Laboratory Technician

Butterfly Wings N' Wishes Ltd; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative company in Edmonton is looking for enthusiastic individuals to join their team as Lab Technicians. This entry-level role offers a unique opportunity to work with caterpillars in a lab environment, assisting in breeding and shipping processes. You'll gain valuable experience in entomology while ensuring the health and safety of these delicate creatures. Ideal candidates will have a keen attention to detail, good eyesight, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment. If you're passionate about science communication and making a difference, this role is perfect for you!

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years old and available for 20-40 hours/week.
• Experience in entomology or microbiology is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Assist in moving caterpillars and packaging kits for shipping.
• Maintain cleanliness and follow protocols in the lab.

Skills

Attention to Detail

Patience

Good eyesight

Ability to lift 50lbs

Steady hands

Education

Experience in laboratory or related field

No academic prerequisites

Tools

Laboratory PPE

Job description

Butterfly Wings N' Wishes Ltd Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Pay: $17.00/hr for entry level candidates

Position runs: end of March-beginning of June

Please submit your cover letter, resume, and availability by email to [e-mail]

OUTLINE:

We are seeking passionate, attentive, driven, and detail-oriented people to assist in our Edmonton caterpillar breeding facility, and to facilitate the production and shipping of our caterpillar kits for our 2024 school supply season.

This position is shorthanded as “Lab Tech” but the position itself encompasses two main roles in the following aspects:

1. LAB TECH: Working directly under our Lab Manager and alongside Senior Tech(s) in our lab, you will be moving painted lady caterpillars from the breeding cups into the shipping cups to complete the finished kit that goes to schools nationwide. You may be handling thousands of caterpillars 2-3 mm in size each day. You may be asked to assist in production of caterpillar food.
2. SHIPPING: At the end of the week, tech switch to assisting in Packaging and Shipping under our Shipping Lead to package the caterpillars, assist in quality control correction or replacement of the caterpillars counted earlier, and ensure the safe conduct of the larvae as they leave.

All employees must maintain various protocols and follow procedures at all times in the lab and in the facility. All staff assist in keeping the facility clean and sanitary via daily cleaning tasks.

Our company has a strong focus on education and prioritizes science communication to children all across Canada through our range of caterpillar and other living science kits. As a tech working with insects in a lab setting, this job provides an entry level opportunity to expand your knowledge in the world of entomology and gain lab experience breeding high volumes of invertebrates. Crossover experience with packaging and shipping will also be gained: late in the week, lab techs switch to assisting in packaging the caterpillars for pickup by couriers.

Kits are produced on these weekly schedules so that young caterpillars are ready to go for our scheduled shipping dates, which fall every Monday. Staff are expected to cross over for handling considerations with the larvae both in the lab and in shipping: your growth and expertise in health and handling is essential for all steps of the process.

AVAILABILITY & HOURS:

Main lab activities occur Monday-Friday, between 8 AM and 4 PM, and availability is required on part or full time basis based on the schedule below. Weekend shifts may be available 2-3x per season for selected staff. We do not operate evenings or on STAT holidays except by emergency.

SCHEDULE:

1. ORIENTATION: A 1.5-hour orientation will be scheduled for the week of March 17-21, 2025, or March 24-28, 2025.
2. TRAINING PERIOD (PRE-SEASON): March 31 - April 11, 2025 is our training period, immediately prior to peak shipping weeks. Candidates can anticipate flexible work weeks of 8-25 hours during training, and more time spent on prep than in the lab. Shipping is at a reduced rate.
3. PEAK SEASON: April 14-May 30. Full time availability is required. Candidates can anticipate workweeks between 25 and 40 hours.
4. WIND DOWN WEEK: June 3-June 6 – <15 hours of work, only to accommodate inventory, replacements, and lab wind-down.
5. TOTAL HOURS: Employees can expect to work between 90 and 130 hours total depending on your school schedule.

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Available for 20-40 hours per week, primarily weekdays (flexible), limited or occasional weekends.
2. Must be 18 years of age.
3. Good eyesight is necessary: you are working with delicate wiggling animals around 3mm in size.
4. Must be able to lift up to 50lbs.
5. Steady hands and attention to detail.
6. Candidates cannot be allergic to shellfish or soy.
7. Must be able to work in a hot, humid environment.
8. Must be able to wear our laboratory PPE (masks, hairnet/beard net, gloves, gown, apron and/or lab coat) for the duration of a shift.
9. Attention to detail and ability to work sitting down for up to 8 hrs is considered an asset.
10. We do not have academic prerequisites, however, experience in a laboratory or in the related field/study of entomology or microbiology are an asset.
11. Successful applicants must provide their own set of dedicated indoor lab shoes that will remain on site for the duration of the season.

WEEKLY TASKS:

Tasks are rotated on each day, as we sort caterpillars, prep food, and assemble kits of fresh caterpillars and then move them to the shipping department on a weekly schedule. The weekly patterns repeat all season long. Patience and attention to detail are of the utmost importance for this role to ensure a quality product to our customers and the health of our invertebrate populations.

Tasks consist of:

1. Moving caterpillars from their hatching cups into their shipping cups.
2. Monitoring your caterpillars while working with them for abnormal pathophysiology.
3. Accurate and consistent identification of abnormal pathophysiology.
4. Complete the kits with accuracy and consistency.
5. Quality control to ensure kits were packed properly.
6. Food making: mixing and preparing caterpillar food in specific quantities to ensure correct outcome and consistency.
7. Cleanup and sanitation of tools, surfaces, and spaces and the lab.
8. Adhere to protocols and procedures to facilitate a clean and safe working environment.
9. Accurate packaging of various caterpillar kits by order.
10. Assist in counting, sorting, organizing and labeling orders.

Working with butterflies can be a real career highlight! Let us know if making a difference is important to you.

Seniority level

• Entry level

Employment type

• Temporary

Job function

• Research, Analyst, and Information Technology