Job reference: 248218
Salary: Band 6 (£43,231 - £52,679)
Job closing date: 27/05/2026
Job Type: Healthcare Sciences
Location: Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
Employment type: Fixed-term
Hours Per Week: 36
Job posted date: 13/05/2026
Employer (NHS Board): NHS Lothian
Department: Scottish HPV Reference Laboratory

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NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

As from 1/4/26, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will be reducing from 37 to 36 hours per week. Part time hours will be reduced pro-rata. However, there will be a corresponding increase in the hourly rate so that pay will not be affected.

We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found in the further information for this vacancy.

Associate Clinical Scientist (Band 6) – NSD Reference Laboratories

Grade: Band 6
Salary: £43,231 - £52,679 per annum
Type: Full time
Hours: 36.0
Location: RIE, Directorate of Laboratory Medicine (Molecular Diagnostics)
Contract: Fixed-term (12 months)

Applications are invited from enthusiastic, self-motivated, adaptable and suitably qualified, pre-registration Clinical Scientists. You must possess a good honours degree in Microbiology or related life science subject. You will have good communication, organisational and analytical skills, including experience in molecular techniques and experience of working in a routine clinical microbiology setting. You will have a professional attitude, be able to work as part of a team and an interest in applied research. Experience in the field of Human Papillomavirus research is welcome but not essential.

The appointee will be based in the Scottish Microbiology Reference Laboratories, which are co-located in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. The primary base will be the Scottish HPV Reference Laboratory (SHPVRL) where the appointee will be involved with delivery of laboratory services and associated research. The department offers opportunities to engage in continued professional development and further study.

For further information please contact:

• Dr Kate Cuschieri (Scottish HPV Reference Lab). Kate.Cuschieri@nhs.scot
0131 242 6039

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