Research Assistant/Technician 3

Staff - Union

Job Category
CUPE 116

Job Profile
CUPE 116 Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician 3

Job Title
Research Assistant/Technician 3

Department
Chemistry Teaching Labs | Department of Chemistry | Faculty of Science

Compensation Range
$5,047.00 - $5,503.00 CAD Monthly

Posting End Date
July 24, 2026

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

Job End Date
Ongoing

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

Under minimal direction and according to course timetable, is responsible for preparation of equipment and chemicals for lab experiments, maintenance of equipment, equipment and chemical inventory, and ordering of equipment supplies.

Directly supervises and trains Work Learn students. Under the direction of the Lab Instructor/Laboratory Program Director, assists with supervision of TAs and students while they are in the lab to ensure safety procedures are followed. Tests experiments and participates in experiment development to verify that the results are reproducible and are within the constraints of time and resources that the students will encounter in the lab. As a staff member in Chemistry, may also be required to participate in departmental committees and activities.

Organizational Status
Reports to the Lab Instructor/Laboratory Program Director only when necessary. Coordinates work required with other technicians, chemistry stores, electronics, mechanical and glass shop personnel. Reports to Administrative Supervisor for issues relating to attendance, reassignment and HR issues.

Work Performed

Ensures that the laboratories for CHEM 111/121/123/Vantage College are cleaned, equipment has been maintained, set-up done, and ready for each lab session.

Trains and supervises Work Learn students. Relays technical and safety information to the TAs and students enrolled in the course.

Responsible for the set-up of the lab for numerous lab sections per week involving enrollments of more than 3,000 students. Also sets up lab sections for smaller summer sessions:

• ensures that adequate supplies of chemical reagents are on hand for each experiment and in appropriate form for dispensing to or by the TAs or students (e.g., transferred to liquid dispenser, etc.)
• allocates and maintains inventory of glassware and equipment included in individual student kits
• dispenses, collects and/or restocks chemicals/equipment to be used during particular experiments; cleans and dries used equipment when necessary
• orders and maintains inventory of chemicals and consumables (e.g. filter paper, weigh boats, labels, etc.)
• prepares standard solutions and reagents
• prepares chemicals and apparatus for pre-lab demonstrations given by Lab Instructor/Laboratory Program Director and TAs
• neutralizes and/or dispose of hazardous chemical waste and spills (e.g. acid, base, flammable liquid, and strong oxidizing agents)
• ensures all safety/WHMIS regulations are met, maintains safe lab practices, and prepares and maintains SOPs
• completes annual apparatus and chemical inventory and orders new supplies as required
• may be required to substitute for other lab technicians for performance of routine tasks.
• demonstrates the usage of complex equipment and computer programs to TAs and students when needed
• participates in development and testing of new experiments
• installs, tests and calibrates software (MicroLab interfaces) on PCs; tests and maintains data-probe interfaces
• Prepares TA schedules, assists with preparation of TA information books, assembles marking folders and introductory information packages for TAs
• maintain the organization of approximately 20,000 completed and marked laboratory reports and quizzes

Oversees maintenance and calibration of laboratory equipment and instrumentation valued at approximately $250,000, including up to 50 computers and 50 MicroLab interfaces. Instruments and associated responsibilities may include:

• pH meters and electrodes
• Visible-Wavelength Spectrophotometers MicroLab computer interfaces, computers and printers
• analytical balances
• top loading balances
• melting point apparatus
• aspirator pumps
• UV lamps
• rotary evaporators

Miscellaneous Equipment:

Responsible for the maintenance and proper operation of such common lab equipment and apparatus as water baths, ovens, hot plates, ultrasonic cleaners, liquid dispensers, ice machines, etc. Recommends the replacement of faulty or broken equipment or upgrade to older equipment to the Lab Instructor/Laboratory Program Director.

Solutions Preparation Room:

Maintains the water still located in Chemistry Stores by performing yearly maintenance.

Curriculum Development:

Assists the Lab Instructor/Laboratory Program Director in the development and production of any teaching aids, including on-line interactive materials.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Works with a high degree of independence. Work is subject to check by Lab Instructor/Laboratory Program Director; however, confidence in qualify of work performed is essential. Major errors or incorrect decisions, particularly with respect to logistics, could mean that one or more laboratory periods could be postponed or cancelled. Incorrect mixture of solutions could lead to toxic fumes and unsafe working conditions resulting in evacuation of students from the laboratory causing a major interruption. Course academic integrity and continuity demand zero errors of major consequence.

Supervision Received

Logistics are the responsibility of the technician. The course and lab programs are designed and implemented by the Lab Instructor/Laboratory Program Director and once specific requirements for chemicals, equipment and supplies have been established (in consultation with technician) little direction is provided in this area. If the work is not completed properly then the teaching lab cannot operate. Work is continually (daily) checked by the successful completion of each lab. Reports to the Lab Instructor/Laboratory Program Director.

Routine maintenance of instrumentation and equipment is sole responsibility of technician – little if any supervision is given or required in this area.

Routine calibration and performance testing of instrumentation is under the control of technician. If problems arise, the Lab Instructor/Laboratory Program Director may require additional tests performed and adjustments made. Liaison with electronic and mechanical shops in the event of major repairs or adjustments are required; This may be done on own initiative or after consultation with the Lab Instructor/Laboratory Program Director.

Supervision Given

One or two Work Learn students are routinely under the supervision of the technician as far as their duties involving the lab set up and maintenance are concerned.

In collaboration with TAs, the technician is responsible for overseeing the operation of the laboratory if the Lab Instructor/Laboratory Program Director is required to be absent from the lab for a period of up to an hour. In the event that the Lab Instructor/Laboratory Program Director are absent for longer periods (up to a week) the Lab Instructor/Laboratory Program Director will arrange for a faculty member to be on call. Again, however, in collaboration with TAs, the technician is responsible for overseeing the operation of the laboratory.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline, preferably Chemistry, or graduation from a technical college or institute. Minimum of 3 years related experience or the 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

• Experience in a first-year chemistry teaching lab setting or in any other area of chemistry would be an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise and work independently as the position requires; ability to resolve problems.
• Good organizational/logistical skills: ability to plan, organize and set up teaching laboratory according to lab schedules.
• Computer skills include familiarity with: standard hardware configurations, component setup and connection, word processing, complex spreadsheets, and database programs, diagnostic utility programs, and graphic applications.
• Good communication skills; fluency in English; ability to instruct students in the explanation of practices and policy for use of the equipment.
• Familiarity with WHMIS regulations and other safety practices.
• Good physical fitness essential to meet the daily demands of our undergraduate lab.