Research Technician 3

Job Category
Non Union Technicians and Research Assistants

Job Title
Research Technician 3

Department
Cheung Laboratory | School of Biomedical Engineering | Faculty of Medicine

Posting End Date
February 6, 2024

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

Job End Date
Jan 31, 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 applicant who accepts this post will join our multidisciplinary Mend the Gap team. We are developing biomaterials for cell alignment, developing biomaterials for drug release, performing in vitro evaluation of biomaterials to support neuron growth, with the goal to achieve a viable and ethical treatment for spinal cord injury. https://mendthegap.ubc.ca/

The position is for a research assistant who will be involved in developing an in vitro model of the injured spinal cord. Experiments will assess the biocompatibility of different materials, and measure the growth of primary neural cells in different biomaterials, for the purposes of maximizing the aligned, long-distance growth and viability of neurons. The successful applicant will also be involved in data analysis, communicating with the team, training students, and writing manuscripts.

Organizational Status:

Reports to Professor Karen Cheung and Dr. Tara Caffrey. Will also support and work in conjunction with other members of this team.

Work Performed:

• Maintain cell cultures and generation of new cell lines from primary tissue using aseptic techniques, and plans and performs cell viability assays
• Perform tissue collection procedures and euthanasia.
• Perform perfusions and tissue extraction
• Plan and perform immunocytochemistry
• Perform general histology processing
• Assists with image analysis and data collection.
• Assist in developing and implementing standard operating protocols (SOPs).
• Assist in general maintenance, reagent preparation, receiving and inventory of lab supplies.
• Plan and perform experiments; troubleshoot problems; collect, record, analyze and interpret experimental results with senior staff
• Carry out any other related duties as assigned or required in keeping with the qualifications and requirements of this level of technician

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Errors made could delay experimental progress, require experiments to be repeated, result in excessive use of expensive consumables, influence the ability of our interdisciplinary team to meet critical deadlines.

Supervision received:

• Reports to a senior staff member and one of the professors on our leadership team, and works in collaboration with our other team members.

Supervision given:

• May assist in supervising and/or mentoring a small number of co-op students.

Minimum Qualifications
Completion of a relevant technical program or a university degree in a relevant discipline and a minimum three 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

• Background in Biomedical Engineering, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, or a related discipline preferred
• Experience in primary cell culture and aseptic cell culture techniques
• Experience with complex cell culture models
• Demonstrated experience in animal handling and research
• Successful completion of UBC Chemical and Biohazard Safety Courses and Animal husbandry courses an asset.
• Knowledge of basic immunoassay techniques (e.g., Immunohistochemistry, Immunocytochemistry)
• Experience with cryostat tissue sectioning
• Experience in data analysis with statistical software.
• Experience with lab management tasks
• Effective oral and written communication, interpersonal and organizational skills, and attention to detail required
• Must be able to work both independently and within a team environment.
• Must be comfortable with rodent handling and euthanasia.
• Minimum of 2 years related laboratory experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience. Prior experience working in a laboratory environment is mandatory