As a research technician within the Genetics Core of the Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility my role primarily involves extracting DNA and RNA from a range of sample types for biobanking or further genomic investigation. This was my first job after graduating from University and over my time in this post, my role has greatly expanded, […]

The research sector is widely seen as producing great work. However, there are concerns about the culture that has developed to support it. Last year the Wellcome Trust released a report on Research Culture – https://wellcome.ac.uk/reports/what-researchers-think-about-research-culture. It contains the results of a literature review, interviews, workshops and a survey of over 4000 researchers. It describes […]

Neil Johnston, Laboratory Manager at the Centre for Cardiovascular Science, tells how the centre is saving energy after using the Sustainable Campus Fund to purchase more efficient freezer equipment. New efficient freezers and energy-saving items Neil applied for £10,600 of funding to purchase seven efficient ultra-low temperature (-80°C) freezers and one efficient -20°C freezer, along […]

The second edition of our Technician Newletter is out now.  With updates of what’s going on at each campus, national technician news and more, click the image, or the link below to check it out! (Links open as pdfs)       Technician newsletter February 2020  

We asked Caroline Delahoyde, Technical Support Officer in the School of Engineering to tell us a little about her and her teams’ experience hosting a local high school pupil who is working toward Foundation Apprenticeship. Caroline tells us more:   We have been hosting a Foundation Apprentice here in the School of Engineering within our […]

Connecting students with science  Applications are now open to find 25 MRC researchers and technical experts for the next I’m a Scientist Medical Research Zone in March 2020. Shonna Johnston, Flow Cytometry Facility Manager at the University of Edinburgh Queen’s Medical Research Institute, shares why more technicians should give it a go.   Earlier this […]

About: The NTDC is holding a photo competition for technical staff across the country. As always, our aim is to promote the vital role that technicians play in their workplace. Submit a high-resolution photograph of you and your work – this can be anything you are responsible for making or maintaining in your workplace. Let […]

I was given the opportunity to attend the STEMM Change Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: A Technician Lens report launch at the Royal Society of Chemistry on the 14th of November 2019, as a representative of the University of Edinburgh Technician Steering Committee (TSC). This event was a standalone component of the STEMM Change annual conference, […]

The first edition of our brand new Technician Newletter is out.  With updates of what’s going on at each campus, national technician news and more, click the image, or the link below to check it out! (Links open as pdfs) Technician Newsletter October 2019

On September 18th the annual Institute of Science and Technology (IST) Technical Conference was held in Birmingham and I was one of a small number of attendees from the University of Edinburgh. The IST is an independent body which is firmly committed to the enhancement of professional development and recognition for technical and specialist staff […]