Lab Assistant (Research and Development)

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.
The Faculty of Arts & Science is the heart of Canada’sleading 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.
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 field 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.
The Acceleration 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.
The diversity of opportunities and perspectives within theFaculty 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.
Reporting to the Executive Director, Acceleration Consortium and working under the guidance of (Senior) Research Associates, this position will play a pivotal role in supporting research projects focused on diverse organoid/organ-on-chip technologies and will collaborate closely with our interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers. We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled lab tech to join our Human Organ Mimicry Self Driving Lab’s team. The ideal candidate will have a background in microfluidics, microfabrication, mammalian cell culture, either at the undergraduate or master's level, with expertise in microfabrication and general cell-culture expertise. Ideal candidates should have experience of soft lithography, microfabrication, 3D printing, hot embossing, microscopy imaging, assay development documentation and other lab management experiences. Conduct routine experiments related to drug screening, utilizing expertise in wet lab techniques and viability assays based on established SOPs
Providing detailed explanations and demonstrating procedures to a variety of stakeholders on lab techniques, experimental procedures and protocols
Applying established standards when operating fabrication equipment, including hot embossing of specialized cell culture plates, - 3D printing of hydrogels and devices, Soft lithography for microfluidic device preparation
Preparing, assembling and setting-up material, equipment and supplies used in SDL6 and AC's inventory in other lab space such as CRAFT facility; Coordinating routine maintenance of lab equipment
Maintain the inventory of the material needs of laboratory exercises, including culture maintenance of iPSCs and patient-derived cancer organoids; applying established standards when preparing routine samples for research projects and/or experiments
Analyzing experimental data using statistical methods and software tools, providing clear and concise summaries to support research findings
Analyzing and recommending suitablematerials and methods of approaching fabrication and/or lab work, for example, assisting in new organ-on-a-chip platform design and fabrication optimization to facilitate high fidelity in vitro model establishment
Providing safety training and ensuring compliance to lab safety procedures and standards, and ensuring Biosafety certificate, REB and AUP applications are current/renewed

Bachelor's Degree (Master's Degree strongly preferred) in biomedical engineering, bioengineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, life sciences (Immunology, Biology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology) or an acceptable combination of equivalent education and experience.
Minimumthree years of recent and relevant practical microfabrication experience in cleanroom, in a research or industry (pharmaceutical or biotechnology) environment.
Proficiency in hot embossing, soft lithography, 3D printing
Proficiency with bioimaging techniques (brightfield, widefield fluorescence, confocal), including sample preparation, imaging and image analysis
Familiarity with automatic laboratory equipment (e.g., Strong lab management skills with attention to details
Ability to take initiative and solve administrative problems to meet time-dependent project milestones.
Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and work environment.

Assets (Nonessential):

Demonstrated publication record of scientific achievement (for example: one first-author publication)
Highly skilled in science translation and communication, specifically contributing to the writing and publishing of journal papers and reports.
Experience presenting research findings to Principal Investigators and other members of the research team.
Familiarity with electronic laboratory notebook software
Understanding of requirements/process in presenting research findings
Familiarity with coding languages such as R or Python

Schedule: Full-Time
Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Engineering / Technical
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.