Staff - Union

##Job Category

CUPE 116

##Job Profile

CUPE 116 Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician 4

##Job Title

Research Assistant /Technician

##Department

Research | Wei | Department of Zoology | Faculty of Science

##Compensation Range

$5,439.00 - $5,910.00 CAD Monthly

##Posting End Date

March 30, 2026

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

Job End Date

April 30, 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 This CIHR grant-funded position involves conducting and supporting integrative research that combines molecular genetics, genomics, and developmental biology in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies). The successful candidate will contribute to supervisory duties in the laboratory including inventory management, lab organization, laboratory safety, and training graduate and undergraduate students on fundamental molecular techniques such as PCR and molecular cloning. Additionally, the successful candidate must have a fluent understanding of molecular biology and is expected to be proficient and independent at designing customized and novel experimental methods, optimizing experimental procedures, and executing technically demanding protocols. The candidate is expected to be proficient in the following techniques: molecular cloning, embryonic microinjections, fluorescent microscopy, PCR (and variants), and high-throughput library preparations for functional genomics.

Organizational Status The individual will report directly to the Principal Investigators (Dr. Kevin Wei) on either an as-needed or weekly basis. The individual is expected be able to proceed and execute assigned tasks or research plans with minimum supervision.

Work Performed

Lab management duties:

• Ordering equipment, reagents and supplies. Price matching between suppliers, gathering quotes, placing orders, accepting product and distributing or installing in the lab.
• Supervises and trains new members of the lab on safety, laboratory, and equipment protocols.
• Oversees care and maintenance of lab equipment including arranging service contracts and communicating with in-house repair staff; ensuring the lab is kept organized and clean.
• Oversees and evaluates safe handling and proper disposal of chemicals and biohazardous waste in accordance with Health and Safety requirements.
• Oversees and arrange all sample submission.
• Oversees the storage of key biological samples including nucleic acids, proteins, and tissues in appropriate storage media and environment
• Supervises the maintenance and organization of live fly stocks
• Supervises and train new undergraduate and graduate students on molecular biology techniques
• Coordinates and oversees group projects and provide regular oral and written reports to the PI.
• Troubleshoots complex equipment and systems problems.
• Modifies, designs, and performs field monitoring and experiments.

Research duties:

Independently designs, optimizes, executes and troubleshoots experiments and analysis of research projects including:

• Develops and writes novel protocols related to all techniques below.
• Molecular cloning and protein purification
• Transgenic construct design and production
• Nucleic acid extraction and handling
• Biochemical assays
• PCR for genotyping
• RT-PCR and qPCR to detect gene expression differences
• High-throughput genome sequencing library construction (e.g. Illumina library preparations for RNA-seq, DNA-seq, ChIP-seq)
• Long read sequencing (library prep and sequencing) with Oxford Nanopore Technology
• Single cell sequencing library preparation method implementation and optimization

The technician will be responsible for maintaining detailed laboratory/research notebook, recording all experimental work, and maintain common database of all processed sample data. A bi-weekly report that underlines the experiments performed, the results obtained and their analysis will be provided to the Principal Investigator and as well as in occasional presentations to external collaborators and for lab meetings.

Consequence of Error/Judgement A considerable degree of organization, good judgment, integrity and attention to detail is required in making appropriate decisions. Work will be checked by the Principal Investigator and discussed in weekly meetings, and as needed. Errors or inappropriate decisions will impact research progress, and measures such as frequent meetings with the faculty member to avoid such occurrences will be taken. All errors will be thoroughly documented and reported to supervisors, collaborators, and other team members in a timely manner.

Supervision Received Overall research direction will be provided by Principal Investigator. Minimal supervision on specific tasks and experiments.

Supervision Given Introduction and training of research group members to lab operations, instrumentation, safety, and specific protocols. Ongoing supervision of research group members including undergraduate students, as well as assistance to graduate student and post-doctoral fellows. Provide supervised training of new researchers in the lab on basic molecular biology techniques like nucleic acid extraction, PCR, and molecular cloning.

Minimum Qualifications Completion of a university degree in a relevant discipline or technical program and a minimum four years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Some positions may require a graduate degree.

• 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

• MSc in Molecular Biology, or a related field.

• Extensive experience operating in an academic research laboratory.

• Extensive experience with Drosophila genetics.

• Extensive experience with nucleic acid handling, molecular cloning, library preparation.

• Proficiency with spreadsheets, word processing, grant and manuscript writing, and manifest a demonstrated ability to organize and complete independently.

About Us

The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities globally. A large part of what makes us unique is the community of engaged students, faculty, and staff who are collectively committed to shaping a better world.

Recognized as a leading employer in British Columbia and Canada, UBC supports inspired students, faculty and staff on their journey of discovery, and challenges them to realize their greatest potential. New ideas, changing infrastructure, innovative technology, and fresh approaches are opening up possibilities for the future of research, teaching, and work. Are you ready to embrace the future together?

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, and/or Indigenous person.

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

If you have any accommodation or accessibility needs during the job application process, please contact the Centre for Workplace Accessibility at

workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca

.