Newly updated guidance for the UK’s risk-based approach (RBA) to the management of produced water discharges from offshore installations has been published. The updated guidance document, which recommends the use of NCIMB’s MARA and LumiMARA tests for marine toxicity testing, in preference to the more conventional Microtox bacteria test, was published by the UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy in December. The UK is implementing a risk-based approach to the management of produced water discharges from offshore oil and gas installations in accordance with the OSPAR Convention. OSPAR …
Vacancy – temporary laboratory scientist
We are seeking a temporary laboratory scientist to provide maternity cover in our busy Analytical Services department. The successful candidate will undertake microbiological analysis for our customers and provide support for our Ecotoxicology department when required. The ideal candidate will be educated to BSc level in microbiology, or an other biological discipline, with proven experience of common microbiological techniques. Laboratory experience working in an ISO9001:2015 commercial setting would be an advantage but not essential as full training will be given. The closing date for this position is Friday 15th of …
ARISTO PhD Scholarship
NCIMB is delighted to be part of ARISTO: The European Industry – Academia Network for Revising and Advancing the Assessment of the Soil Microbial Toxicity of Pesticides. ARISTO is an International Training Network (ITN) funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement. The European Commission has imposed a stringent pesticide regulatory scheme for pesticides authorisation, where risk assessment for aquatic organisms and terrestrial macro-organisms is well defined. In contrast, the assessment of the toxicity of pesticides on soil microorganisms is lagging behind. …
“There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen”
Our business development manager Dr Jude Huggan looks back on her first year at NCIMB. I’ve heard this phrase a lot recently, especially in the context of summing up the progress of vaccine development in 2020, but it’s a phrase that works equally well in summarising the year for me. As 2020 draws to a close I’ve taken the time to reflect on my first year as part of the NCIMB family – and what a year it’s been, despite the challenges that COVID had to throw at us! Upon reflection, …
Last shipping dates for cultures 2020
Our last shipping dates before Christmas are 21st December for delivery to the UK, and 18th December for delivery to Europe and the rest of the world. We will continue to dispatch any orders we receive up until the 23rd of December, but after our “last shipping dates” delivery is more likely to be delayed for a few days over the holiday period. Don’t worry though – most of our strains are available freeze dried and are therefore stable at room temperature.
Bacteriocin producing strain added to the NCIMB culture collection
A Bacteriocin-producing strain isolated from human milk is now available from the National Collection of Industrial, Food and Marine Bacteria. NCIMB 15251 Lactobacillus gasseri was isolated from human milk and deposited at NCIMB by scientists from the Department of Gut Microbes and Health at the Quadram Institute. The strain produces several bacteriocins including a novel bacteriocin, gassericin M. Bacteriocins are antimicrobial peptides produced by bacteria, which are of interest with respect to probiotics. NCIMB manages the National Collection of Industrial, Food and Marine Bacteria – a reference collection of ACDP …