<RESEARCH TECHNICIAN>

Department:	Centre for pavement and Transportation Technology (CPATT)	Effective Date:	May, 2005
Grade:	USG 8	Reports to:	Director and/or Co-Directors

General Accountability

The Research Technician is directly responsible for the day to day pavement instrumentation/equipment technical activities in the CPATT lab and field test facility and is accountable to the Director and/or Co-Directors of the Centre. The position encompasses providing technical assistance on instrumentation/equipment to faculty, staff and students working in CPATT and supervision of associated research projects at both the lab and field test facility along with various other satellite test sites. This position is contingent upon funding.

Nature and Scope

Within the Centre there are two full-time staff members that report directly to the Director/Co-Directors. These positions are the Research Technician and the Research Administration Officer.

CPATT is a research centre within the University of Waterloo and is results driven by its supporters/partners. The Research Technician will work on a multitude of projects. These projects can range from simple data recording to complex multi-faceted instrumentation/equipment projects that take years to realize results.

The Research Technician will participate in the civil engineering department’s structures lab users group (SLUG) meetings as necessary and serve as the Centre’s safety co-ordinator.

Significant internal and external liaison will be required for this position and will include interaction with:

Other academic departments including their faculty, staff and students
CPATT’s private and public partners
Plant operations
General contractors and suppliers
CPATT’s researchers (includes faculty, staff and students)
Engineering machine shops
Safety and WHMIS committees

Statistical Data

The Centre for Pavement and Transportation Technology is the largest of its kind in Canada. There are approximately 30 faculty members involved in the centre both at the University of Waterloo and across Canada. The number of graduate and undergraduate students is consistently growing at the Centre to match the need for the increasing demand for trained personnel in the area. CPATT received a $9 million funding package from the federal and provincial governments along with their private supporters.

Specific Accountabilities

Ensuring smooth, day to day operations of the CPATT facilities and satellite test sites instrumentation/equipment – asphalt and concrete testing experience will be an asset
Installation, repair, operation and maintenance of research instrumentation/equipment, including computer hardware and software, any mobile equipment and various sensors
Processing equipment purchases and any facility renovation work orders
Keeping up-to-date-records on equipment acquisitions, repair and maintenance, costs, dispositions, space, and renovations
Interacting with outside/external CPATT partners as required
Working closely with CPATT researchers, including the overseeing and training where necessary of students working with the instrumentation/equipment
Ensuring that the CPATT labs are kept neat and safe
Assisting with proposals for research contracts as required
Preparing periodic summary reports of CPATT lab and field test site facility activities, problems and needs, as directed by the research technician’s supervisor
Assist with the development, set-up and co-ordination of instrumentation/equipment required for CPATT research and contracts
Liaise and co-ordinate with Department technical staff and/or their supervisors when required
Co-ordinate research activities and space needs in designated CPATT facilities