Zandstra lab – Non Union Salaried – Research Assistant /Technician 3
Ville : Vancouver
Catégorie : Full time
Industrie : Educational Services
Employeur : University of British Columbia
Staff - Non Union
Job Category
Non Union Technicians and Research AssistantsJob Profile
Non Union Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician 3Job Title
Zandstra lab - Non Union Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician 3Department
Zandstra Laboratory | School of Biomedical Engineering | Faculty of MedicineCompensation Range
$4,567.04 - $5,385.67 CAD MonthlyPosting End Date
March 22, 2026Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.
Job End Date
March 1, 2027
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 School of Biomedical Engineering (SBME) at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is a partnership between the Faculties of Applied Science and Medicine, established in 2017. The School is a nucleus for education and training, research, and innovation in biomedical engineering, creating new knowledge, new academic and training programs, and fostering translation and innovation. Its vision is to transform health and healthcare for all, achieved through innovative research and education at the convergence of engineering, medicine and biology. Through collaborative, innovative, and interdisciplinary approaches and building on UBC’s academic and research excellence, the School of Biomedical Engineering aspires to be a global leader in biomedical engineering research, education and translation. The SBME has two locations on Vancouver’s campus, the Gordon B Shrum building and the Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). For more information about the School of Biomedical Engineering, please visit https://www.bme.ubc.ca/.
We are seeking a skilled, detail-oriented, humanized mouse/lab research technician to join our enthusiastic research team in the Zandstra Stem Cell Bioengineering laboratory. This position will directly contribute to pre-clinical validation pipelines by performing specialized procedures that facilitate the translation of stem cell–derived and engineered immune cells for therapeutic applications.
Working alongside bioengineers and immunologists, the successful candidate will develop and implement state-of-the-art in vivo models to investigate immune function, engraftment, and cell persistence. This role encompasses colony management, specialized procedural work, and hands-on support for studies in hematopoiesis and therapeutic development.
Organizational Status
The Research Assistant/Technician will report to Principal Investigator in the Zandstra Lab and work collaboratively with other staff, students and postdoctoral fellows.
Work Performed
The technician will work in laboratory and animal facility setting and may be required to work occasional weekend or evening work for time-sensitive experiments. The work involves exposure to animal allergens and biological materials, including immunodeficient mice and human cells. An initial orientation will be provided on biosafety, radiation safety, and animal handling.
Animal Husbandry & Colony Management:
Maintain and manage genetically engineered mouse colonies.
Monitor animal health and welfare, identify signs of distress, and coordinate veterinary care.
Maintain accurate breeding and experimental records using colony management software.
Coordinate routine genotyping.
Technical Procedures:
Perform humanized mouse model generation, including engraftment of human CD34+ HSCs or immune cell products.
Sublethal irradiation.
Perform blood collection via tail vein and cardiac puncture techniques.
Conduct live bone marrow aspirations (training will be provided).
Tissue harvests (e.g. bone marrow, spleen, thymus, lymph nodes).
Administer compounds via oral gavage, intraperitoneal, intravenous, and subcutaneous routes.
Mice ultrasound.
Flow cytometry sample preparation, acquisition and analysis (training will be provided).
Monitor post-procedure recovery and escalate any concerns to senior researchers.
Animal/Human primary cell genotyping, extracting DNA, and running qPCR or ddPCR on the samples.
Research Support:
Assist in pre-clinical validation studies for cell therapy products.
Coordinate with bioengineers on experimental design for in vivo efficacy and safety studies.
Prepare single-cell suspensions from hematopoietic tissues.
Process samples for downstream analysis (flow cytometry, histology, molecular biology).
Maintain detailed experimental logs and contribute to data organization.
Collaborate with research staff to execute experimental protocols.
Compliance & Safety:
Ensure compliance with institutional animal care guidelines provided by the UBC Animal Care Committee (ACC).
Maintain sterile technique for immunocompromised mouse handling.
Follow biosafety and chemical safety protocols.
Participate in required training and continuing education.
Adopt the best practices for animal welfare..
Coordinate tasks with the ARC Animal Facility or UBC animal facilities.
Consequence of Error/Judgement
This position requires a high degree of accuracy and sound judgment. Errors in animal handling, irradiation procedures, surgical techniques, or sample processing could result in animal welfare concerns, loss of valuable research specimens, compromised experimental data, and significant delays to pre-clinical studies. Errors in record-keeping, genotyping, or biosafety compliance could impact research integrity and regulatory compliance. Failure to adhere to animal care and biosafety protocols may result in institutional non-compliance and suspension of research activities.
Supervision Received
The candidate works under general supervision of the Principal Investigator. Routine responsibilities and established protocols are performed independently. Detailed instructions and guidance are provided for new procedures or complex experimental designs. The role requires independent judgment in prioritizing tasks, troubleshooting technical issues, and ensuring compliance with institutional policies.
Supervision Given
None.
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
Bachelor's degree in Biology, Animal Science, or related field, OR equivalent experience an asset.
Experience working with laboratory mice.
Proficiency in basic mouse handling, injections, and blood collection techniques.
Knowledge of mouse genetics and breeding strategies.
Basic understanding of stem cell biology and/or immunology.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Excellent attention to detail and ability to follow SOPs precisely.
Problem-solving and troubleshooting experimental procedures.
Completion of nimal Care training complying with the Canadian Council on Animal Care guidelines preferred.
Experience generating or maintaining humanized mouse models.
Experience with hematopoietic tissue processing and multi-parameter flow cytometry.
Experience with immunocompromised mouse strains (NSG, NRG, or similar).
Knowledge of hematopoiesis and blood cell biology.
Experience with colony management software (e.g., PyRat, Mosaic).
Protocol writing for bioethics approval .
Proficiency in mouse surgery procedures (e.g. Subcapsular kidney transplantation)
Ability to lift up to 25 pounds.
Comfortable working with animals and animal allergens.
Ability to stand for extended periods.
Manual dexterity for fine technical procedures.