At the Animal and Plant Health Agency, we safeguard animal and plant health for the benefit of people, the environment and the economy.

This post is a Arbovirus Researcher, whose role is to provide management and delivery of mosquito- and tick-borne zoonotic virus testing at APHA as part of the National Reference Laboratory for Arboviral Diseases. The post holder will also contribute to research projects within the Vector-Borne Diseases workgroup (VI2). In addition, the post holder will provide advice on vector-borne disease when needed, prepare reports and manuscripts on the research and testing within the group. The post involves work with ACDP Category III / SAPO4 viruses in high containment laboratories. Management of staff and of the arbovirus laboratory.

The post holder will:
• Provide management oversight and delivery of West Nile virus (WNV) testing within the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for Arboviral Diseases. Other viruses covered within the NRL include Rift Valley fever virus, Japanese encephalitis virus and louping ill virus. This includes maintenance of test accreditation and communication with customers. The postholder will also contribute to the range of arbovirus research projects undertaken by the Vector-Borne Disease workgroup and support the insectary facilities.• Have the ability to work within an active team of scientists dedicated to vector-borne pathogen research. Collaboration with scientists across the Agency and with those working in external bodies (Government Agencies, Universities, etc) is an essential component of the post. Consultation on arthropod-borne diseases may be required to scientists within the Agency and to external stakeholders. Good oral and written communication skills are essential.

• Have management responsibilities for staff and visitors including supervision.

• Hold a Home Office personal licence and contribute to in vivo experimental studies, if required.

Responsibilities

The post holder will have:
• Knowledge and experience of research with zoonotic pathogens to include health and safety management and associated procedures.

• Budgetary and resource management experience.

• An understanding of the importance of test accreditation.

• Experience of presenting science and publishing scientific reports, articles and manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals.

• General knowledge on animal viral diseases and awareness and knowledge of ASPA and bioethics as it relates to the science.

The successful candidate will need to comply with a number of health protocols and wear protective clothing and Respiratory Personal Protective Equipment (RPPE) as required.

Restrictions on outside/domestic contact with small animals, mainly rodents and rabbits, will apply.

The successful candidate should not keep pigs or poultry or live on premises where there are domestic livestock or poultry

Travel will be required to attend training courses and undertake farm visits. You must have a valid driving licence, or be able to call upon suitable alternate means of transport.

Depending on the areas of work involved you will be expected to have any necessary vaccinations or health surveillance. This will be arranged by the Health Team, Weybridge. It may also be necessary to undergo a pre-employment medical assessment.

Periodic travel within the UK and EU will be required and this could include farm or abattoir visits as part of ongoing research. The successful candidate may have to ensure that no contact is made with farmed animals for a period of 1-2 days or more before visiting livestock farms. This may preclude anyone who lives on a livestock farm.

Due to access requirements to biosecure areas, individuals must be physically able.

Out of hours work may be required in the event of an incident.

The Weybridge site is a strategically important national asset due to its role as a reference laboratory supporting the Governments response to national emergencies including disease outbreaks. For this reason all post holders based on the APHA Weybridge site must hold a valid Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) security clearance or above. It is up to each person applying for a post at APHA Weybridge to ensure they meet the residency criteria. UK residency is required from 3 to 10 years depending on the level of Security. However residency qualification maybe reduced for certain roles and will be considered on a case by case basis.

A PhD in microbiology, virology or molecular biology or equivalent experience is required.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions

 

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Good communication skills including oral presentation and scientific writing.
• Practical experience of molecular biology.
• Bioinformatics, as applied to sequence analysis.
• Understanding of West Nile Virus.

 

Benefits

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