Staff - Union

BCGEU Okanagan Support Staff

BCGEU OK Salaried - Technician V

Biology Teaching Lab Technician

UBCO | Faculty | Department of Biology | Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science

$5,202.00 - $5,963.00 CAD Monthly

May 19, 2026

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

Ongoing

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.

To prepare, set-up, take-down, and maintain laboratories and laboratory materials associated with a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses offered by the Department of Biology. To provide skilled, experienced technical services and assistance in the daily functioning of the teaching laboratories.

The position reports to the Laboratory Program Manager, Department of Biology. The technician interacts with the Lab Program Manager, other technical support staff in the Department of Biology, Faculty Lab Coordinators, Graduate and Undergraduate Teaching Assistants, and both undergraduate and graduate students.

1. Provides assistance in Department of Biology graduate and undergraduate teaching labs:

• Prepares solutions, sterile microbiological growth media, and demonstration materials required for delivery of laboratories associated with Department of Biology courses.
• Maintains microbial cultures (Risk Groups 1 and 2).
• Sets up materials to be used in laboratories and subsequent clean-up and removal when laboratory exercises are finished.
• Monitors and handles supplies and wastes associated with teaching labs, including proper disposal of laboratory-associated wastes.
• Moves, cleans and maintains a variety of teaching laboratory equipment and storage areas.
• Purchases, receives and distributes both living and non-living supplies for the teaching lab program as required. This includes but is not limited to equipment, chemical supplies, preserved materials and living specimens.
• Implements supply ordering, processes include ordering catalogue items, processing purchase orders for non-catalogue items, and clearing receipts. Track and reconcile expenditures for all orders (approximately $75,000 annually).
• Prepares an inventory of supplies and a repair schedule for microscopes and other equipment on an annual basis.
• Mounts and catalogues plants for the herbarium.
• Completes mandatory Health and Safety (HSE) safety requirements that include but are not limited to:
• Completes weekly, monthly and annual inspections of Department of Biology teaching laboratory spaces.
• Updates Safety Data Sheet (SDS) records for inventoried chemical supplies.
• Maintains Department of Biology autoclaves (which includes maintaining and storing records of use and performing monthly biological testing).
• Assists with the development and testing of lab protocols
• Assists with the development and testing of student laboratory experiments and activities where applicable.

Student and laboratory safety is paramount. Failure to follow safety guidelines could result in personal injury or loss of equipment. Improper time management could lead to delays in laboratories and adversely affect the delivery and/or outcomes of the laboratories. Poorly maintained