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Lab Technician

Department: Civil Engineering Effective Date:
Grade: USG 6 Reports to:

General Accountability

This position is accountable to Dr. Susan A. Andrews, Department of Civil Engineering, for providing technical and laboratory expertise in carrying out research projects involving drinking water treatment.

Nature and Scope

This position operates within the Environmental and Water Resources Group of the Department of Civil Engineering. Reporting directly to Dr. Susan A. Andrews, the chemist designs and carries out various research projects as well as assists in the completion of collaborative projects. The chemist also provides training and assistance to graduate students and other laboratory personnel as necessary. The chemist may be required to communicate with external personnel to facilitate the completion of collaborative research projects, and the chemist may participate in committees governing the general operation of the laboratory environment.

Challenges faced include using, maintaining and troubleshooting various different kinds of laboratory and analytical instrumentation, implementing established procedures for sample preparation and analysis as well as designing new procedures, interacting with personnel inside and outside the University of Waterloo both orally and in writing, using computers to help carry out the required analyses and to prepare data reports and research papers, and working in a laboratory environment handling hazardous materials. The chemist is also responsible for the preparation, shipping and receiving of samples and empty sample containers, as well as ordering laboratory supplies.

Statistical Data

Over the past 3-4 years, Dr. Andrews has been a principal investigator or collaborator on several 1-year to 3-year research projects funded by the American Water Works Association Research Foundation (AWWARF), the Canadian Water Network, and NSERC totalling approximately $250,000 to the University of Waterloo.  This funding has been used to support a postdoctoral fellow, 6 MASc students, 2 undergraduate co-op students, 2 high school co-op students and numerous URAs in addition to a Research Chemist (E.C. Moffat).  The purchasing/buying responsibilities of the Research Chemist were limited to routine materials related to activities in the lab.

Dr. Andrews has recently been awarded $225,000 over 5 years from the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund, from which a maximum of $45,000 has been budgeted to regularize this position and expand it slightly to include some administrative activities.  The funding is intended to also support approximately 3 MASc students in lab-based research. 

Specific Accountabilities

Working Conditions