Staff - Union

Job Category

CUPE 116

Job Profile

CUPE 116 Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician 3

Job Title

Research Assistant/Technician 3

Department

Research | Li Lab | Department of Chemistry | Faculty of Science

Compensation Range

$4,757.00 - $5,187.00 CAD Monthly

Posting End Date

October 3, 2025

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

Job End Date

September 30, 2026

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
This position will perform magnetic tweezers-based experiments including preparing protein samples, analyzing results for compiling research data collection, and maintaining instruments.

Organizational Status
Reports to the Principal Investigator, Dr. Hongbin Li, Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of British Columbia (UBC). The incumbent will work closely along side research team members in a collaborative research team environment.

Work Performed

• maintains precision magnetic tweezers setup including optical alignment, charging batteries, and performing software updates;
• prepares magnetic tweezer experiments by preparing samples, determining the mechanical properties of single proteins;
• analyzing and interpreting experiment results of research data collected;
• performs protein expression and purification methods for experiments following detailed protocols;
• maintains laser engraver, and prepares chambers for magnetic tweezers experiments;
• cleans glass coverslips including surface modification and functionalization of glass coverslips;
• assists students by monitoring their experiments and data collection; ensures experimental data has followed detailed protocols;
• assists students by performing or demonstrating certain procedures as needed.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Failure to maintain a high standard of work may result in delays and quality of research output, which may impact the working conditions, reputation, and funding for the research group and UBC. Failure to follow all applicable safety precautions, including carrying out a thorough risk assessment before undertaking an experiment, may result in serious injury to the incumbent and others in the surrounding area.

Supervision Received

The incumbent will work independently under the general supervision of the Principal Investigator and will receive instruction during initial orientation and training.

Supervision Given
No direct supervision required.

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.

A BSc degree in Chemistry preferred.

• 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

• Performing protein expression and purification experiments
• Good manual dexterity for the use of magnetic tweezer chamber experiments
• Experience with data collection analysis and collection
• Excellent time management, prioritization and communication skills
• Ability to maintain effective and professional working relationships