Lab Technician PL5

Closing Date: April 1st, 2024 at 4:00 PM

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
The Department of Biological Sciences offers 4-year BSc degrees in Marine Biology, Biology, Applied Coastal Ecology, and Biology-Psychology, as well as research-based MSc and PhD degrees in various areas of Biological Sciences. It has 20 faculty members with research expertise in a variety of fields of biology (marine biology, evolution, ecology, physiology, aquaculture, fisheries, environmental biology, and biodiversity), as well as geology, chemistry, and physics. The Davies Lab in the Department of Biological Sciences is a conservation oceanography lab that specializes in baleen whales and their habitat.

WHAT WE OFFER

Full-time | Term Ending March 31, 2026 | Saint John | On-Campus

Standard Work Hours: Mon - Fri | 8:15 am - 4:30 pm | 36.25 hours per week

Additional Working Conditions:

• Ability to travel provincially.
• Some time spent at sea under variable ocean conditions.
• Ability to adapt to weather and sea state.

Salary Range: $ $28.31 per hour

YOUR FOCUS

The Lab Technician will support research activities under the sole direction of the Principal Investigator, Dr. Kimberley Davies in the Department of Biological Sciences, whom they will report to. This role will be part of the seagoing group who will conduct field work on boats on the ocean.

• Assist the PI and students with selecting and purchasing new equipment for the lab.
• Assist the PI and students with the logistics of starting up new research projects in the lab or expanding the lab facilities.
• Maintain laboratory and field equipment, including mechanical maintenance of scientific instruments, cleaning and sending equipment away for calibration.
• Keep the PI apprised of when old equipment wears out and new equipment is needed.
• Maintain basic laboratory supplies and keeping track of when supplies run low.
• Assist the PI with applying for research permits and animal care permits.
• Lead the field team in mobilizing for and demobilizing from seagoing research cruises.
• Assist students with using the lab and department's facilities and equipment on an as-need basis.
• Maintain and update operational protocols and procedures for lab and field as needed.
• Maintain the lab's website as needed.
• Collect oceanographic and marine mammal data during seagoing cruises in collaboration with field teams.
• Update an existing data repository and archive of the laboratory's data annually.
• Perform quality control checks of research data collected in the field.
• Co-author with the PI and others in the lab group as needed on research papers in which the technician was involved.

WHAT YOU BRING

• Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, Marine Biology, Oceanography or a related field.
• Minimum 4 months of demonstrated experience working in a lab setting, including using lab instruments.
• Experience keeping organizational inventories and data archives.

Additional Strengths

• Experience using and maintaining ocean sensors, such as imaging or acoustic sensors.
• Experience conducting shipboard sampling for scientific research.
• Data management experience.
• Experience working with machine learning programs or other automated image classification software.
• Willingness to become STCW and marine first aid certified (training will be provided by employer).
• Skilled in using the R programming language.

WHY CHOOSE UNB?
UNB offers a large variety of benefits for employees, including a full pension, a minimum of three weeks of vacation annually, the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), and dental, life, and health insurance.

ADMINISTRATIVE, PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL GROUP (APT)
This position is part of the non-union Administrative, Professional and Technical (APT) group.

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
The University of New Brunswick is committed to employment equity and fostering diversity within our community and developing an inclusive workplace that reflects the richness of the broader community that we serve. The University welcomes and encourages applications from all qualified individuals who will help us achieve our goals, including women, visible minorities, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.

We thank all who apply; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.