At Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), we aim to conduct health research of national importance with a regional and global reach. We do this through government funded projects and collaborative projects with international funding such as WORMVACS2.0. WORMVACS2.0 is a Horizon Europe funded international collaborative project to develop pipelines for helminth vaccine development. The project now seeks an enthusiastic and experienced individual to fill the position of Senior Laboratory Technologist. The job holder will contribute to the WORMVACS2.0 project at UVRI by primarily performing laboratory assays, analysing resulting biological data (data from other sources), and reporting the findings.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:
• Ensuring that required reagents and supplies are in sufficient stocks and are kept securely in recommended conditions.

Performing IATA compliant shipment of samples to Essential: and from partner laboratories.
• Ensuring health and safety as per SOPs by conducting safety induction of new staft/students, refilling first aid boxes, administering first aid, updating materials data safety sheets.
• Performing scientific duties by assisting in setting up and cleaning of databases, writing reports regarding assays and experiments; using computers to perform mathematical calculations and for the preparation of graphs; presentation of findings at local, national and international workshops/conferences.
• Ability to learn and conduct assays/procedures required (Flow cytometry. Microarray. Luminex). according to study protocols procedures (SOP) in accordance to the manufacturer guide
• Receiving, processing and analysing samples timely in accordance with the SOPs and quality
• control’assurance requirements.
• Preparing reagents, chemicals and culture media where applicable for laboratory use
• Ability to analyse big data using data science and 4. Performing of the Internal Quality Control and External computational tools
• Cleaning and disinfecting equipment and document on equipment cleaning log Quality assurance as per schedule
• Provision of high-quality training and supervision to staff and students
• Independent assay development & troubleshooting of new procedures

Technical expertise and leadership
• Writing and reviewing of operational and study Desirable: specific SOPs.

People Management Responsibilities:
• Supervision of project laboratory technologists and students undertaking projects attachment/placement in the laboratory

Education/Qualifications/Training required:
• (with bioinformatics experience): or systems immunology or computational biology or bioinformatics (with substantial immunology research experience); or Data Science (majoring in Biomedical science)
• BSc Biomedical Laboratory Technology. Medical Laboratory Sceince. Biomedical Science. Biotechnology, Biochemistry (or equivalent) Desirable: Programming (R or Python), GCLP, GCP and PHRP training cytometry or Luminex or microarrays, and analysing immunology or biological data within a laboratory environment, and experience with programming

Essential:
• Designing, optimizing and validating flow cytometry 1. A master’s in immunology and clinical microbiology panels
• Processing, staining and acquiring stained samples through the flow cytometer following
• standard operating procedures.
• Analysing data from flow cytometry using FlowJo GraphPad Prism, R. Bioconductor and other dimensional reduction algorithms including SNE. FIOWSOM, SPADE, UMAP
• Conducting and analysing outputs of microarrays. Luminex assays and other immunological techniques
• Receiving, processing and storing study samples according to SOPs to maximise their quality in subsequent testing.
• Monitoring study sample storage conditions including 1. One to two years’ practical experience utilizing flow temperature.
• Implementing GCLP practices: Cleaning and disinfecting equipment; Tracking equipment servicing requirements: Monitoring temperatures and liquid nitrogen levels; Data backup: Running equipment performance OCs.

Previous work experience required: Essential:
• experienced biomedical data scientist/researcher
• 2 years (Renewable based on the availability of funding and satisfactory performance)

Desirable:
• Database management software including R and python
• Relevant laboratory research techniques like DNA Extraction, PCR, ELISA, ELISPOT, among others
• Communication skill