JOB FACT SHEET
POSITION INFORMATION
Position Number: 7599
Current Grade (if applicable): 8
Working Title: Technician
Faculty/Department: Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, Dept of Medicine
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Incumbent Name (if applicable): Click here to enter text.
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 Actual Hours Worked (if Part-Time): Click here to enter text.
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 If OTHER, please indicate Position Type: Click here to enter text.
Special Requirements:
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SIGNATURES: The signatures below indicate that all parties have read and discussed the content of the JFS
EFFECTIVE DATE (if different from date signed): Click here to enter a date.
FINANCIAL AUTHORIZATION:
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INCUMBENT (if applicable):
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1. SIGNIFICANT CHANGES SINCE LAST REVIEW
Enter text here.
2. POSITION SUMMARY
Working under the indirect supervision of the Principal Investigator, the required tasks of this position
include responsibility for the operation, supervision, and management of the complete imaging and
tissue processing cores as well as local area network administration in the Michelakis Labs. The cores
consist of the tissue processing histology core, the vascular biology imaging core and the Pet SPECT/CT
animal Imaging unit The following Is Included: Confocal microscopy, PET SPECT CT, laser capture microdissection system, conventional microscopy, Echo ultrasound Imaging system, integration and utilization
of a range of analytical equipment as well as a cell culture growth facility and tissue processing and
histology equipment. The position now also includes the supervision and training of junior technicians,
postdoctoral fellows along with graduate and summer students.
3. RESPONSIBILITIES/ACTIVITIES: Group activities into categories and list in point form each
duty performed until the major elements of the position are represented. Review each
statement to ensure that it accurately describes what is done and briefly, how it is done.
Please indicate the percentage of time spent on each of the major activities listed
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Responsible for operation, troubleshooting and quality control of all Imaging equipment
Confocal and conventional microscopes, laser capture micro-dissection system, and Pet
SPECT/CT animal Imaging unit. Use of PET SPECT/CT equipment Is equivalent to radiologist at
U of A hospital
Administers local area network and servers linking the Laboratory cores (This includes
transfer of data produced by the various imaging machines to the lab's central sever through
management of the lab's local area network). Ensures security and Integrity of experimental
data generated
Completes assembly of and management of Vascular Biology Histology Core through
acquisition, set up and integration of the various components (lab area and equipment)
Responsible for the histological preparation of cells and tissues (equivalent to pathology
technician at U of A hospital). This includes acquiring and dissecting tissue samples (animal
and human), preparing samples for histological staining (by freezing or fixation and paraffin
embedding), and subsequent sectioning of specimens with cryostat or microtome and
immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent staining of sections for microscopic
examination
Schedules and organizes equipment use and laboratory preparation work for secondary
users (from within our lab and collaborating users from other labs) Responsible for the
histological analysis of images for presentations and publication
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Prepares and maintains laboratory quality assurance and standard operating procedures by
developing standard protocols and Implementing new techniques and methods
Modifies protocols as required to meet research objectives
Acts as the technical resource person for secondary users of the core lab, which requires
extensive knowledge of various laboratory protocols and procedures
Instructs lab users (new technicians and graduate students) In proper research
methodologies (required protocols and acceptable procedures, data acquisition and analysis)
and safety standards
Supervises and trains secondary users (academic or non-academic staff, including technicians
and students) in the operation of the equipment
Shares responsibility with the lab senior technician for ensuring the laboratory is In a state of
readiness: by calling specific service personnel as required for repair and maintenance of
equipment and lab Infrastructure, generate lab supply inventory list and maintain inventory
levels by ordering required chemicals, etc., ensure that all biohazard, chemical, and lab
safety issues are followed as per U of A and Alberta Health Services policies and procedures
and that hazardous material are properly catalogued, accounted for, and stored
Performs Small Animal Research; collects, preserves, and stores animal materials used as
specimens, exhibits and/or in exams
Carries out experiments, collects, interprets and presents data at lab meetings
Ensures lab compliance with WHMIS regulations, and safety In dealing with Biohazard and
Radiation materials
Ensures that all lab technicians and students utilizing the lab understand the policies and
procedures related to animal protocols
4. KNOWLEDGE: Identify the minimum formalized training/education and/or qualifications
required to prepare an individual to be functional in the position.
