Research Technician, Microbiology Immunology & Infectious Disease

at  The University of Calgary

Description
The Department of Microbiology Immunology & Infectious Disease in the Cumming School of Medicine invites applications for a Research Technician. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 6 months (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.

Research and study of wastewater from various sources to assess for:

• Molecular markers of SARS-CoV-2 (primary target)
• Antimicrobial resistance determinants (potential future targets)
• Various chemicals (potential future targets)
• Microbiological analysis of various clinical study samples for evidence of persistent bacterial infection/colonization/contamination

Reporting to the Principle Investigator.

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

• Maintain established research programs
• Collect, inventory and process patient/clinical and wastewater samples
• Maintain wastewater biobank, and clinical data
• Real-time data reporting to clinical and public health authority partners (including weekend work)
• Assist in identifying appropriate samples to share amongst collaborators locally and internationally
• Wastewater processing for the identification of ARO genes and viruses such as SARS-CoV-2
• WW assay development and trouble shooting
• Clinical sample collection and characterization of community constituents
• Device contamination processing and assessment
• Generate and analyze data suitable for publication
• Figure development and improvement
• Liaising with clinical and research partners
• Assist in equipment and expendable ordering

QUALIFICATIONS / REQUIREMENTS:

• BSc in Microbiology or Molecular Biology
• Have theoretical and hands on expertise in molecular and microbial biology with a particular emphasis in
• the analysis of microbial communities (including sputum and bile)
• pathogen identification, characterization and genotyping
• ARO resistance determination at varying inoculums
• Experience in wastewater chemistry and molecular identification of SARS-CoV-2
• Experienced in adapting and validating assays to characterize the genomics of complex samples
• Should have at two semesters of lab experience be able to demonstrate the ability to execute advanced molecular biology techniques
• Expertise in diagnostic microbiology (and in particular as it pertains to airways microbiology, environmental and antimicrobial resistant genes)
• Experience in molecular methods such as DNA & RNA extraction and next generation sequence analysis
  Application Deadline: October 3, 2024
  We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.
  This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Technical Job Family, Phase 1.
  For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.

• Maintain established research programs
• Collect, inventory and process patient/clinical and wastewater samples
• Maintain wastewater biobank, and clinical data
• Real-time data reporting to clinical and public health authority partners (including weekend work)
• Assist in identifying appropriate samples to share amongst collaborators locally and internationally
• Wastewater processing for the identification of ARO genes and viruses such as SARS-CoV-2
• WW assay development and trouble shooting
• Clinical sample collection and characterization of community constituents
• Device contamination processing and assessment
• Generate and analyze data suitable for publication
• Figure development and improvement
• Liaising with clinical and research partners
• Assist in equipment and expendable orderin