Biology Laboratory Technician

// FNAS - One Year Fixed Term Position

Position Purpose and Summary
Prepare and monitor biotechnology/microbiology lab experiments and ensure adherence to good laboratory practices. Instruct students in proper and safe handling of microbiological and biotechnological materials in all labs and work with other biology technicians to maintain the chemical, equipment, and organism inventories of the biology department. Provide instructions in the use of specialized equipment, teach some lab sections, and ensure that all lab safety procedures are consistently met. Assist with finding off-site placements for Biotechnology students.

Key Areas of Accountability
- Work with faculty to prepare and co-ordinate biology lab activities. Assist faculty in preparing departmental lab materials (e.g., lab manuals) for various courses as assigned. Prepare experiments and trouble shoot instruments. Assist faculty in lab expansion while meeting required physical and safety standards.
- Co-operate with faculty in the supervision of TA's and LA's and the establishment and enforcement of protocols for the use of all biology laboratory facilities.
- Assist with maintaining a computer inventory control of all living and frozen organisms, chemicals, consumables, and slides. Assist Biosafety Officer (BSO) to organize, store, and maintain microbank of pathogenic microorganisms to meet current safety standards and requirements.
- Work with Supervisor in the purchase, receipt and shipment of lab materials and organisms. Work with other technicians to prepare, control, organize and maintain all aspects of biology labs.
- In conjunction with Supervisor ensure all aspects of lab safety and security procedure, assist with updating the safety manual annually or as required. Train staff, faculty, and students on safety procedures and WHMIS regulations in FNAS (Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences). Work with appropriate committee(s) to ensure labs meet required standards.
- Ensure proper procedures are in place for handling and disposal of general, microbiological, and biotechnological wastes. Test and maintains lab equipment on a regular basis. Assists with maintaining SDS's (Safety Data Sheets).
- Assist faculty in teaching labs in area of expertise as needed. Assist in teaching senior research students in proper lab techniques.
- Prepare, coordinate, and supervise the Biology Section of Science in the Valley.
- Work with Biotechnology Director to find Practicum and Coop. placements for Biology and Biotechnology students.
- To act in a manner that exemplifies Jesus Christ in all on
- and off-campus contacts and thereby living out the role of a servant leader and fulfil the mission of the university.
- Equipment Used: Equipment normally found in a biology or microbiology laboratory (such as Spectrophotometer, Microscopy, SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, Electrophoresis, PCR, Histochemistry Techniques, Agar Plate Preparation and Clonal Selection, etc).

The Person
**Skills and Abilities**
- Superior interpersonal skills with a wide range of faculty, staff, and students. Skilled in setting, managing, and meeting deadlines. Basic computer skill and literacy as it pertains to lab instrumentation. Good skills with normal office software such as MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and Windows environments. Good conflict resolution skills and be able to work independently without much supervision.
- Ability to work in the areas of microbiology, genetics, molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, and biotechnology. Able to operate and troubleshoot lab equipment and instrumentation. Ability to learn new techniques and demonstrate independent learning by use of reference manuals
- **Personal**

Driven and inspired by the idea of positively impacting the various marketplaces of life through the development of godly Christian leaders by serving the Trinity Western University community.
A dedicated and mature evangelical Christian with an earnest desire to serve in family, church, work, and community. Affirm and support TWU’s mission, values, Statement of Faith, and Community Covenant. Strength of character and reputation, integrity, focused. A winsome personality with a positive and friendly attitude.
**Servant-Leader Way of Life**: Act in a manner that exemplifies Jesus Christ in all on and off-campus contacts thereby living out the servant leadership mission of the university and contributing effectively towards achieving the institutional and Kingdom goals of the organization.

Key Internal Interactions
**Reports**:None formally. Informally to work-study students, summer students, research students as well as TA's and LA's
**Reports to**:Biology Dept. Head / Dean of FNAS

Standards & Requirements
**Education**: B.Sc. (Biology or Microbiology) required. Expected to take Emergency First Aid certification (required).
**Experience**: 6-12 months experience in lab preparation, solution preparation, co-ordination, development and operation of biolog