Applications/Research Specialist

Competition 1925

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

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package. 

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

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 Faculty of Engineering - Electrical & Computer Engineering Dept - NANOFAB

The University of Alberta nanoFAB is a $100M open-access technical service facility, catering to micro/nanoscale fabrication and characterization needs. As a trust-funded and revenue-generating unit of the Faculty of Engineering, it strives for administrative and financial sustainability.

The nanoFAB caters to a diverse group of researchers and companies working in sensors, photonics, biotechnology, energy, materials and quantum, all utilizing micro and nano-scale fabrication and characterization techniques. The nanoFAB supports a community that consists of greater than 300 academic and industrial groups and over 800 individual users. The mission of the nanoFAB is to empower researchers and companies to create new technologies through building and seeing at the smallest scales.

This position is for candidates interested in working in a dynamic group, utilizing and developing skills to deliver the very best our equipment and process have to offer to researchers and companies, to support their academic and commercial journeys.

The nanoFAB maintains two research and application groups: 1. Fabrication and 2. Characterization, each led by a Group Manager.

This position is within the Characterization group, responsible for delivering on the development, fee-for-service, collaboration, and training mandate of the nanoFAB to meet the research and development objectives of the community it serves. As a member of the group, you will be responsible for developing and expanding the micro/nano-characterization capabilities, application and development within the nanoFAB to support outcomes to a wide variety of academic researchers and industrial clients, all supporting the overall strategic and financial sustainability mission of the nanoFAB.

Position Summary

The nanoFAB at the University of Alberta is seeking a highly motivated Characterization Applications/Research Specialist to manage and oversee the facility’s advanced characterization tools and processes. This role involves providing technical and developmental expertise to support academic and industrial clients. With a focus on cutting-edge characterization techniques, including Scanning Electron Microscopy, Focused Ion Beam Microscopy, X-ray microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Gas Sorption Analysis, and metrology instruments such as profilometry and ellipsometry. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to world-class research and innovation.

For more information about the nanoFAB, visit our website, or explore our Knowledge Base for details on our equipment.

Duties 

• Independently manage, operate, and maintain characterization equipment and associated processes
• Provide technical support, training and analysis service for users and clients, including scope definition, data analysis, and instrumentation recommendations.
• Plan and execute new tool installations, commissioning, and upgrades while driving operational improvements.
• Develop and implement new procedures, experiments, and protocols to enhance capabilities and client outcomes.
• Act as a technical lead for equipment evaluation and provide detailed technical reports.
• Assist in creating educational courses, preparing materials, and supporting laboratory sessions.
• Stay current with advancements in relevant fields to improve instrumentation and processes.
• Document operational activities, maintain accurate records, and ensure compliance with safety standards.
• Support administrative functions such as safety planning, equipment evaluation, and purchasing.

Minimum Qualifications

• A technical diploma with relevant work experience will be considered
• Minimum of 2 years of hands-on experience working with any combination of SEM, XRM, FIB, XPS, XRD, or other spectroscopy and materials analysis tools

Preferred Qualifications

• A postgraduate degree in Science, Engineering or a related field
• Hands-on experience with focused ion beam microscopy for process development and providing training
• Programming for automatic instrumentation processing
• Demonstrated ability for public speaking, and strong critical writing skills, including providing technical presentations/seminars and writing technical documents.