Research Technician

About Us

The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry is a leading Canadian centre for outstanding education and research. The School aims to be a global leader in optimizing life‑long health through innovations in research, education and active engagement with our communities. The School is the largest Faculty on campus and employs over 2,000 part time and full‑time faculty and over 1,000 staff.

Researchers in Schulich account for over half of research funding at Western.

The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry’s Research Office aims to enhance the School’s research competitiveness and research capacity, and to foster a culture of research throughout the School.

The Research Technician will work under the direction of Core Directors, and in collaboration with core facility users, including faculty, researchers, staff and students, to prepare and conduct flow‑cytometry and cell sorting experiments following set protocols and procedures in a research facility. The role ensures that biosafety protocols, containment level standards and personal protective equipment are worn for CL1, CL2, and CL3 environments as appropriate.

The role provides equipment, protocol and experimental training and oversight to students and users of the facility, ensures that the results of experiments are accurate, assists with laboratory maintenance, upkeep and organization, and the ordering supplies as required. The Research Technician will make recommendations for, and assist with determining, the optimal protocols and equipment for use in the conduct of experiments, ensure that the equipment and instrumentation is maintained and operational, and assists with troubleshooting and servicing of equipment and instrumentation as required.

Education:

• 4 year university bachelor’s degree in molecular biology required

Experience:

• 2 years of experience working in a research‑intensive laboratory environment in the area of molecular biology, performing flow‑cytometry and cell sorting experiments and analyzing related data
• Experience performing experiments within containment level standards in a CL2 and/or CL3 environment
• Experience working in a service‑oriented research setting (e.g., core facility, contract research organization) is preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Ability to work with contagious, chemical, biological and/or hazardous substances is required
• Ability to work with various instrumentation and equipment in the lab with excellent troubleshooting ability along with hands‑on expertise in providing technical support
• Familiarity with methods for research design, implementation, and analysis
• Familiarity with quantitative and qualitative research methodologies and analyses
• Familiarity with preventative maintenance techniques and practices
• Verbal and written communication skills with an ability to document technical information
• Ability to apply critical thinking to evaluate information and make appropriate decisions or recommendations
• Attention to detail with an ability to retrieve, analyze and synthesize sizeable amounts of data, while ensuring that information is accurate and comprehensive
• Ability to follow formal processes and protocols with high attention to detail
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment, meet tight deadlines and adapt to changing priorities
• Ability to work in a customer‑service oriented manner, supporting researchers and trainees by providing timely technical assistance, clear guidance on facility processes, and ensuring a positive experience with research services and resources
• Intermediate computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite, online scheduling software (such as iLab) and with data analysis software such as Flow Jo)
• Demonstrated ability take initiative, to work independently and follow through on work assignments
• Personable and courteous in working relationships with colleagues, students and the public
• Ability to investigate defined issues, solicit input, and suggest remedies and alternative approaches that meet the needs of the situation
• Ability to work independently and effectively as a member of the team to achieve department goals
• Familiarity with University policies and procedures related to research preferred