Biosurveillance Research Scientist

Job summary

The Diagnostics & Pathogen Characterisation (DPC) Division is based at Porton and has around 150 staff focusing on key initial steps in the control of infections, namely pathogen identification/characterisation and development of diagnostics. The Virology & Pathogenesis & Pathogen Characterisation (VPPC) group sits in the DPC Division within Science Group. VPPC’s work focuses on arboviruses, viral haemorrhagic fevers and other emerging zoonotic viruses which cause infections in humans and pose a significant risk to public health. The group’s activity corresponds with the institute’s status as a WHO Collaborating Centre for virus research and reference (special pathogens) and ranges from the development of diagnostics and surveillance through to the assessment of interventions and vaccines. As such multiple international links and networks are part of its remit.

We are seeking a Biosurveillance Research Scientist to join our Biosurveillance team within VPPC research group. The team conducts vector-borne, zoonotic disease surveillance and related research programmes, working as part of a multidisciplinary team and with internal/external collaborators.

Job description

This role supports UKHSA’s biosurveillance activities through the surveillance of vector borne and zoonotic pathogens in the UK. The post holder will contribute across the full surveillance pathway — from field-based sample collection, through laboratory processing and analysis, to data interpretation and reporting. Working primarily within the animal sentinel and vector surveillance workstream, and with opportunities to contribute to human serosurveillance projects, the role offers a unique opportunity to be involved at every stage of the biosurveillance process. The position requires excellent communication and organisational skills and flexibility to travel for fieldwork and sampling sessions.

The Biosurveillance team consists of two strands: animal sentinel and vector surveillance, and human serosurveillance. This role sits mainly within the animal sentinel and vector surveillance strand, with scope to support related projects across the wider biosurveillance portfolio.

The post holder will be involved in the workflow of biosurveillance activity, beginning with targeted field sampling, supporting citizen science led sample collection and assisting with human sampling sessions. They will then process and test samples in the laboratory, maintain accurate biobanks and manage high quality data entry. Finally, they will undertake statistical and spatial analyses and contribute to reports, presentations and scientific outputs.

This comprehensive involvement — from sample collection to data interpretation — provides an integrated understanding of biosurveillance workflows and a varied, impactful role within the team.

Sample Collection

The post holder will support the collection of high-quality samples that underpin all downstream laboratory and analytical work:

• Fieldwork: Plan and deliver targeted collection of sentinel animal and vector samples across the UK. Prepare equipment and consumables, coordinate travel and sampling logistics, and carry out precise outdoor sampling under varied conditions. Perform initial sample processing and accurate data capture in the field.
• Citizen science initiatives: Engage with external organisations to promote studies; produce presentations and written materials; communicate with volunteers; prepare and dispatch study packs; manage consumables; process and test returned samples; and generate individual result reports.
• Human serosurveillance sessions: Assist in organising and running sampling sessions, liaising with participants, greeting attendees, reviewing questionnaires and supporting efficient session flow.

These activities produce the samples on which all subsequent laboratory and analytical work depend upon.

Laboratory Processing and Responsibilities

After collection, the post holder will process samples through established laboratory workflows:

• Conduct serological assays (e.g., ELISA) and molecular methods (e.g., extraction and PCR) on animal, vector and human samples.
• Create, maintain and manage biobanks, ensuring sample traceability and integrity.
• Support laboratory supervision, ensuring equipment availability, safe working practices and compliance with legislation.

This laboratory work bridges field sampling and data analysis, ensuring high quality outputs and reliable results for downstream interpretation.

Data Analysis, Interpretation and Dissemination

The post holder will then carry data from raw laboratory results through to analysis, contributing to:

• Developing and maintaining R based data preparation pipelines.
• Conduct statistical analysis, modelling and data visualisation, including spatial analysis through GIS.
• Produce reports for internal and external stakeholders, present findings at meetings and conferences, and contribute to scientific manuscripts.
• Perform accurate data entry from questionnaires, field records and laboratory documentation.

General Responsibilities

The role requires excellent communication skills, careful record keeping and adherence to UK GDPR and relevant legislation. The post holder will interact with volunteers, study participants, stakeholders and partner organisations, representing the biosurveillance team professionally.

Travel across the UK is required for fieldwork and sampling sessions, and a valid UK driving licence is essential.

The above is not an exhaustive list, and is only an outline of the core components, tasks and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager.

The job description and person specification may also be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the division and the UKHSA.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• BSc virology, microbiology, epidemiology, zoology, life science or related biological sciences field.
• Experience of contributing to vector-borne disease and/or zoonosis surveillance programmes using a variety of methods, including citizen science.
• Experience of database development and maintenance, data manipulation and management, data visualisation (including GIS) and statistical analysis methods.
• Knowledge and practical experience of ELISA and RT-PCR techniques, including application of methods for high volume sample processing.
• Clear, confident communicator with excellent writing, report writing and presentation skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences, including members of the public.
• Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload without supervision working to tight and often changing timescales.
• Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands.
• Effective organiser with the ability to multitask.
• Good record keeping and attention to detail.
• Evidence of success in efficient and effective project planning.
• Hold a valid UK driving licence as there will be a requirement to travel at times regarding fieldwork and sampling sessions.

Desirable Criteria

• Skills modelling or statistical analysis of quantitative data, coding in ‘R’ or other statistical programming language.
• Fieldwork experience involving animal, vector or ecological studies, such as small mammal trapping.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £33,422, UK Health Security Agency contributes £9,682 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Please visit our careers site for more information: UKHSA Hub , Civil Service Careers

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Application & Sift

At sift stage you will be assessed against the 11 Essential Criteria listed in this job advert.

You will be required to complete an:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• Up to 750 word supporting statement

This should outline how your skills, abilities, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the Essential Criteria listed in this job advert.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. The application form is the kind of information you would put into your CV – please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1,500 but your supporting statement must be no more than 750 words. We will not consider any words over 750.

Longlisting

In the event of a large number of applications, we may longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all Essential Criteria
• Meets some Essential Criteria
• Meets no Essential Criteria

Only those that 'Meets all Essential Criteria' will progress to Shortlisting.

Shortlisting

In the event of a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift on the following 2 Essential Criteria:

• Experience of contributing to vector-borne disease and/or zoonosis surveillance programmes using a variety of methods, including citizen science.
• Experience of database development and maintenance, data manipulation and management, data visualisation (including GIS) and statistical analysis methods.

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/successful candidates.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Interview

You will be invited to a face-to-face interview. In certain circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Location and interview dates to be confirmed.

Behaviours and experience will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours being assessed during the interview will be as follows:

• Working Together - Lead Behaviour
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Salary Details

HEO National: £33,422 - £40,731 per annum, pro rata

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Location

This role is being offered as office/lab based at our Scientific Campus in Porton, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JG.

Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.

If based at our scientific campus, you will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Future location

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK. The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.

You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

International Police check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Internal Fraud Check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Sarah Handy
• Email : sarah.handy@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

http://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/v7833896