Laboratory Technician

Competition 1193

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

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package which can be viewed at: Faculty & Staff Benefits.

Location - Work primarily takes place at North Campus, Edmonton. This role is in-person.

Working at 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 FirstPeoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to over 14,000 faculty and staff, more than 40,000 students and a growing community of 300,000 alumni worldwide.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross-section of people — from our students and community members, to our renowned researchers and innovators, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger and more just. Learn more.

Working for the Department

The Department of Pharmacology, located in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta, is a diverse and vibrant department performing biomedical research pertaining to drugs and their actions. Core research strengths are in the areas of molecular pharmacology, neuropharmacology, cardiovascular pharmacology, and diabetes.

Position 

This is a Laboratory Technician position in a biomedical lab in the Department of Pharmacology. This lab has a focus on research related to pain and opioids in animal models. The incumbent will work under the supervision of the principal investigator (PI) to assist in ongoing research projects in the lab.

The laboratory technician is the primary support for the PI, Research Associates, and trainees requiring assistance with experimental work and laboratory maintenance. The laboratory conducts neuroscience research related to chronic pain and opioid use disorder using mice as animal models. This includes surgeries, behavioral testing, histology, microscopy, optogenetics, and large data analysis. The position requires an individual who enjoys working with animals but understands that these animals will ultimately be euthanized and tissues collected for evaluation. Animal care and handling, management and maintenance of the animal facility and behavioral testing is an essential and demanding parts of this job.

Other major responsibilities include managing (or assisting to manage) mouse colony breeding and genotyping, and processing of experimental tissue, including cryo-sectioning, immuno-staining and data analysis. Additional duties include maintenance of stock solutions, maintenance of a clean and safe laboratory environment, as well as assisting with performing, developing, and improving techniques used in the lab as assigned by the PI.

Duties 

• Set up, demonstrate and train equipment and software usage as per SOPs to researchers and students
• Perform postmortem tissue processing, including immunohistochemistry, PCR, immunoblotting, and microscopy
• Maintains mouse colonies and performs experimental procedures (surgical, behavioural)
• Reviews and follows protocols/Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to collect tissue, section tissue
• Organizes hardcopy and computer files related to ongoing studies
• Assists with manuscript preparation (e.g. formatting) and submission

Qualifications

• A minimum two-year technical diploma or related degree and one year experience with lab animal husbandry and handling or animal-related activities (especially mouse or rat) is required.
• A degree in neuroscience, psychology, computing science, biomedical engineering, or other health discipline is considered an asset.
• Completion of U of A Biosafety and Laboratory safety courses are mandatory.
• Completion of CCAC Part 1 Ethics and Part 2 Protocol Species-specific is required within 6 months of hire.
• Demonstrated excellent written/verbal communication, interpersonal, and team and customer service skills are required.
• Working knowledge and computer proficiency in Windows, MS Office Suite applications (Word, Excel, Outlook), statistical software (Prism, R), and Adobe Suite applications (Photoshop, Illustrator) is required.
• Willingness to learn new skills.
• Excellent problem-solving, attention to detail, organizational, and time management with the ability to work independently and to exercise judgement within established guidelines and SOPs.
• Ability to meet deadlines and prioritize work effectively.
• Ability to network and build strong professional relationships.
• Ability to strategize and develop creative and efficient solutions.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment and manage projects.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong organization, accuracy, and attention to detail.