Laboratory Technician (2-Year Term)

Date Posted: 01/29/2024
Req ID: 35787
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Department: Dept of Mechanical & Industrial Eng
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00056121

Description:

About us:

The Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering is home to about 60 professors leading research on a very broad range of topics. On the Industrial Engineering side, research areas include Operations Research, Information Engineering, Human Factors, and Applied Machine Learning, all of which seek to improve the systems we as humans rely on to navigate our world. On the Mechanical Engineering side, research areas include Robotics, Mechanics & Design, Materials, and Thermofluids, topics that are applied to applications including manufacturing, bioengineering, and energy production and storage.

We are also home to about 2,000 very talented students: about 1,300 undergraduates are enrolled in the Industrial Engineering and in the Mechanical Engineering BASc programs. We have about 350 Master of Engineering (MEng) students, a professional program for students taking courses with us for a year or two. We have about 350 MASc and PhD students, who work individually on research projects with a particular professor.

The Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering prides itself on being a good place to work: respectful, accepting of difference and professional.

We value employees who are goal-oriented and self-motivated, and who are constantly looking to improve how we serve our students and faculty. We believe in teamwork, in working together for the greater good, and yet doing so in a way that respects each employee’s work-life balance. Finally, we value each employee as an individual, and look for opportunities to recognize each contribution.

Your opportunity:

The Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering’s Advanced Thermofluids Optimization, Modelling and Simulation (ATOMS) Lab and Electrification Hub (EHub) are looking for a Laboratory Technician to support the experimental testing, maintenance, administrative, and logistics activities of a state-of-the-art battery testing facility focused on thermal management research of battery systems for electric vehicles and stationary energy storage applications.

The Laboratory Technician will work under the supervision of Professor Cristina Amon and Senior Research Associates, supporting ATOMS Lab’s and EHub’s missions to advance research and training in batteries, power electronics, and electric vehicle systems.

The Laboratory Technician will work collaboratively with ATOMS Lab’s and EHub’s academic and industrial partners, joining a culturally diverse team whose composition, environment, research vision, and everyday interactions are purposely designed for team members to develop critical competencies to solve pressing engineering challenges.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Overseeing day-to-day operational needs for one or more labs/workshops.
• Performing lab experiments that requires great precision and attention to many details.
• Modifying experimental processes and implementing more efficient ways to conduct experiments.
• Preparing draft statistical reports and summaries from data collected.
• Creating and editing a standard operating procedures manual.
• Contributing to research findings that are published in academic journals. Troubleshooting issues with lab equipment and/or workstations.
• Coordinating routine maintenance of lab equipment.
• Providing safety training and ensuring compliance to lab safety procedures and standards.

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree or acceptable combination of equivalent experience.
• Minimum three years of related experience as a lab technician.
• Experience in battery systems and high-voltage lab settings.
• Experience in creating and conducting experimental protocols.
• Experience in operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting laboratory equipment.
• Experience with general lab maintenance duties, including ordering, organizing and monitoring supplies, providing purchasing documentation, liaising with suppliers.
• Ability to work independently and coordinate all aspects of a research laboratory, under direction, as well as in a team environment, with strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to keep well-informed of current technologies, best practices and state of knowledge in research area.
• Proven ability to exercise judgement, tact, diplomacy, and a high degree of initiative.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, attention to detail, organization skills, and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure to meet multiple competing deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and ability to use computer software and graphical programming environments for test systems.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment.

Assets (Nonessential):

• MSc or PhD training is an asset.

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Accountable
• Cooperative
• Diligent
• Proactive
• Resourceful

Closing Date: 04/22/2024, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW 
Appointment Type: Grant - Term 
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:  
USW Pay Band 11 -- $73,748 with an annual step progression to a maximum of $94,310. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol. 
Job Category: Research Administration & Teaching

Lived Experience Statement
Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.