Are you looking for a new job, fancy trying something completely different? Fancy being a fly farmer?
Why do we need a fly “farmer”.
We are running a study to look at Moraxella bovis which causes infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis in cattle, in extreme circumstances this can cause blindness. In order to do this, we need to breed face flies which are the carriers of this disease.
Why do Ridgeway Research need flies?
We will need 16000 flies over the course of 5 days in August.
The life cycle takes about 2 weeks from egg to egg but maybe quicker.
How will we “grow” the flies.
We will need to create a suitable environment for the face flies to lay their eggs (fresh cow pats). We will also need to feed the flies, they will be fed on sugar & liver.
How do we look after the flies?
The temperature of the room will be kept at about 30C.
What would you be doing with the flies?
- Feeding the flies – daily refreshing of their food (sugar and liver strips)
- Breeding the flies
- Counting the flies – method to be decided but will not be individually.
Details
About us:
Ridgeway Research Limited is a UK-based Contract Research Organisation (CRO) with over 30 years of experience helping businesses develop and license products for the livestock industry. We specialise in veterinary parasitology and Research & Development and work closely with our customers to offer a bespoke service. Working with small and large-scale clients, we design, conduct and report on various livestock and farmed bird studies. Our parasitology laboratory is Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) certified, and we take pride in the welfare standards we uphold.
About you:
This post would suit someone with an interest in laboratory work, who is flexible in their work activities, willing to operate in a busy atmosphere where accuracy and a keen eye for detail is essential. The candidate would be working in a small and friendly team.
Post Offered:
- Full time (37.5 hours a week), 18-month fixed term contract for Maternity Cover. This would see the successful applicant become a Parasitology Laboratory Technician after the flies or
- Full time (37.5 hours a week), 3-month fixed term contract. This would be offered for those only wanting to be a fly “farmer”.
- Both posts would involve weekend work on a rota basis (1 in 3 weekends, either Saturday or Sunday for approx. 3 hours)
Remuneration:
- £16770.00 – £22308.00 depending on age.
Company Benefits:
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Childcare vouchers.
- Eye test vouchers.
- Free onsite parking.
- Flexi working.
- Buy extra holidays.
- Bring your dog to work.
- Free tea/coffee/squash/milk.
- Company events.
Location:
Park Farm Buildings, Park Lane, St Briavels. Gloucestershire. GL15 6QX
Additional Information:
Due to the rural location of our business and the lack of public transport, you are responsible to organise yourself (either by holding a valid driving licence and a vehicle to drive/ carpooling/ a lift) in order to get into work on time and leave work every day.
The candidate would need to be comfortable with the idea of farm animal research associated with improving animal health. In addition, although the candidate would not be ordinarily directly working with any animals the intimacy of the site entails that all employees work in close proximity to their accommodation, therefore an interest and appreciation of animals would be a distinct advantage.
If this has piqued your interest and you think this might be a job for you, please email a copy of your cv to recruitment@ridgewayresearch.co.uk