| Department: |
Biology |
Effective Date: |
May 1, 2013 |
| Grade: |
USG 8
37.5 hr/wk
|
Reports to: |
Administrative Officer |
General Accountability
This position reports directly to the Administrative Officer in the Department of Biology for administrative issues and to the Associate Chair, Undergraduate Studies for TEF funding and technical issues. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring the smooth and successful operation and technical support for the laboratory component of several upper level undergraduate courses (273L, 373L, 477L). This position is also accountable for the preparation and service of the core first year course, Introductory Cell Biology (130L), taught to over one thousand first year students.
Nature and Scope
In the Department of Biology there are 12 departmental technicians who are responsible for providing support to our faculty, instructors and sessionals and for the delivery and execution of the undergraduate labs. As the largest department within the Faculty of Science, Biology is responsible for the course delivery to over 6,500 undergraduate students per term.
Significant internal and external relationships for this position include:
- Administrative Officer and Associate Chair of Undergraduate Studies
- Biology faculty, instructors, graduate and undergraduate students, research personnel
- Department Technicians
- Departmental Purchasing/Financial Assistant
- Central Stores
- IST/CHIP Office
- Science Technical Services and Machine Shop
- Plant Operations
- Animal Room
- Various outside vendors
Statistical Data
The Department of Biology has 42 faculty members, 3 instructors, 2 Associate Chairs, 3 CRC Chairs and 27 postdoctoral fellows/research associates.. There are 17 technical support staff and 7 administrative support staff. The Department offers programs in Honours Biology, Honours Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, and Biomedical Sciences. The Department teaches courses to approximately 6,500 undergraduate students each term and graduate enrolment is approximately 120-140 students. The departmental operating budget exceeds six million dollars and total research income exceeds five million dollars. The department has a TA budget of approximately $850,000 and hires approximately 100-150 TAs per term.
Specific Accountabilities
Course Work:
Primary role is to service the laboratory component through:
- Provides technical support for the laboratory component for courses in Cell Biology, Human Physiology I, Human Physiology II and Techniques in Animal Physiology (Biol 130L, 273L, 373L, 477L);
- Preparation and provision of requisite materials (media, reagents, cultures, specimens), relevant demonstrations and laboratory equipment for the initial and follow-up laboratory sessions for each designated course;
- The subsequent clean-up of the laboratory space with the appropriate safe handling and disposal of used materials and cultures at the end of each laboratory exercise;
- Demonstrates proper and safe operation of equipment including: autoclave, steamer, centrifuge, compound and phase microscopes, Biology system, fume hood and other specialized equipment;
- Services and maintains laboratory equipment including working with other departmental technicians and liaising with outside service representatives for technical repairs.
Additional responsibilities include:
- Troubleshoots experiments and assisting in the development of new lab experiments. This may involve learning new techniques and the use of different equipment;
- Recommends revisions and corrections to student lab manuals;
- Creates and maintains course notes;
- Updates safety procedures and maintains first-aid supplies;
- Proper disposal of hazardous materials.
Administrative Duties:
- Responsible for processing undergraduate course grades including: maintenance of class lists, recording laboratory midterm and final exam marks, marking computer exams, calculating and submitting final grades and providing statistical analysis for each course;
- Administers course budgets ($15K) including: sourcing and ordering laboratory supplies and equipment and liaising with sales representatives for costing information;
- Provides recommendations and costing to Associate Chair for equipment to improve execution of undergraduate laboratories;
- Maintains chemical inventory.
Teaching and Service Responsibilities:
- Performs advanced molecular techniques (extracting, quantifying, visualizing and manipulating DNA products) required for Biol 130L;
- Oversees multi-module instrumentation and computers with sophisticated software (iWorx stations);
- Trains and supervises undergraduate co-op students;
- Trains Teaching Assistants in specialized techniques required for lab sessions as needed. Providing instructions and functional direction to teaching assistants and undergraduate students as required;
- Provides technical expertise to graduate students and research technicians in the development of their research projects and assists them in operating specialized equipment;
- Provides suggestions and expertise to Associate Chair for new course development;
- Responsible for shared teaching and research equipment (computers, spectrophotometers, centrifuges, refractometers) and co-ordination of their use, maintenance and repair;
- Maintains, tests and repairs electrical components and cables used in undergraduate courses including; soldering, circuit testing, deoxidation and lubrication.
Qualifications
- Honours BSc in Biology;
- Requires knowledge of advanced molecular techniques;
- Extensive background in cell biology and human physiology/animal physiology
- Excellent communication skills both in an oral and written format
- Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and Access
- Excellent Organizational Skills
Working Conditions
- Heavy lifting is required from time to time; incumbent must be able to routinely life approximately 50 lbs;
- Due to the nature of the position, the incumbent will work with volatile organic chemicals and equipment that can produce noxious fumes;
- Working with animals (sacrificing and dissecting) as required for Biol 373L;
- Some weekend and evening hours are required based on lab schedules.
