Metabolomics Technologists

This competition is restricted to internal applicants of the University of Alberta. Please indicate your internal status using the "Advertisement" drop down menu when applying.

This position is a part of the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA).

This position has a term length of one year plus a day and offers a comprehensive benefits package which can be viewed at: Faculty & Staff Benefits .

Location - North campus. This role is in person

Working for the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is teeming with change makers, community builders, and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 40,000 students in 200+ undergraduate and 500+ graduate programs, over 13,000 faculty and staff, 260,000 alumni worldwide and have been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for over a decade.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross section of people—from our students and stakeholders, to our renowned researchers and innovators who are quite literally curing diseases, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger, and more just.

Department summary

Dr. David Wishart is a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta. He is a highly respected scientist who operates one of the largest and best-equipped laboratories at the University of Alberta. His research facilities are situated in the Department of Biological Sciences and the Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences on the University of Alberta campus. Dr. Wishart’s laboratories contain more than $10 million in cutting-edge analytical equipment including more than a half dozen high-end mass spectrometers and a fully equipped 700 MHz NMR spectrometer. Dr. Wishart has active research programs in precision health, cancer (lung, breast), infectious diseases (COVID-19), neurological diseases (Alzheimer’s, ALS), kidney diseases, animal/livestock health, forestry research, microbiome research, food chemistry, structural biology, portable sensor systems and metabolomics technology development. He has active collaborations with more than 30 scientists around the world. Additional information about Dr. Wishart and his laboratory can be found on The Metabolomics Innovation Centre (TMIC) website at www.metabolomicscentre.ca and Wishart Node TMIC website at www.tmicwishartnode.ca.

Position summary

TheMetabolomics Technologist is part of a team that supports analytical service to clients of the Wishart Node TMIC facility, maintenance of facility instruments in research ready condition and technology development of new assays for facility services.

Duties

Analytical Services for Clients

• Perform routine extractions of biological/biohazardous materials (Biosafety Level II)
• Prepare specimens and samples (such as biological fluids, plants samples and multi-vitamin tablets) for extraction and purification of metabolites
• Perform metal analysis using ICP-MS (NexION 350x, PerkinElmer): method development and validation, interpretation of results, troubleshooting and maintenance of the instrument.
• Perform metabolite analysis using LC-MS/MS (Sciex QTRAP 4000, 5500)
• Operate ICP-MS, GC-MS and LC-MS instruments to analyze samples
• Use various software tools to analyze data from ICP-MS and LC-MS sample analysis
• Maintenance and troubleshooting of ICP/MS, regular mass calibration and daily performance check
• Upload and edit information on the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)
• Updating the inventory of chemicals and solvents, SDS handling
• Use laboratory equipment (for example, autoclave, centrifuge, sonicator, Geno Grinder, water bath)

Operations of the Facility

• Prepare solutions of pure and mixed standards for calibration of ICP-MS and LC-MS for the maintenance of the instruments
• Collect data from pure and mixed standard solutions for calibration of ICP-MS and LC-MS to check against the parameters for the maintenance of the instruments
• Perform routine maintenance of ICP-MS and LC-MS instruments for facility operations
• Maintain log for ICP-MS, LC-MS and GC-MS instruments use

Technology Development

• Assist in the development of protocols for extraction, preparation and analysis of new sample types

Minimum Qualifications

• A minimum requirement of a Bachelor’s degree
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated teamwork skills, strong organizational and interpersonal skills
• Training and knowledge in the operation LC-MS, GC-MS and ICP-MS and interpretation of spectra
• Minimum 1-year experience working in a metabolomics laboratory

Preferred Qualification

• Experience in handling biohazardous materials, including purchasing, shipping and storing unique, hazardous or unstable compounds.

Note: Online applications are accepted until midnight Mountain Standard Time of the closing date.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.