Trainee Toxicologist / Pharmacologist

Job summary

Are you an enthusiastic life scientist looking to build a career in toxicology or pharmacology? Join Dstl’s Toxicology Team and work on some of the most sensitive and nationally important scientific challenges in the UK.

In this hands‑on research role, you’ll support the design and delivery of experimental animal studies, applying the principles of the 3Rs while working with highly hazardous materials, defence‑related compounds and cutting‑edge research models. Your work will directly inform hazard assessments, medical countermeasure development and government policy.

You’ll receive comprehensive training across in vivo and ex vivo techniques, supported by mentoring, professional development and practical laboratory experience. This is a unique opportunity to develop as a scientist while contributing to research that cannot be carried out anywhere else.

Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.

Job description

What you’ll do

• Learn and master complex laboratory techniques
• Support and deliver experimental animal studies
• Apply toxicology and pharmacology expertise to real‑world defence challenges
• Analyse and communicate complex scientific data
• Work with hazardous substances safely and responsibly
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary experts across Dstl
• Attend scientific conferences, including opportunities for overseas travel

Person specification

About you

• BSc (Hons) in Pharmacology or a related Life Science
• Understanding of the 3Rs and practical lab experience
• Awareness of current techniques in toxicology/pharmacology
• Strong communication, problem‑solving and time‑management skills
• Proficient with Microsoft 365
• Willingness to undertake Home Office Personal Licence training (or existing licence)
• Understanding of experimental design in toxicology/pharmacology

For full details about this role, please see the Job profile within the candidate pack attached at the bottom of this page

Important Information

Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats. For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners.

This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. For some roles Developed Vetting will also be required, in this case you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.

Qualifications

Minimum of a BSc (Hons) Degree in Pharmacology or a related Life Science e.g. Toxicology, Neuroscience, Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences or closely related discipline.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Developing Self and Others

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,741, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contributes £8,905 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Benefits

Dstl’s full range of great benefits can be found in the information pack which includes:

• Financial: An excellent pension scheme starting from 26% employer contribution (find out more here). In Year Rewarding Achievement bonuses and thank you vouchers. Rental deposit scheme and cycle to work scheme. Option to join Vivup Benefits Payment scheme

• Flexible working: Options include alternative working patterns such as; compressed hours, job shares and annualised hours (agreed number of hours per annum paid monthly i.e. working term-time only).

• Working hours: Flexibility around your working day Ability to bank hours in a 12 month reference period including the ability to accrue and use 3 days per calendar month.

• Annual leave: 25 days pro rata (rising to 30 after 5 years) plus 8 public holidays with the ability to buy/sell 5 additional days per annum.

• Family: Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks with full pay, an additional 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid

• Learning and Development: Dstl encourages and supports charterships, accreditations and provides employees access to fully funded apprenticeships up to level 7 (Masters Degree). Dstl will pay for 2 memberships with relevant bodies/institutions. Employees also have access to Civil Service Learning.

• Facilities: Onsite parking, EV Charging points, restaurants, cafés and gyms.

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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so If at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance please contact the Dstl Recruitment Team dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk and we will do all we can to support you.

Sifting will take place week commencing the 30th March 2026 with interviews to be arranged from the 5th-15th May 2026

Your interview will consist of behavioural & technical interview to include a presentation entitled: “Demonstrating Why My Scientific Skills, In Vivo Competencies and Research Experience Make Me the Ideal Trainee Toxicologist/Pharmacologist”

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 security 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

Open to UK nationals only.

This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.

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.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.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 : Dstl Recruitment Team
• Email : dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk

Further information

Should you wish to raise a formal complaint about the Dstl recruitment process you should email dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk stating the nature of the issue. We will respond within 5 working days.

Attachments

Trainee Toxicologist_Pharmacoloigst_Candidate_info_pack Opens in new window (pdf, 5694kB)