and July 2025;

No availability 5/6/25, 6/6/25, 9/6/25 or 11/6/25.

The Don Mason Facility of Flow Cytometry

Email host

The Sir William Dunn School of Pathology

Set up, operation, close down, and maintenance of flow cytometry equipment. An introduction to analysis of flow cytometry data.

2 weeks

2 placements

A background in Cellular or molecular science or immunology. Completion of up-to-date HTA training, or willingness to complete mandatory HTA training, prior to attending the placement. An informal meeting on Teams with any prospective participants.

June and July 2025;

No availability 1st-10th June, 21st-31st July

 

Kennedy Institute Histology Facility

Email host

Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, NDORMS

We process a wide range of biological samples into paraffin blocks, we also perform sectioning with microtome and several histological stains.

1 day

2 placements

General knowledge in histological technique would be beneficial but no knowledge at all can also be accepted. Building induction required.

June and July 2025;

No availability 30th June and 1st July.

 

Stevens Group

Email host

DPAG

Human/Organoid Cell Culture, Cat 4 Laser work - Raman Microscopy, Chemical synthesis labs, 3D Printing, Spinning Disc Confocal Microscopy.

1 week

4 placements

No specific requirements, just basic lab health and safety awareness.

June and July 2025;

Please note Spinning Disc will not be ready until later, July onwards.

 

CDM Mass Spectrometry Facility

Email host

NDMRB, Old Road Campus We work on protein characterisation by mass spectrometry. Participant would learn a variety of techniques depending upon the work we are doing. 1 week
1 placement
Degree level qualification in Biology, Biochemistry or Chemistry would be helpful. June and July 2025  

Frater Group

Email host

Medawar Building for Pathogen Research Participants may get to observe: HIV research. PCR, qPCR, droplet microfluidics, fluorescent microscopy, flow cytometry, cell sorting, gel electrophoresis, sequencing prep. Up to 2 weeks
2 placements
No, however biology background would help. June and July 2025
Medawar Pathogen Research Logo

 

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University of Oxford Technician Commitment Action Plan

July 2024 - July 2027

Download the Action Plan

If you would like to get in touch with our Technician Commitment Lead, please contact Dr Jenn Allen