Research Assistant IV

Position Overview

Job Title:

Research Assistant IV

Department: POPi Lab | Department of Paediatrics | Faculty of Medicine

Compensation: $5,220.98 - $6,124.46 CAD Monthly

Posting End Date:
June 26, 2026

Job End Date:
June 30, 2027

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

This position is expected to be filled by promotion/reassignment and is included here to inform you of its vacancy at the University.

Subject to the satisfactory completion of required background checks.

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.

The Canadian Pharmacogenomics Network for Drug Safety (CPNDS) is a Pan‑Canadian network for research with a specific aim to prevent serious adverse drug reactions (ADRs) by identifying predictive genomic markers for specific reactions. The goal is to develop and implement effective tools to prevent ADRs in susceptible children and adults by predicting in whom the most serious reactions are most likely to occur.

Applicants must have extensive knowledge and experience in various laboratory techniques in genomics and molecular biology (manage and genotype samples, cloning DNA, mutagenesis, molecular cloning) and biochemistry (western blotting, protein expression and purification). The technician will oversee day‑to‑day laboratory activities including orientation and training of new lab members, maintaining equipment, inventory and ordering, making recommendations on workflow improvements, designing experiments, performing experiments, and data analysis.

They will also provide instruction and training in the use of specialized techniques and equipment. This position requires a consistent on‑site presence.

All activities must be conducted in an ethical manner, fully compliant with UBC policies. Any procedures or data recorded must be accurate and must accurately reflect the work performed. Strict confidentiality of all study participants must be adhered to. All activities are accountable to Dr. Bruce Carleton, Professor and Chair, Division of Translational Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, UBC.

The position reports to Dr. Bruce Carleton. Additional guidance will be provided from other research‑oriented staff including the Program Manager, Senior Research Associate and other technical staff as needed. Must work collaboratively with graduate students in the laboratory to meet goals and objectives. Supervise and train students and personnel as required. The technician will work under minimum supervision, receiving specific instructions only on unusual problems or matters that depart significantly from established policy and procedure.

• Lead the planning and design of experiments.
• Conduct experiments, analyzing and compiling data in study report preparation.
• Maintain inventory and purchase lab supplies, office supplies, equipment and chemicals.
• Develop and review laboratory standard operating procedures.
• Provide instruction, training and supervision to new staff and students on safety policies, lab procedures and equipment use.
• Coordinate sample processing and genotyping work on behalf of the principal investigator.
• Report, evaluate and optimize day‑to‑day operations of the lab.
• Develop improvements to provide efficient workflow.
• Extract DNA and RNA from clinical blood, saliva and tissue samples and assess quality.
• Perform genotyping using a variety of assays (including Taq Man Genotyping, Taq Man Gene Expression assays, Next‑Generation Sequencing (NGS), Genome‑Wide Association Studies (GWAS) using microarrays, and Sanger sequencing).
• Analyze and report data.
• Troubleshoot procedures and optimize the application of procedures to specific projects.
• Design and perform validation and verification tests to verify technical specifications and operational accuracy.
• Carry out any…