MANDRAKE - Scientific Officer (Research / Harm Reduction)

The current opportunity is available for current Manchester Met students, to apply you must be based in the UK for the duration of the role.
MANchester DRug Analysis & Knowledge Exchange (MANDRAKE) is a fixed Home Office licenced resource, based at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU, Department of Natural Sciences), working in partnership with key stakeholders to facilitate rapid, robust and cost-effective chemical analysis, research and knowledge exchange for harm reduction and intelligence sharing within the Greater Manchester Region. The resource has featured prominently in the REF2021 assessment, had significant impact on identifying and reducing drug-related harms in the UK.
This role will support MANDRAKE's activities over the period 27 May 2024 - 30 June 2024.
The project:
The Scientific Officer (Research/Harm Reduction) will manufacture, optimise and undertake the field testing of samples (at a local event) of potentially controlled drugs (obtained from Greater Manchester Police) and determine the constitution of the active components using our Lab-on-a-Chip (LoC) device co-developed by Drs Kirsty Shaw, Oliver Sutcliffe and Lauren McNeill.
The results of the device field testing will be cross-validated by the Scientific Officer using a variety of instrumental techniques including gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and infrared spectroscopy. The project will be based in the Faculty of Science and Engineering (School of Science and the Environment), John Dalton Building, Manchester Metropolitan University and provide you with the experience in forensic research/analysis, harm reduction and working with external partners (see below).
You will work with all three members of the multidisciplinary team (Shaw, Sutcliffe and McNeill) to experience and develop of a broad range of skills. In addition the work will be the basis of a peer-reviewed publication and the Scientific Officer will be involved in the preparation and authorship of this output.
Details
Dates: 27 May 2024 - 30 June 2024
Hours per week: 16h/week for 5 weeks (80 hours total)
You will be expected to develop the following skills and experiences while carrying out this internship

• Pharmaceutical and forensic analysis, sample preparation, sample/data analysis.


• Training in the safe handling of controlled drug samples.


• Hands-on experience and training on the safe manufacture and use of LoC devices (including antibody conjugation, paper-device printing, validation and operation).


• Hands-on experience and training on the safe usage and application of Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and infrared analysis.


• Experience in the handling/analysis of data, report writing and working (as an individual and within a team) to deadlines with external partners (e.g. GMP)., Manchester Metropolitan University is committed to supporting the rights, responsibilities, dignity, health and wellbeing of staff and students through our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
  
  This role is only open to current Manchester Met Students who meet the following requirements -

Essential

• Possess chemistry-based subject/degree experience


• Have experience in analytical chemistry


• Have experience working within multidisciplinary team


• Have written, oral and time-management skills


Desirable

• Have experience in forensic biology


• Have experience in the analysis of controlled materials/drugs


• Have experience in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)