Research Scientist (ID4171)
2 days ago
New Haw
New Haw, South East England, KT15 3NB Job Summary Do you want a role safeguarding standards of animal and plant health and welfare? The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and works on behalf of the Scottish Government and Welsh Government. Our diverse teams of over 3,000 skilled and committed professionals come together to provide research, advice and support to UK Government for safeguarding animal, public and plant health for benefit of the environment and economy. The Science Directorate (SD) delivers high quality, high impact and highly relevant multidisciplinary science. Our people are diverse, talented, engaged and inspired to deliver innovative outcomes. APHA is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, because it helps us be more innovative and make better decisions. We are dedicated to being an inclusive employer, offering equitable opportunities for all individuals. Our goal is to build a diverse workforce, and we hope to attract applications from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups. This is an opportunity to develop your skills and knowledge while providing vital support to the study of food-borne and veterinary pathogens. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is a powerful tool that can be applied to a wide range of public health and food safety applications, including diagnostics and pathogen typing. The post is based within the Salmonella Genomics team, and the main purpose of the job is to contribute towards the maintenance and development of a WGS-based analytical pipeline for in-silico typing of veterinary Salmonella isolates. Other duties will involve working with high throughput WGS data of veterinary Salmonella isolates to conduct phylogenetic analysis and other in-silico methods for accurate clustering of the studied samples, perform detection of antimicrobial resistance genes and mobile genetic elements, and contribute towards the ongoing development of machine learning models for source attribution of Salmonella. The post holder will be expected apply a bioinformatics skillset to facilitate the WGS-based identification of emerging strains with enhanced epidemic potential, and to aid in outbreak detection and epidemiological investigations of veterinary Salmonella. Job Description • Support the delivery of the team’s core Defra objectives around Salmonella WGS based diagnostics and molecular studies., • Provide support to the study of food-borne and veterinary pathogens, with a focus mainly on Salmonella, by assisting senior scientists with WGS data analysis, synthesis of analyses outputs, and report writing., • Support bioinformatics analyses with an expectation of performing some independent analysis., • Contribute towards the further development and improvement of the currently utilised bioinformatics pipelines and tools for identification and molecular typing of Salmonella, • Contribute to the maintenance of the Salmonella WGS archive., • Contribute to the investigation of outputs from Salmonella genomic workflows in line with project objectives., • Capable of working with large volumes of WGS data and contributing towards multidisciplinary work with opportunities to train and enhance skills in code development, cluster detection, and machine learning and other methods of source attribution., • The role will also support the Health & Safety and Quality activities in line with the Departmental needs., • Support the delivery of the team’s core Defra objectives around Salmonella WGS based diagnostics and molecular studies., • Provide support to the study of food-borne and veterinary pathogens, with a focus mainly on Salmonella, by assisting senior scientists with WGS data analysis, synthesis of analyses outputs, and report writing., • Support bioinformatics analyses with an expectation of performing some independent analysis., • Contribute towards the further development and improvement of the currently utilised bioinformatics pipelines and tools for identification and molecular typing of Salmonella, • Contribute to the maintenance of the Salmonella WGS archive., • Contribute to the investigation of outputs from Salmonella genomic workflows in line with project objectives., • Capable of working with large volumes of WGS data and contributing towards multidisciplinary work with opportunities to train and enhance skills in code development, cluster detection, and machine learning and other methods of source attribution., • The role will also support the Health & Safety and Quality activities in line with the Departmental needs. Person specification You will need • A good scientific background with exemplary organisational skills and demonstrable experience in both laboratory science and data analysis., • Good working knowledge of the Linux command line. Familiarity with at least one of the Python and R programming languages., • Experience of report writing., • Good organisational and communication skills., • To be currently resident in the UK & have at least 3 years continuous UK residency. If you cannot meet this criteria CTC clearance will not be possible as this is part of pre-employment checks before taking up the post. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: • Making Effective Decisions, • Delivering at Pace, • Changing and Improving, • Communicating and Influencing We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form: • Making Effective Decisions Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: • Give an example of when you have had to interpret scientific data and apply analytical thinking. Alongside your salary of £33,350, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £9,661 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. ___In return for your dedication and hard work, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training. Inclusion, support as the development of our people matter to us. We aim to support the career and personal wellbeing of everyone in APHA. Our benefits include generous annual leave, a generous employer contributory pension (28.97%), staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme, reward vouchers and in-year bonuses. We also offer additional days off if accrued extra hours (flexi-time –if accumulated), three paid volunteering day per year. We also have a social committee who run team building and fun events at the Weybridge site. Further details can be found in the Candidate Information Pack. Everyone in APHA is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. When you join the Directorate, you will be welcomed into your new team through an induction programme that will provide you with helpful information on the civil service, our work and our policies. Your line manager will also work with you to establish your priorities for the year, developing a performance, learning and development plan tailored to you and your role. Selection process details This vacancy is using ___, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Recruitment 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 ___ for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use. Application Process You will be asked to complete a numerical and verbal reasoning test before completing the CV-style application template. Therefore, please ensure this is completed in plenty of time before moving on to complete the rest of the application. You will be sent an invitation to take the test and be provided with full instructions on how to complete it. The test can’t be taken on mobile phones or tablets. After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Numerical Test and a Civil Service Verbal Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application. Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 11th December 2025. