Research Asst/Tech 4

Staff – Non Union

Job Category
Non Union Technicians and Research Assistants

Job Profile
Non Union Salaried – Research Assistant /Technician 4

Job Title
Research Asst/Tech 4

Department
Facilities Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics Faculty of Medicine

Compensation Range
$4,558.75 – $5,354.67 CAD Monthly

Posting End Date
November 3, 2022

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

Job End Date

Nov 6, 2023

This position is located within a health-care facility, therefore, the successful candidate will be required to provide verification of full vaccination against Covid-19 provided prior to the start date, as required by a provincial health mandate.

Job Description Summary

The Transgenic Facility Manager is a senior technician position and will manage the daily operations within the CMMT Transgenic Facility.

Under general supervision, performs minor procedures and assists Principle Investigators (PI’s) and their staff. Participates in the organization, set-up and cleaning of holding rooms for large and small animals as well as surgical rooms and related areas. Duties include participation in the daily routine of animal care and cleaning duties such as health monitoring and cleaning cages.

Weekend work is required.

The CMMT Transgenic facility is a modified barrier animal unit holding specific pathogen-free (SPF) mice only. The facility consists of 8 large mouse holding rooms with vented racks and automated water, each holding room has its own procedures room. Within the barrier there is a dedicated surgical suite, a large molecular biology lab and a behaviour suite.

All animals come from approved vendors and require a short stay in quarantine with clean serology results prior to entry into the unit

Organizational Status
The Transgenic Facility manager of the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics and has a dual reporting structure to the Centre Director and the Director of Finance and Administration.
Work Performed

• Ensures that researchers and animal care staff are appropriately trained and qualified to care for animals per Animal Care Committee (ACC) guidelines.
• Ensures that appropriate care, including adequate veterinary oversight, is given to all animals in all stages of life and in all experimental situations in compliance with CCAC policies, CALAM Standards of Veterinary Care, applicable legislation and UBC policies and procedures.
• Develops and implements strategies and procedures to ensure the safe operation of transgenic facility.
• Maintains good housekeeping and a fully functional animal unit.
• Maintains colony management of mice in the animal unit.
• Collects samples for quarantine and quarterly health reporting.
• Tracks and produces monthly mortality reports for post-approval monitoring (PAM/ACC/ACS)
• Provides consultation on experimental design, animal models and techniques.
• Carries out ordering of laboratory supplies and equipment, including coordination of bid and tendering process with UBC supply management for larger equipment. Developing and writing novel protocols and safety procedures including animal and biosafety protocols through the UBC rise system.
• Troubleshoots equipment performance including: cryostat, centrifuges, shakers, thermos-cycles, pulse field, electrophoresis equipment, biosafety cabinets, dissecting microscope and computer set up.
• Operation and maintenance of highly specialized equipment including: cryostat, fluorescent microscope, and confocal microscope.
• Develops operating procedures and makes recommendations on workflow improvements, including: developing and updating SOPs for the animal unit, and regularly making recommendations and/or suggestions on improving ongoing experiments and SOP while in compliance with the ACC guidelines.
• Researching and determining the applicability of new technologies and systems relating to work, including keeping up to date on the literature
• Supervises, schedules and trains staff to ensure animal welfare compliance and addresses any performance management concerns.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
The employee will have to exercise a considerable amount of judgement, responsibility, and initiative in determining work procedures and methods, and coordinating the work of the animal unit. The employee will be in charge of the daily operations for the animal unit and ensure all employees within the unit as well as multi users of the Centre are in compliance CCAC policies, CALAM Standards of Veterinary Care, applicable legislation and UBC policies and procedures.
When important decisions need to be made the employee will contact the Director of Finance and Administration in a timely manner so the appropriate action can be made. Incompetence or incorrect decisions could jeopardize research progress, collaborations, finances and employee safety, and adversely impact future project objectives and personnel.
Supervision Received
This position works independently and has biweekly meetings with the Director of Finance and Administration to provide updates of the animal unit.
Supervision Given
This position will have supervisory responsibilities to junior technicians, volunteer students and all financial aspects of the members of the lab.
Preferred Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline or Graduation from a technical college or institute preferred.
• Animal Health Technologist Certificate preferred.
• Minimum of 4 years of related experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Animal management experience with transgenic mice and in a barrier system.
• Experience with cryopreservation, microinjection and IVF.
• Understanding CCAD regulations, CALAM Standards of Veterinary Care, applicable legislation and UBC policies and procedures.
• Valuable laboratory experience would include: knowledge of mouse genetics, molecular biology, tissue culture, transgenic mouse production, and histology.
• The individual must like animals and have a philosophy compatible with animal based research.
• Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritize and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Strong organizational skills, ability to think logically, understand instructions, and work well under pressure.
• This position requires flexibility and the responsiveness to changing needs.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.Ability to work effectively independently and in a team environment.
• Ability to resolve technical problems in an innovative manner.
• Familiarity with UBC financial policies an asset.
• Familiarity with UBC Rise system for protocols an asset.
• Familiarity with laboratory safety techniques and protocols essential.Ability to perform research-related procedures (e.g., prepare solutions) (e.g., dissecting) (e.g., prepare specimens).