Current Vacancies

Reference:      B02-09555
Salary:             £36,433 - £ 41,833 per annum inclusive of London Allowance
Working Type: Onsite
Closing date:   19^th October 2025

About the role
We are looking for a motivated and organised Research Technician to train rats and mice in our high throughput facility.

The main purpose of the role will be the care, handling and training of animals. You will work closely with the members of the Akrami, Erlich and Saxe labs in monitoring the behaviour of animals in the experiments, including attending group meetings of the Akrami lab (and/or others). You may also be the responsible person (PIL holder) for animals. The role is physical, in that it involves transferring animal cages from holding rooms to moveable racks and transporting those racks to the behavioural training rooms.

You will work in a collaborative and multidisciplinary research environment, communicate regularly with all other lab members and SWC staff, and work in especially close collaboration with members of the Neurobiological Research Facility.

There will also be the opportunity to contribute experimentally to the work in the lab: including helping to perform stereotaxic surgeries, assisting in the collection of electrophysiological data or optogenetic perturbations, intracranial infusions, pharmacological manipulation.

This post involves non-standard working hours, which will be discussed in detail with the line manager. The role follows a shifted working week will requiring 9 hours per day from Saturday to Tuesday each week (with Wednesday to Friday serving as regular days off). The expectation is that the post-holder will work approximately 26 weekends out of the year.

The role is funded for one year in the first instance.

Download the job description and person specification (PDF) here.

About you
You will have excellent organisation and communication skills, with the ability to work independently and demonstrate initiative in a dynamic research environment. Previous expereience in the care and handling of mice and rats is essential, along with an interest and commitment to supporting high quality research. Holding a Personal Licence (PIL) is desirable, as it technical expertise in the calibration, maintenance and repair of animal behavioural set-ups.

What we offer
The SWC offers staff an award-winning work environment in the heart of Fitzrovia with access to pleasant outdoor spaces. The Centre also offers the full range of UCL staff benefits, including a generous annual leave entitlement, occupational pension schemes, excellent family-friendly policies such as occupational shared parental pay, a work-life balance policy, and a range of financial benefits such as a season ticket loan scheme and staff discounts. SWC prides itself on offering a high quality administrative, technical and operational support function, and fully supports the professional development and progression of its staff, actively encouraging colleagues to learn new skills and broaden their experience. The SWC is supported in this aim by UCL’s Organisational Development team who run a wide range of training programmes for all staff types and grades.

How to apply
Visit UCL Jobs and search for vacancy reference:B02-09555. Click on “Apply Now” to enter the recruitment portal and start your application. 

Your application must explain how you meet each of the selection criteria for the post using examples of your skills and experience. More information on this can be found in the candidate guidance.