City : Vancouver

Category : Part time

Industry : Educational Services

Employer : University of British Columbia

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Job Profile

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Department

Compensation Range

Posting End Date

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

Job End Date

This is a part-time hourly position.

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 technician will support a collaborative research program spanning the Aviles and Jankowski labs. The position integrates three primary areas of responsibility:

• Specimen processing and curation

Management and processing of arthropod specimens, including sorting, photographing and measuring specimens, as well as creating and maintaining associated digital and online databases.

• Coordination of undergrad assistants

Providing guidance and feedback to undergraduate students on respective lab-related projects in coordination with PIs and graduate students working on related projects. Helping to coordinate shared tasks among undergraduate assistants.

• Data management and analysis

Curation, organization and analysis of ecological datasets, including long-term databases on animal communities (e.g., birds and insects) across environmental gradients. Tasks include data cleaning, visualization, statistical analysis, and contributing to workflows and developing analytical approaches

• Laboratory infrastructure and instrumentation

Support for the operation and organization of laboratory infrastructure, including microscopy, imaging systems and ecoacoustic/camera-based monitoring equipment. Additional duties include maintaining lab organization, re-stocking of field and laboratory supplies, and upkeep of the lab’s website.

Organizational Status
The technician will work with graduate and undergraduate students, and will be supervised by the Principal Investigators. The position reports to the Administrator of Zoology for administrative purposes.

Work Performed
The position involves:

(1) Coordinating undergraduate assistants in the processing (sorting, measuring, and photographic classification) of arthropod specimens using microscopes and appropriate software.

(2) Offering guidance to undergraduate assistants in the methods and relevant literature for their respective projects in coordination with the PIs and graduate students in the lab.

(3) Managing and processing datasets, including data entry (e.g., with Excel), cleaning, visualization, and manipulation, graphing and statistical analysis using software (e.g., R).

(4) Creating photographic and digital records of specimens for the purposes of research, teaching, and online resources for scientists and the general public.

(5) Contributing to lab website updates and digital content.

(6) Maintenance and operation of laboratory equipment, including microscopy, imaging systems, and ecoacoustic/camera monitoring infrastructure.

(7) Maintaining lab organization, inventory and re-stocking field and laboratory supplies.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Because the Principal Investigators outline the goals of the various projects, but not detailed daily procedures or instructions, the position has considerable latitude for apportioning time, choosing methods, and prioritizing work. In this circumstance, errors in choice, prioritization, or execution of experiments can have larger consequences on the research program if problems are not detected and acted upon immediately, before the regular weekly meeting. As a consequence, mistakes can result in considerable loss of time or productivity. Careful attention to detail and timely communication are essential.

Supervision Received
The technician will be under the direct supervision of the Principal Investigators, who outline the goals of the research and the general approaches to take. The technician will also receive training and guidance from graduate students, collaborators, and external specialists as needed. The position has considerable flexibility in organizing time and workflow, with regular meetings to review progress. The incumbent is also required to attend lab meetings.

Supervision Given
The technician may assist in training and supervision of undergraduate students working in the lab.

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

B.Sc. in Biology or related sciences; experience working with insects and spiders strongly preferred. The position requires previous experience working with arthropod specimens, including familiarity with methods of field data collection and preparation of preserved specimens for molecular work or museum samples. Experience with identification of species using microscopes and taxonomic keys is an asset, as well as experience with data entry, graphical presentation, and statistical analysis. Knowledge of laboratory safety procedures and techniques is required. Effective oral and written communication and interpersonal skills. Needs accuracy, attention to detail, and the ability to multitask. Demonstrated ability to reliably carry out instructions without ongoing directions, ability to work independently and within a team environment.