Research Associate

Onda; Rural Municipality of Victoria; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health benefits

RRSP matching

Job summary

Onda is seeking a Research Associate to support the Laboratory Technologies Department, contributing to high-quality data and timely results for internal and external stakeholders. The role involves sample intake, adherence to SOPs, KPI reporting, and maintaining compliance with safety and biocontainment standards.

You will work across two facilities, performing benchtop assays and maintaining equipment under GLP, GDP, GCP, and ISO guidelines.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of laboratory experience in bioscience or biotechnology.
• Experience with nucleic acid extraction, purification, and amplification.
• Strong organizational and follow-up skills.
• Proficiency in English; writing and presenting scientific information.

Responsibilities

• Promote safety, efficiency, and scientific integrity.
• Perform benchtop procedures including qPCR and cell culture across two facilities.
• Support studies involving diverse aquaculture species.
• Adhere to GLP, GDP, GCP, and ISO standards.
• Ensure samples, consumables, equipment, and training are in place before work.
• Maintain lab equipment and calibrate instruments as needed.

Skills

Lab experience

Nucleic acids

Communication

English proficiency

MS Office

Tools

MS Office

Lab robotics

Job description

Onda is an R&D and contract service organization focused on the application of biotechnologies to improve productivity, efficiency and sustainability in aquaculture and related industries. The company operates two facilities with world-class biocontainment labs for in vivo and in vitro experiments, two feed extruders for custom aquatic diet manufacturing, multiple dry labs for a range analytical testing, and a GMP vaccine batch release suite. This infrastructure, combined with the specialist teams working within it and our best-in-class biological resources and models, set Onda as a global leader in aquatic animal and environmental research.

We are seeking a Research Associate to play a significant role within the Laboratory Technologies Department supporting services and operations. Reporting to the Laboratory Manager, the successful candidate will be an integral member of the dry lab team, contributing to efficient service delivery through the generation of high-quality data and the timely delivery of results to internal and external stakeholders.

As a valued member of the team, the candidate will engage in all activities carried in the dry lab. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, sample intake and storage, adherence to project schedules, following work instructions and SOPs, reporting on laboratory progress and KPIs, flagging results outside defined assay parameters, maintaining laboratory equipment, and adhering to safety, biocontainment, and GxP standards.

Key Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Actively promotes a culture of safety, efficiency, scientific integrity and transparency
• Execute high quality, efficient benchtop procedures, including, but not limited to, qPCR, cell culture,
  functional compound screening across two facilities and multiple laboratories
• Contribute to studies involving a broad range of aquaculture species
• Train in and adhere to GLP, GDP, GCP, and ISO standards
• Proactively ensure that samples, consumables, equipment, task instructions, timelines, and personnel training are appropriate and in place before commencing work
• Contribute to a high-performing team by communicating tasks clearly, coordinating responsibilities, troubleshooting technical issues, and establishing clear expectations
• Operate advanced scientific equipment, including lab robotics, and perform routine maintenance and calibration of lab equipment
• Follow lab schedules while effectively navigating changing priorities
• Support the development and revision of Standard Operating Procedures
• Support Research & Development of novel tests and applications
• Help drive laboratory workflows toward greater efficiency

Desired Qualifications/Skills/Abilities:

• More than three years of laboratory experience in bioscience or biotechnology
• Extensive experience with nucleic acid extraction, purification, and amplification
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and follow‑up skills
• High attention to detail, with the ability to distinguish critical steps from routine activities
• Professional communication skills including proficiency in English and the ability to proactively communicate scientific information appropriately including written and oral communications.
• Professionalism and strong ethical standards
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and balance competing workloads with appropriate supervision
• Proficiency in Microsoft applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Copilot) with an aptitude to learn other tools and applications presently in use
• Demonstrated ability to proactively troubleshoot and collaborate with colleagues across departments and with external stakeholders to develop effective solutions

Compensation and Benefits:

• Competitive annual salary ranging from CAD $60,000 - $72,000
• Generous paid time off policy, including 3 weeks of paid vacation time and 10 days of personal/sick time
• Comprehensive group health benefits package, ensuring the well-being of team members
• Company-matched RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan) to support long-term financial goals