Job Description

Description

The

Department of Oncology

in the

Cumming School of Medicine

invites applications for a

Research Laboratory Technician

. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 6 months (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.


This position reports to the Principal Investigator.


The primary purpose of the technician is to perform skilled and semi-skilled laboratory procedures required to carry out experimental laboratory research in cancer cell growth, survival mechanisms, response to targeted therapeutic agents and clinical trials related research. These studies include both in vitro as well as animal models of pediatric cancer and the exploration of innovative experimental laboratory methods. These tasks are routine with moderate complexity and will include but not necessarily be limited to mammalian cell culture; Western blot analysis; ELISA; and PCR analysis.

Summary of Key Responsibilities

(job functions include but are not limited to):

Conducting molecular and cellular biology research and analyses using PCR, Western blots and ELISA Preparing media for mammalian cell cultures, establishing and maintaining cell cultures and the preparation of cancer cell cultures for drug sensitivity analyses Conducting in vivo mouse experiments including xenografting either independently or under the direction of the Principal Investigator and/or other lab members Making up basic laboratory stock solutions (e.g. TE, TBS, PBS, ethanol solutions, SDS-PAGE sample and running buffers, agarose gel loading dyes, paraformaldehyde, antibiotic stocks etc.) Keeping common areas and 'clean' areas (e.g. mammalian tissue culture hoods and incubators) tidy and clean Autoclaving glassware, solutions, laboratory reagents and items for tissue culture and molecular biology Operate and maintain basic technical equipment Understanding of safety codes, standards, and systems related to molecular and cellular biology Performing other duties as assigned by the PI Under general supervision & direction of the PI, develop and implement original experiments within the guidelines of the research Reliable and safe operation of all laboratory equipment Maintaining clear and well-documented reports of all research experiments Contribute to the preparation of manuscripts and grant proposals Participate in lab presentations and teaching for junior students and residents during their laboratory rotations

Qualifications / Requirements:

Bachelors degree in biochemistry / molecular biology or related field required with a Masters degree in Science preferred Minimum 2 years experience working in biochemistry and molecular biology wet laboratory, and/or wet lab experience in university-level courses 1 to 3 years of related technical experience within the research specialty field Demonstrated knowledge of and experience primarily in immunology but also in cell and tissue culture and basic protein and molecular biology techniques including ELISA, PCR, RT-PCR and Western Blotting is required Previous animal handling experience including injections, dissection surgery and in vivo mouse work including xenografting experience would be an asset A positive attitude and ability to work independently and as part of a team and to take on and complete time sensitive experiments is required Demonstrated strong communication, team skills, organization, and an ability to exercise judgment within established guidelines Must be open to learning and development, and be willing to accept new challenges and assignments Must be willing to participate in the writing of manuscripts, treatment protocols and grant applications Intermediate to advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint WHIMIS certification

Application Deadline:

October 8, 2025

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.


This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the

Technical Job Family, Phase 1.


For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our

Management and Staff Careers website

.

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.


The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments (

equity@ucalgary.ca

) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources (

hrhire@ucalgary.ca

).

Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.