Position Title: Senior Scientific Officer (Lab Manager), Centre for Cancer Research

Requisition ID: 1112

Department: Faculty of Health Sciences

City: Cape Town

Senior Scientific Officer (Laboratory Manager)

(Payclass 9: 3-year contract)

Centre for Cancer Research

Faculty of Health Sciences

The University of Cape Town’s Faculty of Health Sciences invites applications from qualified candidates for the position of Senior Scientific Officer/Laboratory manager in the Centre for Cancer Research (CCR). Emerging from the Faculty’s Cancer Research Initiative, the CCR underscores the Faculty’s dedication to tackling the growing burden of cancer. The Centre aims to strengthen and promote interdisciplinary cancer research, ultimately improving patient care, survival, and quality of life for those affected by cancer.

The main purpose of this position is to provide overarching laboratory management, ensuring a safe and efficient working environment for students and researchers in a molecular and cell biology setting. This includes establishing and supervising workflows involving patient samples, RNA/DNA isolation & handling techniques, protein extraction, isolation and analysis tools, and immortalization of patient derived probes by generating cell lines and organoid cultures.

Requirements:

MSc degree in Molecular and Cell Biology or a related discipline with at least 3 years of experience managing and supervising a molecular and cell biology research laboratory

OR

PhD degree in Molecular and Cell Biology or a related discipline with at least 2 years of experience managing and supervising a molecular and cell biology research laboratory

Demonstrated experience in compliance related to relevant regulations
Experience in providing support and training undergraduate/postgraduate students in molecular and cell biology techniques
Experience in mammalian cell culture; proficient with working with DNA, RNA and protein; including quality control and documented storage
Experience in performing experiments relevant to cancer biology including in vivo animal work
Experience with assistance in grant and research paper writing, budget designs and reporting on progress for grants
Computer literate and be fully competent in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and be proficient in data interpretation and software for statistical analysis ability to operate relevant lab equipment
Effective communication and interpersonal skills

Advantages:

· PhD or post doctoral experience in cancer research will be advantageous

· Analytic techniques allowing to prepare samples for research collaborations

· Establishing cell lines and/or organoids from patient tissue

· Registration with the SA veterinary council

Responsibilities:

Establishing and supervising workflows involving patient samples, DNA/RNA/Protein isolation & handling techniques and corresponding analysis tools, and establishment of patient derived cell lines and organoid cultures
General laboratory management including maintaining the laboratory and instrumentation in a clean, safe and orderly condition; setting up and maintaining databases for tissue samples, cell lines & organoids as well as various types of reagents used in the laboratory, including DNA/RNA/Protein stocks, antibodies, primers, cell lines and chemicals
Provide training and support to postgraduate students, postdoctoral fellows and visiting/collaborating researchers in basic and advanced molecular and cell biology techniques
Monitor research activities of postgraduate students, postdoctoral fellows and visiting/collaborating researchers
Perform experiments for publication purposes as well as for collaborations
Assist the Director with fund raising, grant application and research paper writing, budget designs, reporting on progress for grants .

For detailed information on this post, please view the job description on the following link: (view)

The annual cost of employment, including benefits, is between R513 345 and R603 933.

To apply, click the "apply" button to create a candidate profile and to submit your application.

Please complete/attach the following to your profile before submitting your application:

Motivational letter that speaks to the requirements of the position
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Three referee names which must include their title and name, position details, relationship to you, their e-mail address and telephone number
Highest qualification
ID/Passport

An application which does not comply with the above requirements will be regarded as incomplete.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to undergo competency and pre-placement-medical assessments. References may be requested by UCT at any stage of the selection process.

Any enquiries for the position to be addressed to Ms Tracy Moore at tracy.moore@uct.ac.za or 021 650 4505.

Closing date: 11 September 2025

Website: http://www.health.uct.ac.za

Reference number: ID1112

UCT is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups. Our Employment Equity Policy is available at https://uct.ac.za/media/9482.

UCT reserves the right not to appoint.