POSITION PURPOSE

Reporting to Manager, Biology Laboratory Support, the incumbent performs a variety of technical activities to support students, teaching assistants, faculty members, and other scientific or engineering professionals, in an assigned group of specialized scientific teaching lab infrastructures. Provides general technical advice, support, and training to lab users and focuses on the set-up, maintenance, repair and troubleshooting of lab equipment. May assist with research, analysis, design, development, production, testing, and the operation of laboratory systems to the specification of the department or faculty’s curriculum or research requirements in order to achieve the experimental objectives and ensure safe working practices. The work is performed with moderate supervision, under clear guidelines, and requires a good general knowledge of the various technologies used.

IN THIS ROLE, YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE:

• Technical Support: Meets with clients to identify and analyze their needs for special purpose scientific/research lab equipment and materials. Assists with the design, assembly, installation, testing, maintenance and repair of assigned laboratory equipment and materials to meet specific client needs and to ensure accurate and proper functionality. Assists in the analysis and diagnosis of the causes of lab equipment and process malfunctions and, under supervision, carries out the required repair actions in order to maintain lab functionality for clients. Carries out a limited range of other technical functions in support of research in the assigned lab.
• Training: Trains, performs routine demonstrations for, and supports teaching assistants and students in the use of lab equipment and materials to improve end-user proficiency. Promotes and supervises the responsible use of all lab equipment and materials to contribute to the safety of all users and to safeguard the value of the University’s assets.
• Health and Safety: Ensures that all assigned laboratories operate in accordance with the Health and Safety rules of the University, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, WHMIS and any other applicable regulations. May be responsible for the collection, storage or disposal of hazardous materials.
• Technical Advice: Provides general advice regarding the design of lab equipment to ensure the feasibility of fabrication and may provide build or fabricating consultation services when required.
• Purchasing Advice: Researches, evaluates and recommends the acquisition of new lab equipment, instrumentation, and materials to ensure clients have proper access when required. Maintains regular contact with suppliers to obtain information and diagrams to carry out modifications as necessary.
• Inventory Control: Keeps track of the inventory of the assigned equipment, instrumentation and materials located in the assigned lab. Assigns proper identification and maintains records in the inventory database. Tracks the movement of items within the lab environment.