Research Assistant

Staff - UnionJob CategoryCUPE 116Job ProfileCUPE 116 Hourly - Research Assistant /Technician 2Job TitleResearch Assistant /Technician 2DepartmentResearch | Aviles | Department of Zoology | Faculty of ScienceCompensation Range$ $29.82 CAD HourlyPosting End DateNovember 20, 2025

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

Job End Date

March 31, 2026

This is a part-time term position working 10 hours a week.

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. 

Job Summary
The primary duties associated with this position involve the management and processing of arthropod specimens, including sorting, photographing and measuring specimens, as well as creating and maintaining associated digital and online databases. Additional duties include maintaining lab organization, re-stocking of field and laboratory supplies, and upkeep of the lab's website.

Organizational Status
The technician will work with graduate and undergraduate students, and will be supervised by the Principal Investigator. Reports to the Administrator of Zoology for administrative purposes.

Work Performed

The position involves

(1) Participating in the sorting of arthropod specimens and their measurement and identification using microscopes and taxonomic keys.

(2) Processing and management of arthropod specimens, including their curation and shipping to museums or collaborators.

(3) Data entry (e.g., with Excel) and data manipulation, graphing and stats using statistical software (e.g., R).

(4) Creating photographic records of arthropod specimens, including for the purposes of creating online resources for scientists and the general public.

(5) Upkeep of the lab's website.

(6) Pricing and re-stocking of field and laboratory supplies.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Because the Principal Investigator outlines the goals of the various projects, but does not issue detailed instructions, the position has considerable latitude for apportioning time, choosing methods, and prioritizing work. In this circumstance, errors in choice, prioritization, or execution of experiments can have larger consequences on the research program if problems are not detected and acted upon immediately, before the regular weekly meeting. As a consequence, mistakes can result in considerable loss of time or productivity.

Supervision Received
The employee will be under the direct supervision of the Principal Investigator, who outlines the goals of the research and the general approaches to take. However, the employee will learn the appropriate techniques from other lab members, or elsewhere on campus, as required. The employee has considerable flexibility in organizing her/his time, prioritizing work, and choosing the precise procedures to follow. The hire will report to the Principal Investigator, with whom s/he will meet weekly. Additional direction will be given by graduate students in consultation with the Principal Investigator. The incumbent is also required to attend lab meetings.

Supervision Given
The hire may supervise undergraduate students working in the lab.

Minimum Qualifications
High school graduation, some additional training in a related field and a minimum two years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one's own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one's own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

B.Sc. in Biology or related sciences; experience working with insects and spiders strongly preferred. The position requires previous experience working with arthropod specimens, including familiarity with methods of field data collection and preparation of preserved specimens for molecular work or museum samples. Experience with identification of species using microscopes and taxonomic keys is an asset, as well as experience with data entry, graphical presentation, and statistical analysis. Knowledge of laboratory safety procedures and techniques is required. Effective oral and written communication and interpersonal skills. Needs accuracy, attention to detail, and the ability to multitask. Demonstrated ability to reliably carry out instructions without ongoing directions, ability to work independently and within a team environment.

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