Research Assistant Tech I - Barker

Staff - Union Job Category BCGEU Okanagan Support Staff Job ProfileBCGEU OK Hourly - Research Assistant and Technician I Job Title Research Assistant Tech I - Barker Department UBCO | Research Support Barker | Department of Biology | Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science Compensation Range $26.10 - $29.93 CAD Hourly Posting End Date January 15, 2026

Note : Applications will be accepted until 11 : 59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date : February 1, 2027

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

JOB SUMMARY

This position works with and assists the Principal Investigators in the research lab. The responsibilities cover a range of tasks that will vary according to the time of the year, projects under way, and the needs of the Principal Investigators.

Over 200 commercial antibody manufacturers have brought over 1.6 million antibodies targeting human proteins to market. However, work from our group and others has revealed that depending upon the application, up to 60% of antibodies available commercially do not work as recommended by manufacturers. To address this problem, we and colleagues at McGill University have created two UBC antibody characterization cores (UBC-ACC and McGill-ACC) that use a rigorous antibody validation strategy to systematically evaluate commercially available antibodies. The major antibody suppliers recognize that there is a crucial need for an unbiased antibody testing platform and are collaborating with us on this effort.

ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS

This position will be supervised by Dr. Phil Barker and the UBC-ACC Platform Manager.

WORK PERFORMED

• Maintain rigorous records and databases
• Perform antibody characterization studies using established protocols (Western blot, immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence)
• Perform cell culture
• Develop and optimize protocols for new antibody-based applications
• Compile data, prepare data figures, and contribute to antibody characterization reports
• Ordering, inventorying, and storing supplies
• Lab organizational and cleaning duties
• Other duties as assigned

CONSEQUENCE OF ERROR / IMPACT OF DECISIONS

This project has involvement from numerous stakeholders who are expecting the UBC-ACC to deliver rigorous antibody validation studies that will affect stakeholder project decisions, budgets, and impact the quality of future research. Errors in the management and delivery of the UBC-ACC will negatively affect financial and operational decisions of our stakeholders and severely compromise our legitimacy as a trusted validation platform. This will imperil the ability of the UBC-ACC to garner funds and thwart platform sustainability efforts.

SUPERVISION GIVEN

This position may provide assignments to and direction to technical support staff.

This position may supervise and train colleague employees, graduate students.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work will be performed in a Biosafety Lab performing antibody-based research.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

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