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website. Do not leave completing the tests until the last minute in case you experience any access or technical issues. There may not be technical support available after business hours and after 2pm on the closing date of 11th December 2025. While the tests should work on most operating systems and modern browsers with a good internet connection, we cannot guarantee that every combination will work. At the beginning, the test will check which browser you are using, and alert you if it is likely to be incompatible. It is highly recommended that you complete the online tests on a desktop computer, not a mobile phone or tablet. Please note that online tests associated with this vacancy are not subject to time limits; for further information ___For more guidance about the online Civil Service tests, please see the GOV.UK website: ___Our online test supplier will be performing scheduled maintenance between 4:00pm and 7:00pm on Saturday 29th November 2025 There will be up to 1 hour during this time where candidates will not be able to access tests. All online tests will be affected. Impact for candidates Candidates who are taking a test when the downtime starts will have their test paused. They will be able to pick up where they left off after the downtime. They can do this by accessing the test again from their application centre. Candidates will not be able to launch new tests during the downtime. Candidates reporting issues should be advised to return to take the test after 7:00pm on Saturday 29th November 2025. You will also be required to complete the following as part of your application: • A CV-style application submitted through an online tool accessed through the Civil Service Jobs website, • A 500- word Personal Statement of how you match the details in the Personal Specification – the written evidence you provide must relate to your own experiences. We encourage you to use the full word allowance of the Personal Statement but not to exceed it, • A 250-word Behaviour Statement for the following Behaviour: Making Effective Decisions. Please use the STAR technique (Situation Task, Action, Result) to provide evidence of the Behaviours in your application., • A 250-word Technical Statement, giving an example of when you have had to interpret scientific data and apply analytical thinking Scoring for all criteria of the application is from 1 to 7 – A score of 4 and above will progress to interview unless there is a large number of applications. In this instance, an initial sift will be conducted using the CV-style application form. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview. The panel may agree a benchmark score higher than 4 with a rationale for the decision. Any candidates applying under the Disability Confident Scheme who scores 4 or above on all of the criteria will be offered an interview. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed. For further guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV style application, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit the Civil Service Careers website. ___Interview If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on • Experience as detailed in the Person Specification section - ___framework., • Behaviours (Delivering at Pace, Changing and Improving, and Communicating and Influencing). The Behaviour criteria outlined in the ___ framework for EO positions. Please use the STAR technique (Situation Task, Action, Result) to provide evidence of the Behaviours in your interview. Your interview will be conducted face-to-face at APHA Weybridge, Surrey, KT15 3NB. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Reserves In the event of more than one candidate meeting the criteria we may maintain a reserve list should a similar role become available in the subsequent 12 months following interview. Candidates who do not meet the criteria for appointment at the advertised Grade, but are considered a ‘near miss’, may be offered a similar post at a Grade lower than the advertised role should one become available. After the interview Once all the interviews have been conducted, candidates will be notified of the outcome by email. If you are successful at the interview stage, we will be in touch to offer you a role. Offers will be made in merit order. Location As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s) Please be aware that this role will be contractually based in a Defra group workplace/office. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location (excluding Northern Ireland) and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time. Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD. The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations. Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee. This role is based at APHA Weybridge only due to the nature of the role and the duties required. This post is laboratory-based and requires you to be working at the Weybridge site five days per week or less if part-time. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time. Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD. Salary New entrants are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. Visa Sponsorship Statement Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. Criminal Record Check If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check may be carried out. In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing stating the job reference number in the subject heading. Reasonable Adjustment If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: • Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional. Accessibility If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section. Internal Fraud Database Check Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. Working Pattern This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying. We may consider two part-time staff on a job share basis if continuity can be arranged. Part-time hours will only be considered as part of a job share. NSV For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page ___Higher Security Clearance Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please ___. The Weybridge site is a strategically important national asset due to its role as a reference laboratory supporting the Governments response to national emergencies including disease outbreaks. For this reason, all staff based on the APHA Weybridge site must hold a valid Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) security clearance. Applicants must be currently resident in the UK and have at least three years continuous UK residency in order to start the mandatory Counter Terrorist Check security checks that are required to work at APHA Weybridge. If you cannot meet this criterion, CTC clearance will not be possible and this is part of pre-employment checks required before taking up the post. Childcare Vouchers Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at ___Feedback Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. This vacancy is using ___, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. 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 . People working with government assets must complete ___ checks. 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 . People working with government assets must complete ___ checks. Medical Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical. 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 ___, • 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 ___Working for the Civil Service The ___ 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 ___. 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. The ___ 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 ___. 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 the ___ and the ___. This vacancy is part of the ___ initiative. The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. ___. 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 : Jaromir Guzinski Recruitment team Further information 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 Government Recruitment Services via email: If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: ___
