Job Description

Salary

The starting salary will be from 33,482 on Grade E, depending on qualifications and experience.

Contractual hours

36.5

Package

Generous holiday allowances, flexible working, pension scheme and relocation package (if applicable).

Job category/type

Technicians and Laboratory Staff

Date posted

23/07/2025

Job reference

Q07246

Technical Strategy & Operations

This new full post is available from 1 September 2025 on a fixed term basis until 3 April 2026.

This position could be an opportunity for an internal secondment, with approval from your current line manager.

Summary of the role

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Technical Manager to support a high-impact translational project applying AI to automate pollen analysis for honey authentication and quality assurance. This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of biosciences, quantitative analysis, and machine learning within a real-world commercial context.

Key Responsibilities:

The Technical Manager will be responsible for preparing and processing honey samples using established imaging cytometry protocols and operating complex laboratory equipment, including performing calibration and basic maintenance. They will acquire, process, and manage cytometric datasets for analysis using AI-driven classification tools. They will work closely with project investigators and partners to benchmark results, maintain rigorous records of procedures and outcomes, and support reporting and dissemination efforts through the preparation of results and documentation.

Essential Skills & Experience:

Candidates should have a NQF level 5 (Higher National Diploma) or equivalent. They must demonstrate experience in working with complex laboratory instrumentation and data acquisition systems. Strong data handling, analysis, and interpretation skills are essential. Previous experience of working in a research laboratory, including adherence to health and safety protocols, design and prosecution of experiments is required as are excellent attention to detail, organisational abilities, and strong documentation skills.

Desirable Skills & Experience:

Desirable attributes include, educated to degree or equivalent in biosciences, biological data science, mathematics, physics, or a related quantitative discipline, familiarity with AI and machine learning concepts, particularly supervised learning and classification model development. Experience with image analysis software or programming environments such as Python, R, or MATLAB is advantageous. An understanding of, or interest in, pollination biology, microscopy, or cytometry would further enhance a candidate's suitability for this role.

Who This Role Would Suit:

This role would suit a technically capable individual with a strong interest in biosciences and a solid grounding in quantitative methods, looking to gain experience in applied AI and commercial impact projects. It is ideal for someone with enthusiasm for data-rich experimental work and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Please ensure you read the and Person Specification for full details of this role.

The University of Exeter

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024). We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.

Our world-leading research impact has grown more than any other Russell Group university in recent years, and we are home to some of the world's most influential researchers, seeking to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today. More than 99 percent of our research is of international quality and 47 percent is world-leading (2021 Research Excellence Framework).

We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research - Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community.

With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer.

We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from service people.

Benefits

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

41 days leave per year options for flexible working numerous discounts at leading retailers onsite gyms on all of our campus' and a cycle to work scheme sector leading policies around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay) and a Fertility Treatment Policy stunning campus environments in Exeter and Cornwall, in the beautiful South West of England

Further information

Please contact Professor John Love (J.Love@exeter.ac.uk).

This role may be subject to additional background screening.

The University of Exeter is a proud supporter of the Technician Commitment, a charter focussing on the visibility, recognition and career development of our technical staff. For further information please see our website.