Laboratory Technician

Staff - Non Union

Job Category
Non Union Technicians and Research Assistants

Job Profile
Non Union Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician 2

Job Title
Laboratory Technician

Department
Davies Laboratory | School of Population and Public Health | Faculty of Medicine

Compensation Range
$4,207.63 - $5,005.45 CAD Monthly

Posting End Date
April 15, 2024

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date

Apr 30, 2025

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. 

Job Summary
The Laboratory Technician will operate analytical instrumentation to support occupational and environmental monitoring projects related to air and surface contamination. The incumbent is primarily responsible for the preparation and analysis of surface contamination study samples.
Organizational Status

The Laboratory Technician will work in the Occupational and Environmental Health lab; a research and teaching lab within the School of Population and Public Health. The lab is involved in method development and sampling for many occupational and environmental hazards.

Housed within the Faculty of Medicine, the School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) is an innovative unit that encompasses many of the health-related groupings at UBC as a collaborative venture. The School is structured around four divisions: Occupational and Environmental Health; Health Services and Policy; Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Public Health Practice; and Health in Populations. The resulting mix of professions and disciplines is seen as a means of connecting individuals and learners to galvanize the relationship between health research, public health and health services and to enhance learning.

Work Performed

The Laboratory Technician will perform the following duties:

• Perform extraction of received wipe samples.

• Follow OEH lab standard operating procedure (SOP) when analyzing extracted samples by LC/MS/MS.

• With assistance, further develop sample processing and LC/MS/MS analysis SOPs.

• Analyze acquired LC/MS/MS data for each run, including calibration, quality control spikes, recovery, etc.

• Perform basic LC/MS/MS maintenance including preparing mobile phases, monitoring pump/column pressure, tuning MS, etc.

• Prepare sampling kits for shipping to field sites while following OEH lab SOP.

• Prepare calibration solutions and quality control solutions.

• Conduct basic laboratory housekeeping tasks including cleaning glassware, archiving samples and receiving shipments.

• Other laboratory-related work as required by investigators, including:

  • GC/MS, ion chromatography and gravimetric analysis

  • Maintenance of water purification system

  • Maintenance of field sampling equipment

Consequence of Error/Judgement

The work performed follows established protocols and techniques. The candidate will work within these guidelines, but exercise judgment in establishing priorities and carrying tasks through to completion. New or unusual problems are referred to supervisor. Errors in sample preparation may result in significant harm to the overall project, as sample collection is difficult to repeat.

This position will be responsible for access, collection, use and disclosure of personal information in accordance with the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (RSBC 1996) and other UBC privacy and security policies. This position requires employees to work under strict confidentiality requirements; internal procedures and policies to protect personal information must be followed and adherence to these requirements will be regularly reviewed by the employer.

Supervision Received
The Laboratory Technician will report to the Occupational and Environmental Health Lab Manager. The incumbent will be required to work independently as well as within a team environment.
Supervision Given
N/A
Minimum Qualifications
High school graduation, some additional training in a related field and a minimum two years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• University degree in relevant field (Chemistry, Biochemistry).

• Experience operating analytical chemistry instrumentation including LC/MS/MS.

• Experience in volumetric analytical chemistry techniques (making solutions, pipetting, using balances, creating calibration curves).

• Knowledge of basic analytical chemistry concepts (external/internal calibration, isotopically labelled standards, recovery calculation).

• Experience implementing written lab protocols.

• Experience keeping a detailed and up to date lab notebook.

Skills:

• Strong computer literacy including familiarity with word processing, spreadsheets, and Internet resource use.

• Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail. Good organizational skills.

• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. Ability to prioritize workload and meet deadlines.

• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.

• Attentive to detail, with the ability to work quickly and accurately.

• Strong analytical, problem solving and decision-making skills.