Academic Placement Year

Site: Beech Court, Styal, Manchester, SK9 4LD 

Job Description: Academic Placement Student (including night shifts) 

We are looking for an academic placement student to join our energetic team and help run our normothermic machine perfusion experiments. Due to the nature of our workload, work is based on a rota system which includes both days and nights (Night and out-of-hours working will be scheduled in accordance with the Working Time Regulations and will be subject to appropriate supervision and training).  

A full induction programme is provided, and new team members will complete a full training programme before being added to the rota.  

This is an opportunity to join a rapidly growing small-medium enterprise (SME) focussed on fast tracking innovations to clinical practise. Our client portfolio incorporates a range of different experimental requirements, from gene therapies to trauma development models. As such, you will gain first-hand insight into how the industry works and be exposed to a host of different projects that will provide you with a wide range of employable skills.  

You will be involved in a range of specialised projects that will lead to discussions around experimental design and planning, enabling you to gain experience of writing up laboratory protocols. Our work focuses on normothermic machine perfusion which is a niche field that requires extensive training. This will cover all stages of the process, from cell saving blood (isolating red blood cells) to performing challenging surgical techniques, which includes tissue dissection and an understanding of associated anatomy.  

These experiments often require sample collection (blood, urine, tissue etc) that require processing and appropriate storage. Training will be provided to help you understand how to correctly handle, label and store different samples to ensure they can be traced. You will also be expected to keep a laboratory notebook and provide updates on the progress of the study during laboratory meetings.  

Our placement students are the core of the Pebble team, and they get to work with an extensive range of academic and clinical experts’ day-in and day-out. Given the nature of perfusion experiments, they are very labour-intensive meaning that group dynamics and teamwork are critical. These will be rapidly developed in an industrial setting, helping you develop key characteristics and skills to be included in your future CV.  

As an integral part of the team, the candidate will be observed and well supported, with staff on hand to answer any questions or concerns. You will be assigned a line manager (Senior Scientist) who you can speak to in confidence at any time and scheduled one to one meetings carried out to review progress and provide feedback.  

Main Responsibilities  

  1. Prepare solutions for perfusion experiments (weighing out chemicals, mixing solutions, assessing pH)    

  2. Assist in building normothermic perfusion circuits (including setting up blood cell saver machines)  

  3. Draw up all therapeutics required for the experiment  

  4. Perform blood cell saving on experiment days  

  5. Assist all aspects of normothermic machine perfusions (including set up, monitoring, performing arterial blood gases, sample collection and post-experiment clean down) 

  6. Labelling and storing samples as required (this may include centrifuging and aliquoting for storage, snap freezing in liquid nitrogen, storing in OCT etc)  

  7. Record all data and results in specified forms (paper and electronic) with accuracy and responsibility  

  8. Maintain laboratory stock levels and equipment, including liaising with the stock control manager   

  9. Organise and store all chemical substances, fluids and compressed gases according to safety instructions  

  10. Read relevant literature to ensure an understanding of the work and to assist in protocol development discussions   

  11. Attend laboratory meetings to discuss experimental plans and provide an update from previous experiments  

  12. Attend monthly presentations and contribute when assigned a topic  

  13. Assist in all other laboratory maintenance and tasks, as required 

  14. Ensure that all safety guidelines are strictly followed and maintain a clean and orderly environment  

Training

A full training schedule will be prepared for the candidate during their placement, which include: 

  • Porcine anatomy  

  • Normothermic machine perfusion (kidneys, liver, limbs, human blood).  

  • Cell saving  

  • Leukocyte depletion  

  • Arterial blood gas analysis  

  • Surgical techniques including dissection and suturing   

  • Pipetting  

  • Sample processing and storage, including centrifuge use, liquid nitrogen, OCT etc.  

  • Protocol development and planning  

  • Experimental documentation  

  • Data analysis and presentation  

  • Workplace health and safety  

  • Correct approach to the scientific method and how to conduct industrial research  

Skills Required

  • Proven background in Biology or relevant scientific/engineering qualification  

  • Working knowledge of MS Office (especially Excel) and database systems  

  • Ability to work autonomously and under pressure  

  • Ability to work as part of a team  

  • Ability to work out-of-hours   

  • A full UK driving license with car access 

Education Required

To apply for this placement, you must be currently studying an undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences or Engineering. You will have completed a minimum of 2 years of your undergraduate degree but will not have graduated at the start of your placement. You must be enrolled at a UK (United Kingdom) or ROI (Republic of Ireland) university for the duration of your placement.

Language requirement: Written and spoken fluency in English 

Expected Start date: August 2027 

Duration: 1 year (approximately) 

Proposed Assessment / Interview Dates: from January 2027. The vacancy may close early if sufficient applications are received, so we recommend that you apply as soon as you can so your application can be considered. 

Salary:  £750/month bursary + £50 per nightshift 

To apply for this position please forward a CV and cover letter to careers@pebble.bio 

Pebble is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.  

Any offer of placement will be subject to the candidate demonstrating their right to work in the UK.