Job Description

Job number

NAT01984

Faculties

Faculty of Natural Sciences

Departments

Department of Life Sciences

Salary or Salary range

40,201 - 44,722 per annum

Location/campus

South Kensington Campus - On site only

Contract type work pattern

Full time - Fixed term

Posting End Date

10 Aug 2025

About the role

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We are seeking to appoint an Insectary Technician to join a world-leading and dynamic research team at the Department of Life Sciences at Imperial College London. You will join the team of Dr. Nikolai Windbichler (windbichlerlab.org/) based at South Kensington Campus.



The lab seeks to further develop the revolutionary gene drive technology for the control of agricultural insect pest species and vectors of human disease. It sits at the intersection of engineering biology, genomics, genetics and entomology.



The goal of the project is to develop new and innovative genetic control offers a species-specific approach to tackle this problem by delivering novel traits into target populations via the release of modified insects. The project is part of a wider collaborative network; thus, the role will involve a high degree of teamwork and interdisciplinary research.

What you would be doing

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Rearing and maintenance of wild-type and transgenic lines of Ceratitis medflies and Anopheles mosquitoes Setting up genetic crosses and performing embryo microinjections Tissue dissections and genomic DNA extraction from medfly samples To keep the conditions and hygiene of insectary facilities at a high standard To prepare and carry out experiments following guidelines and analyse results using a range of agreed procedures To prepare media and chemical solutions.

What we are looking for

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You must be in possession of an Undergraduate Degree in relevant subject. Demonstrable experience of working with Drosophila, Ceratitis Anopheles or any other insect species, as well as a good knowledge of insect genetics and transgenesis, and practical experience of working within a highly competitive research environment are desirable. Good knowledge of genomics and experience in insect biology is desirable.



You must be a highly motivated, innovative, and creative individual with demonstrable ability to develop and apply new concepts, and a proactive approach to problem solving. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and proven ability to write clearly and succinctly for high profile publications are also essential. The successful candidate must be able to organise and prioritise their own work with minimal supervision and to independently drive forward their research project.

What we can offer you

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The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity. Grow your career: gain access to Imperial's sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers as well as opportunities for promotion and progression. Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 39 days off a year and generous pension schemes). Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

Further information

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Should you require any further details on the role please contact: Dr Nikolai Windbichler - n.windbichler@imperial.ac.uk.

Available documents

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Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.

We reserve the right to close the advert prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.



If you encounter any technical issues while applying online, please don't hesitate to email us at support.jobs@imperial.ac.uk. We're here to help.

About Imperial

Welcome to Imperial, a global top ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.



Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world's toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.



As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you'll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.



This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you'll join us at Imperial College London.

Our Culture

We work towards equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination, and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our webpages.



Our values are at the root of everything we do and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation.