The LMB is a signatory of the Technician Commitment.
We employ over 150 technical staff in a wide variety of roles. Technicians and technical specialists work in our scientific facilities, support services or work directly within our research groups.
Action plan and progress
As a signatory, the LMB pledges to develop and deliver actions to address four key challenges affecting technical staff. Feedback from the LMB technical community enabled us to create an initial action plan that is tailored to the needs of our technical staff.
Visibility
To ensure that technical staff are identifiable and that their contribution is visible, we publish news articles celebrating their successes. Scientific facility films have been created to showcase technical staff and the expert scientific services they provide, and we host events tailored to them:
Recognition
We ensure LMB technical staff are recognised by supporting and celebrating professional registration and Research Institute Technician Awards.
We introduced the Eileen Southgate Prize, named in honour of Eileen Southgate, a technician at the LMB from 1956 to 1993. The prize recognises staff who have made an exceptional contribution to the LMB.
Career Development
We provide tailored career support for our technical colleagues, communicated through regular newsletters and ‘Technician Tea Breaks’. We introduced the Holger Kramer Exchange Programme to enable technical staff to visit another institute to learn new skills, support study, increase knowledge and facilitate networking.
“I highly recommend taking part in the Technician Exchange Programme, which I completed within the LMB Flow Cytometry facility. It’s a great opportunity to delve into what other MRC sites do, to broaden your skillset and knowledge on certain techniques and generally aid in continuous professional development!”
Tina Etemadi
PATHOLOGY TECHNICIAN, MARY LYON CENTRE
Sustainability
We provide opportunities for school pupils to gain first-hand experience at the LMB to help ensure a sustainability pipeline of technical skills. This includes hosting T Level students for extended rotation work experience placements between different scientific facilities and hosting Year 10 and 12 students in scientific facilities during our work experience placements.
We support continued study alongside work via post-16 apprenticeships, degree-level apprenticeships and part-time degrees.
