Auxiliary ADaPT Technician

ubc; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 40,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

UBC invites applications for an Auxiliary ADaPT Technician in the Ancient DNA and Proteins Technology Lab within Anthropology. The role supports day-to-day lab operations, maintains equipment, and ensures sample integrity across ADαPT facilities.

You will follow safety protocols and work under the ADαPT Director to support teaching and research activities. Qualifications include a high school diploma and related lab experience, plus ability to operate PCR/qPCR systems and other common lab

Qualifications

• High school graduation with some related field training and two years of related experience.
• Experience in chemical or molecular laboratory environments.
• Ability to follow protocols and maintain lab safety.

Responsibilities

• Operate, maintain, and calibrate ADαPT laboratory equipment.
• Provide training to Work Learn students on equipment and procedures.
• Assist with inventory, ordering, and reporting at ADαPT facilities.

Skills

Lab safety

Chemical handling

Documentation

Education

High school graduation

Tools

PCR amplifiers

qPCR amplifiers

Electrophoresis equipment

Microscopes

Biosafety cabinets

Centrifuges

Job description

Staff - Union

Job Category

CUPE 116

Job Profile

CUPE 116 Hourly - Research Assistant /Technician 2

Job Title

Auxiliary ADaPT Technician

Department

Research | Speller | Department of Anthropology

Compensation Range

$28.90 - $31.63 CAD Hourly

Posting End Date

September 25, 2026

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

Job End Date

August 30, 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

The primary responsibility of the Ancient DNA and Proteins Technology (ADαPT) Technician (CUPE 116 Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician Level 2) is to provide day-to-day technical support for ADαPT laboratories, and equipment. This position requires safe chemical handling knowledge gained through experience working in a chemical or molecular lab. The incumbent must adhere to protocols provided to ADαPT by First Nation partners. The incumbent takes direction from the ADαPT Director (Camilla Speller) and plans and performs tasks relating to lab and equipment maintenance in the ADαPT Facility laboratories, including the Zoorchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) Lab, post-PCR Genetics Lab (EOS), and Ancient DNA (aDNA) Clean Lab. Regular tasks include operation, maintenance and calibration of laboratory and field equipment, and inventory and ordering support utilizing varied procedures. Tasks are assigned and discussed regular...

Organizational Status

Relevant to tasks, the ADαPT Technician reports to the ADαPT Director. Work is supervised by the ADαPT Director and is reviewed in terms of achievement of general and specific goals. The ADΑPT Technician performs most duties independently or with student assistants working under their supervision.

Work Performed

The technician would be responsible for operating and maintaining laboratory and other equipment in ADαPT laboratory facilities in the Anthropology and Sociology building (ANSO), Museum of Anthropology (MOA), and Earth and Ocean Sciences building (EOS), and ensuring that laboratory safety procedures ...

Typical Duties

This position involves operation, maintenance, and calibration of ADαPT laboratory equipment, and supplies receiving when required. The Technician:

• Works effectively with ADαPT team to accomplish goals.
• Participates in the overall maintenance of the ADαPT laboratories and equipment, including setting up, testing, operating and maintaining teaching and research laboratory and other equipment (e.g., PCR and qPCR amplifiers, electrophoresis gel docks, microscopes, balances, biosafety cabinets, centrifuges, etc.)
• Provides training to undergraduate students and Work Learn students in the use of specialized equipment, techniques and procedures.
• Presents equipment and maintenance updates at weekly ADαPT staff meetings and participates in laboratory meetings as needed.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Errors in the laboratory would result in the loss or contamination of samples, the vast majority of which have been collected from archaeological sites and ...

Supervision Received

Works under supervision of the ADαPT Director, alongside other principal investigators in LOA. Receives detailed instructions on the assignment of new duties and thereafter only on new or unusual problems.

Supervision Given

May train Work Learn students or ADαPT volunteers at lower classifications to operate laboratory equipment.

Minimum Qualifications

High school graduation, some additional training in a related field and a minimum two years of related experience o