Lab Technician (2 years term, 100% onsite)

Location
Toronto, ON
 
Full job description
Date Posted: 07/30/2025
Req ID: 44566
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Arts Science
Department: Acceleration Consortium
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00058095


Description:

About us:

The Faculty of Arts Science is the heart of Canada’s leading university and one of the most comprehensive and diverse academic divisions in the world. The strength of Arts Science derives from our combined teaching and research excellence in the humanities, sciences and social sciences across 29 departments, seven colleges and 46 interdisciplinary centres, institutes and programs.

We can only realize our mission with the dedication and excellence of engaged staff and faculty. The diversity of opportunities and perspectives within the Faculty reflect the local and global landscape and the need for curiosity, innovative thinking and collaboration. At Arts Science, we take pride in our legacy of innovation and discovery that has changed the way we think about the world.

The Acceleration Consortium (AC) at the University of Toronto (U of T) is leading a transformative shift in scientific discovery that will accelerate technology development and commercialization. The AC is a global community of academia, industry, and government that leverages the power of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, materials sciences, and high-throughput chemistry to create self-driving laboratories (SDLs), also called materials acceleration platforms (MAPs). These autonomous labs rapidly design materials and molecules needed for a sustainable, healthy, and resilient future, with applications ranging from renewable energy and consumer electronics to drugs. AC Staff Scientists will advance the infield of AI-driven autonomous discovery and develop the materials and molecules required to address society’s largest challenges, such as climate change, water pollution, and future pandemics.

TheAcceleration Consortium received a $200M Canadian First Research Excellence Grant for seven years to develop self-driving labs for chemistry and materials, the largest ever grant to a Canadian University.

Your opportunity:

Reporting to the Executive Director, Acceleration Consortium and working under the guidance of (Senior) Research Associates, this Lab Technician position will play a pivotal role in supporting research projects focused on medicinal chemistry and will collaborate closely with our interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers. We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Technical Staff member to join our Medicinal Self Driving Lab’s team. The ideal candidate will have a background in ligand discovery using affinity selection-mass spectrometry or a similar technique, mass spectrometry for characterizing chemical mixtures or proteomic samples, and programming in Python or C. The ideal candidate should have experiences with oneor more of the following: affinity selection techniques, biochemical or biophysical assays to characterize protein-analyte interactions, preparation of mass spectrometry samples including solid-phase extraction and filtration, developing methods for massspectrometry and/or reverse phase liquid chromatography, analysis of mass spectrometry data, assay development documentation and other lab management experiences.

This is a 2-year term position with the possibility of renewal. This is a 100% onsite position.

Your responsibilities will include:

Performing lab experiments that requires great precision and attention to many details
Providing detailed explanations and demonstrating procedures to students and/or employees on lab techniques, experimental procedures and protocols
Contributing to research findings that are published in academic journals
Applying established standards when preparing routine samples for research projects and/or experiments
Preparing, assembling and setting-up material, equipment and supplies used in teaching and/or research labs
Coordinating routine maintenance of lab equipment
Providing safety training and ensuring compliance to lab safety proceduresand standards
Serving as a technical resource on laboratory protocols, and experimental procedures and equipment
Essential Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree in physical or life sciences (Chemistry, Biochemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Pharmacology, or a related field) or acceptable combination of acceptable education and experience. Master's degree in related field preferred
Minimum three years of practical and related wet lab experience with mass spectrometry, preferably high-resolution accurate mass (HRAM) spectrometers
Experience with affinity selection (e.g., phage display, mRNA display, DNA-encoded libraries, etc.)
Experience with sample preparation of mass spectrometry samples including solid-phase extraction (SPE) and/or filtration
Experience developing methods for mass spectrometry including optimization of mass spectrometry method settings and reverse-phase liquid chromatography optimization
Experience with biochemical or biophysical assays to characterize protein-analyte interactions
Experience with scientific writing potentially including publications, reports, thesis, etc.
Familiarity with automatic laboratory equipment (e.g., liquid handler)
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Problem-solving and trouble shooting skills
Take initiative and solve administrative problems. This position will require the ability to meet time-dependent project milestones.

Assets (Nonessential):

Proficiency and experience with data analysis in Python
Experience working in a research or industry environment, preferably in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology sectors.
Familiarity with electronic laboratory notebook software
3D printing experience and CAD (Autodesk Fusion) experience

To be successful in this role you will be:

Communicator
Efficient
Insightful
Meticulous
Organized
Team player
Closing Date: 08/13/2025, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Grant - Term
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group Hiring Zone:
USW Pay Band 11 - $76,577. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $97,928. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Engineering / Technical
Recruiter: Ann Yang

Lived Experience Statement
Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.

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