Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.
Job End Date
Jun 2, 2025This 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.
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 appointment is for a Research Assistant position to provide technical support for sequencing projects relating to One Health Genomics. Work will focus on running existing protocols such as detection and characterization of avian influenza in wetland sediments via qPCR and probe enrichment sequencing methods. In addition, work will focus on developing new methods to detect and sequence other pathogens within environmental specimens. Tasks include extracting RNA from various sample types (i.e. wetland sediment, oysters, wastewater, clinical), performing diagnostic qPCR, constructing libraries for Illumina sequencing, and carrying out sequencing.
This work is with sensitive public health data and the individual must understand and exemplify the ethics of confidentiality, sensitivity, and respect when communicating all study information. The applicant must be exceptionally detail-orientated and organized and able to design and carry out validation experiments. The individual must be able to prioritize tasks to ensure that time-sensitive duties are completed in priority. This person must also be self-directed, able to excel in a team environment, know personal limitations and take initiative to ask for assistance when needed.
Organizational Status
The applicant reports to the Project PI, Project Scientists and Scientific Project Leader. They will work with a broad team of scientists at BCCDC PHL, Ministry of Agriculture and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The position is based at the BCCDC Public Health Laboratory.
Work Performed
Consequence of Error/Judgement
The applicant is required to conduct all activities in an ethical manner. Any procedures or data recorded as part of this research must be accurate and must accurately reflect the work performed. Strict confidentiality of all project participants is critical. Errors made could impact interpretation of the data, delay timely completion of work, waste irreplaceable specimens, and incur significant costs. This would impact decision-making capacity of government stakeholders depending on these results for public health and agriculture surveillance, and it would impact the credibility of the PI and other team members.
Supervision Received
Most aspects of work will be assigned and then carried out independently, with feedback from Project PI, Research Scientists and Scientific Project Leader.
Supervision Given
May have supervisory responsibilities for a small group of employees at lower classifications and may have input into staff selection and performance evaluation.
Minimum Qualifications
Completion of a university degree in a field related to microbiology, molecular biology, or biochemistry, or completion of a technical program in clinical laboratory sciences. A minimum of four years of related experience, including demonstrated hands-on experience with common laboratory techniques in molecular biology (e.g. nucleic acid extractions, PCRs, ligations, sequencing library preparation).
- 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