Laboratory Technician, Omics and Precision Analytics

**Laboratory Technician, Omics and Precision Analytics**:
The Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) is a rapidly expanding Institute based at the University of Saskatchewan. Our **Vision** is **a world where everyone has access to safe and nutritious food.** This is a bold vision, one that we will strive to achieve through investing in our talent. In line with our **Mission, we will work with our employees, partners, and stakeholders to discover, develop, and deliver innovative solutions for the production of globally sustainable food.**

We are guided by our Values of**:Innovation. Excellence. Collaboration. Integrity. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.**

**PRIMARY PURPOSE**

The Laboratory Technician, OPAL is responsible for performing routine high-throughput sequencing workflows.

**NATURE OF WORK**

Reporting to the Platform Lead, OPAL, and receiving day-to-day direction from the Technical Lead, the Laboratory Technician is responsible for executing standard laboratory protocols and procedures. The Laboratory Technician is experienced in the techniques utilized in a modern genomics facility, including nucleic acid extraction and quality control, sequencing library preparation, and sequencing instrument operation. Occasionally there may be a requirement to work outside of standard hours.

You are part of the GIFS team, and your work is highly interconnected with other programs and platforms within GIFS. Day-to-day priority and scheduling decisions are made under the direction of the Technical Lead. Work volume is high with a degree of judgement required for day-to-day technical decision making. The impact of error is high as it could result in reputational damage, significant losses in time, or replacement of materials and supplies.

Your success requires you understand the interconnectedness of GIFS and the impact that changes and operations have on all the platforms, programs, customers, and the reputation of GIFS. Key characteristics of the role include a strong commitment to safety, support of change management, and team leadership through exemplification of GIFS values. Other characteristics include the ability to establish and maintain relationships as well as to work collaboratively with others while implementing difficult and challenging decisions. Agility, speed, and focus are essential to achieving milestones, deliverables, and outcomes.

**ACCOUNTABILITIES**
- Leads by example.
- Performs laboratory techniques within and supporting DNA sequencing workflows.
- Operates and maintains laboratory equipment including
- Automated liquid handling systems,
- High-throughput sequencing instruments (both long-read and short-read)
- Laboratory Information Management System.
- Contributes to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Quality Assurance (QA)/Quality Control (QC) programs through adherence to SOPs and QA/QC standards.
- A can-do attitude and willingness to take on new projects and responsibilities.
- Maintains a clean, safe, and orderly working environment in the lab.
- Documents work in the laboratory
- Assists with ordering supplies, as needed

**QUALIFICATIONS**
- BSc degree in Biology or related field, or a combination of skills and experience, may be considered.
- Minimum 2 years of industry experience is required.
- Previous experience with nucleic acid extraction and preparing DNA sequencing libraries, especially for Illumina and PacBio platforms.
- Standard First Aid & CPR, and other safety certifications, considered an asset.

**SKILLS**
- Sound judgment, discretion, tact, diplomacy, and professional integrity, coupled with a high level of emotional intelligence.
- Effective organizational skills and the acumen to handle complex situations and manage multiple objectives with competing deadlines.
- Ability to establish and maintain the level of professional relationships that support exceptional collaboration within GIFS.
- Ability to identify issues and collaborate to develop and implement innovative and outcomes-oriented solutions.
- Ability to gather, analyze, and report information with fastidious attention to detail.
- Ability to work effectively in a diverse atmosphere, and a
- Sense of ownership and pride in your performance and its impact on the company’s success.

**Department**: Global Inst for Food Security
**Status**: Permanent
**Employment Group**: Research Positions - Non-union
**Full Time Equivalent (FTE)**: 1 FTE
**Posted Date**: 8/27/2025
**Closing Date**: 9/23/2025 at 6:00 pm CST
**Number of Openings**:1
**Work Location**:On Campus