Lab Analyst

Competition 676

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

This position has a term length of  3 years and offers a comprehensive benefits package which can be viewed on our Benefits Overview page.

Location - Work primarily takes place at North Campus, Edmonton.

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.

Working for the Department/Faculty

The Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences offers interdisciplinary approaches to diverse teaching and research themes. One of the largest and best supported departments in Canada, it has an international reputation for leading-edge research. The EAS Department offers degree programs in Environmental Earth Sciences, Environmental Studies, Geology, Human Geography, Paleontology, and Planning. The Department is unique in Canada in that it offers an interdisciplinary approach to learning. Students take courses from nationally and internationally recognized scholars, at the forefront of their fields.

Position Summary

The Laboratory Analyst will develop and implement a Continuous Flow Analysis (CFA) system for ice core analysis. This will involve building, testing, and operating the system. The CFA consists of an upright freezer unit in which an ice core is positioned vertically over a melter head, with flow rate modulated by temperature. The ice core is melted slowly and resulting melt water is analyzed in line for conductivity and particle count before sub-sample fractions are collected by two fraction collectors (from the inner and outer melt head rings). This type of ice core analysis allows for high resolution fraction collection that is not easily achieved through manual ice core processing. Experience working with Campbell Scientific dataloggers, interface programs, as well as encoders and using them in developing automation, is required in this role. Once CFA development is complete, the analyst will operate the system to analyze ice cores from the Canadian Ice Core Lab (CICL)’s archive. In addition to CFA responsibilities, the analyst will be asked to support other research activities at CICL, including day-to-day laboratory and freezer operations, core processing lines, data interpretation, and reporting.

The position will be primarily responsible for developing and managing the CFA system and will report to CICL Director, Alison Criscitiello, on a daily basis and will be responsible for the day-to day safety and management issues in the CFA laboratory. The appointment is a technical support role, with a requirement to develop and operate the CFA, while also providing support to regular CICL laboratory operations as needed.

Duties

The Laboratory Analyst will be responsible for the Continuous Flow Analysis (CFA) system. This includes:

• Developing and building the CFA
• Liaising with external experts knowledgeable about CFA to best optimize our system
• Testing the CFA for function and Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC)
• Collection and interpretation of data from CFA 
• Developing standard operating procedure for CICL’s CFA 
• Maintaining data quality assurance
• Developing standard operating procedure for CICL’s CFA
• Training other CICL staff and students in CFA operation
• Presenting progress and results of CFA development at CICL group meetings
• Participating in academic research activities involving the CFA

The Laboratory Analyst will assist in physical core processing lines (CPLs), as well as support any CICL laboratory and field operations as needed.

Qualifications

• A minimum of B.Sc. in a subject relevant to engineering, chemistry, or earth sciences laboratory-based work is required; A M.Sc. level qualification or higher (or equivalent experience) relevant to laboratory-based analytical work would be an asset
• Ice core CFA familiarity is required
• Competent using standard computer packages (e.g. Excel, Word, etc.)
• Able to organize own time and work unsupervised if necessary
• Experience working in a laboratory
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, with proven ability to work in small teams
• Ability to adapt and learn new instrumentation
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Experience working with encoders and using them in automation development
• Experience working with dataloggers and logging software
• Experience with basic laboratory equipment, including peristaltic pumps and fraction collector