City : Waterloo, ON

Category : Temporary

Industry : Education

Employer : University of Waterloo

Term: 2 years 

The undergraduate curriculum in the Department of Chemical Engineering comprises its core chemical engineering program and two interdisciplinary programs, and all these programs offer mandatory stand-alone laboratory courses to students at all levels. Reporting to the Lab Director, Teaching, the Lab Instructors teach stand-alone undergraduate laboratory courses that are purported to enhance undergraduate student learning and success through a positive and hands-on learning environment within the established scope and guidelines of the professional degree programs.

The laboratory instructor positions are responsible for the effective delivery of assigned undergraduate laboratory courses and other associated academic responsibilities, and ensure that all laboratory facilities, equipment, and resources are properly maintained for the lab courses, and all laboratory experiments are appropriate and conducted safely. The Lab Instructors also collaborate with the laboratory teaching team and course faculty for the lecture-laboratory synchronization, creation of lab course contents, and development and design of new lab experiments to meet the need of the undergraduate program and the lab courses.

Takes full academic responsibility for assigned courses and lab exercises

• Teach assigned laboratory courses in the undergraduate curriculum.
• Develops course syllabi including the course instructions, grading scheme, TA training, and web-based course material delivery where appropriate.
• Assigns lab groups and schedules for the lab experiments.
• Develops and gives instruction to students regarding course expectations and requirements.
• Assists with grading, assessing, and submitting final course grades.
• Responds to inquiries and appeals regarding grades.
• Potential responsibilities include any undergraduate course involving experimental and/or computational laboratory exercises. Subject to changes in the curriculum, these are represented by the following courses: ChE 101L, ChE 180L, ChE 181L, ChE 290, ChE 291, ChE 390, ChE 490, ChE 491, NE 220L, NE 226L, NE 330L, NE 454C, NE 455C.

Ensures smooth operation of assigned undergraduate Chemical Engineering laboratories:

• Maintains existing laboratory experiments and the apparatus associated with them
• Prepares and provides chemical and equipment preparation trainings and other materials required in the laboratories for coop students and lab assistants.
• Provides up-to-date manuals and/or written handouts about each experiment or exercise, with specific emphasis on safety, equipment preparation, problems potentially encountered during an experiment, and data analysis
• Works with other teaching staff to ensure that all experiments in all courses work when classes meet
• Maintains familiarity with knowledge of the operation of special laboratory equipment, including analytical instruments, data measurement devices and meters, general and unit operation equipment, and biological materials and biolab equipment such as bioreactors, microscopes
• Handles paperwork associated with the purchase and repair of laboratory equipment, supplies, and inventory
• Provides technical support for the purchase of new laboratory equipment and recommendations for replacement of laboratory equipment
• Develops proposals to raise funds through WEEF or other sources to upgrade and/or purchase equipment for existing and new experiments
• Supervises health and safety aspects of undergraduate laboratories for all students, teaching assistants, and others

Develops and constructs new chemical engineering undergraduate experiments, including exercises based on engineering software applications

• Develops new course contents and manuals including lab experiments with new and up-do-date technology or engineering practice as well as contents for computer labs.
• Initiates the development of new experiments and exercises on a continuous basis
• Works with other teaching staff and faculty in the development of new experiments and exercises
• Makes improvements to existing experiments and exercises so that they are more suitable for achieving educational goals in the context of chemical engineering education
• Works with other teaching staff to ensure that all the chemical engineering lab exercises have consistent expectations and practices, where possible

Ensures the effective utilization, deployment, and development teaching assistants who are assigned to assist with undergraduate laboratories from term-to-term on a changing basis

• Develops training materials and provides lab demonstration for lab course TAs
• Provides new teaching assistants with supervision and instruction on experiments and design exercises before each term’s laboratory sessions begin
• Supervises teaching assistants who assist and oversee the students performing the experiments and exercises

Maintains and develops professional training

• Performs library searches, reading, and professional training to remain current with developments in chemical engineering and education 
• Participates in Chemical Engineering Education conference activities, when opportunities arise, to assimilate best practices
• Maintains professional engineering licensure in Ontario

• MASc or PhD in Chemical Engineering or equivalent education and experience.
• Professional engineer (P.Eng.) status or eligibility in the Province of Ontario is a requirement.
• Experience in polymerization and polymer characterization is an asset for the position
• Three years of experience in teaching undergrad students or equivalent industrial training or managing lab operations is preferred.
• Experience in chemical engineering test and measurement instrumentation and/or software, running labs, troubleshooting lab equipment; giving tutorials/lectures and demonstrations, writing and updating lab manuals, developing new labs, marking reports, and evaluating technical presentations is strongly preferred.
• Experience in computational and simulation software, such as Python, MATLAB, Aspen Plus, or other chemical process simulation and optimization software.
• Experience working with all core areas of chemical engineering, including experience in the design, operation and process control of pilot scale experiments is a strong asset.
• Experience monitoring and enforcing safety in the labs or a similar environment.
• Experience in purchasing chemical engineering laboratory and pilot-scale equipment is an asset
• Knowledge of all core areas of chemical engineering as well as the operation of ChE lab equipment and measurement apparatus.
• Knowledge of data acquisition and control as well as measurement instrumentation including computer interfacing with measurement instrumentation.
• Programming skills with Python or MATLAB for engineering computation and simulation.
• Proven aptitude for teaching and a strong sense of pedagogy and how it is applied to a diverse and changing group of undergraduate students
• Excellent written and oral communications including strong technical documentation and presentation skills
• Strong organizational, problem solving, and analytical skills are essential
• Approachability, consistency, and the ability to motivate and earn students’ trust.
• Self-motivation in taking initiatives to improve the quality of labs, teaching, and working environment is required
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team within a busy and dynamic environment
• Proven experience in monitoring and enforcement of safety in lab environment in accordance with university and government policies and regulations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite of programs

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within our Office of Indigenous Relations.

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion.  As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca  or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.