Post-secondary education of a Bachelor’s degree or less with up to 18 months to become functional in
the role.
 BSc in related field preferred (i.e., biology)
 Animal handling, biosafety and radiation courses
 Engineering Technologist Certificate an asset
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5. INDEPENDENCE OF ACTION: Describe the initiative required, the creativity and original
thought, and also the amount of direction and control received from the supervisor or standard
practices and precedents.
A. What types of decisions are made independently?
Responsible for operation and maintenance of highly sophisticated and costly equipment, this position is
responsible for making independent decisions necessary to ensure the equipment is at a ready state for
use such as: when to service/calibrate the equipment, purchasing replacement parts as required as well
as ensuring the effectiveness of all protocols. The employee must work and act independently when
required.
B. For what actions is it necessary to consult someone? Are approvals or instructions verbal or in
writing?
Any purchase or repair over the $1000 limit would require consultation and/or approval by the Principal
Investigator.
6. CONSEQUENCE OF ERRORS: Identify the extent of losses which result from mistakes in
judgment or poor decisions (typical instances, not rare or extreme ones), and the responsibility
for safety of others.
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Common errors could include improper calibration of equipment or mistakes in a protocol.
Consequences being the necessity of repeating the affected experiment
Other errors could include insufficient training of new lab members, resulting in improper use
of equipment or mistakes necessitating repetition of experiments
7. CONTACTS: Identify the contacts and the purpose of the interaction.
A. Inside the University
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Principal Investigators - meet with them regularly to discuss progress, provide results
Collaborators (co-investigators)
Postdoctoral fellow, Graduate Students, technical staff
Various Technical Services of U of A
Other investigators and technicians outside the group (for advice etc.)
Instructors for required courses
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B. Outside the University
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Sales reps from various equipment suppliers such as Fisher Scientific, Zeiss and VWR
Scientific collaborators from other Universities and/or other Institutions
Technical Personnel for troubleshooting, maintenance and repair of equipment
Alberta Health Services
C. Information Sources
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Principal Investigator
Technical Personnel
Internet
Research Journals (Pub Med, other online journals) Technical Manuals and books libraries
8. SUPERVISION: If this position is not required to supervise staff, please indicate “n/a”.
A. Describe all aspects of formal supervision required of this position. Please be sure to complete
Part B.
NA
B. Please indicate how many staff members are supervised by the position.
Full-time employees: NA
Part-time employees: NA
Casual employees: NA
9. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Describe the degree, frequency, severity, intensity and continuity of
physical activity and/or intense visual concentration required.
A. Activities
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Move equipment as required for set up, repacking etc. (strains, etc.)
Process human tissues and cells (pathogens and toxic fumes)
Potential exposure to radioactivity, gamma rays and X-rays (PET Spect/CT)
Extensive Computer use (repetitive movements)
Confocal work requires long hours In darkened room
Light machine shop work (exposure to vibration and fumes)
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B. What types of equipment or tools are used in the job?
Confocal microscope (lasers), Laser Capture Micro-dissection Unit, conventional and fluorescence
microscopes, occasionally electron microscope, PET SPECT CT, tissue processing and histology
equipment including cryostat and microtome, ultra high speed centrifuge, tissue culture hoods and
incubators, blood gas analysers, network servers and host computers; basic machine shop equipment
and tools for construction and modification of experimental apparatus; miscellaneous small lab tools
(pipeters, small centrifuges etc.); gas handling equipment.
10. WORKING CONDITIONS: Describe the disagreeable aspects of the job environment in
relation to employee safety and comfort, and the severity and frequency of exposure to
workplace hazards.
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Extensive computer use in dark and isolated environment
use of volatile and toxic chemicals
Level II lab working with a variety cells and tissues exposed to gene transfer vectors
Potential exposure to human tissue
Potential exposure to class 3B and 4 lasers
Potential exposure to radioactive Isotopes and X-rays
11. SIMILAR POSITIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA: Please list any position numbers,
titles, departments or incumbent names that may be considered to be similar.
12. ORGANIZATION CHART: An organization chart is mandatory for the evaluation process to
be completed. You may include this as a separate attachment or file may be pasted/
embedded below
Principal
Investigator
Technician
Chief Lab Technician
Graduate Students
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