Laboratory Scientific Technician | University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

The Microbiology Department at UHS is excited to advertise an opportunity for a laboratory technician with a strong background in molecular microbiology.

Candidates must have a BSc (Hons) degree in an appropriate biological science related subject area and preferably experience in molecular diagnostic techniques.

The department processes over 1,000,000 specimens per year. We employee almost 100 staff and provide a comprehensive 7 day service covering bacteriology, mycobacteriology, mycology, virology, serology and parasitology and molecular testing.

We also participate in a wide range of research studies and have close links to Trust and university teams.

We use a variety of equipment in our department including MALDI-ToF, automated sample analysers (GeneXpert, BioFire, Liaison), Qiagen and Kingfisher NA extraction platforms, ABI Quantstudio real-time PCR platforms and the Oxford Nanopore MinION and GridION DNA sequencers.

We are part of a national laboratory network integrating metagenomic next generation sequencing into critical care diagnostics.

Please note a high volume of applications may result in the advert closing early.

University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.

Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

At UHS, we’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.

At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognising that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.

Your Responsibilities

What you’ll do

• Support development and research work
• Support the diagnostic and sequencing services
• Analyse data generated from all areas of work undertaken
• Participate in local and national meetings
• Oversee the performance characteristics of our tests and ensure that protocols are followed
• Support the development of new diagnostic assays

What we’re looking for

• You’ll need to have a BSc in relevant subject
• Experience in molecular microbiology techniques is desirable
• You need to have excellent organisational and communication skills
• You will train staff and troubleshoot issues as and when they may arise
• Able to work carefully and accurately through protocols and SOPs
• You will need to work well as part of a team and individually

This advert closes on Friday 31 Jul 2026