Research - Grade 4

Experiences

Activities and responsibilities likely to be required when working at this level

Health & Safety responsibilities

• Report faults or damage to equipment or infrastructure and assist with simple maintenance tasks under supervision
• Promote and follow safe working practices
• Understand and follow safety paperwork, with the ability to identify and report hazards
• Conduct routine compliance tasks under supervision
• Maintain good housekeeping, assisting with waste disposal procedures and cleaning activities under supervision

Core responsibilities

• Contribute to meetings
• Make suggestions to improve the service
• Contribute to and support change
• Assist with stock control and stores operations under supervision 
• Assist with record keeping, inventory and asset management under supervision
• Assist in moving/relocating instruments and equipment
• With a high level of accuracy, prepare routine reagents and materials adhering to standard operating procedures where necessary
• Operate simple equipment following instructions or standard operating procedures and interpret simple results under supervision 
• Assist with calibration and testing of instruments/equipment, following instructions and standard operating procedures under supervision 
• Organise laboratory spaces in preparation of scheduled activities
• Report faults or damage to infrastructure
• Set up and operate equipment following well-established procedures under supervision
• Provide basic demonstration and support to students in the laboratory space with safe working practices 

Personal and professional development

Development options to consider when working towards this level

Learning on the job

• Take responsibility for the delivery of events e.g. external events and open days
• Under close supervision, begin to take responsibility for more stretching tasks relevant to the current role, e.g delivery of a module,  procurement of simple consumables
• Liaise with important stakeholders e.g., senior members of the team and students 
• Develop an understanding of essential processes and procedures under supervision of management

Learning from others  

• Shadow senior members of the team in the working environment
• Expand knowledge of other classes do not come under the current remit 
• Join a Community of Practice

Formal learning

• Accreditation/certification from a recognised Professional body 

Transferable skills and competencies

UCL uses the Universal Competency Framework (UCF) to discuss transferable skills. Find out more details on the framework.

Applying expertise and technology 

• Applying technical expertise
• Building technical expertise
• Sharing expertise
• Using technology resources
• Demonstrating physical and manual skills
• Demonstrating cross-functional awareness
• Demonstrating spatial awareness

Working with people

• Understanding others
• Adapting to the team
• Building team spirit
• Recognising and rewarding contributions
• Listening
• Consulting others
• Communicating proactively
• Showing tolerance and consideration
• Showing empathy
• Supporting others
• Caring for others
• Developing and communicating self-knowledge and insight

Following instructions and procedures

• Following directions
• Following procedures
• Time keeping and attending
• Demonstrating commitment
• Showing awareness of safety issues
• Complying with legal obligations

UCL Ways of Working

These describe expected behaviours in line with UCL culture and values.  For Ways of Working indicators and steps to development please refer to the Ways of Working website.