
Website Brock University
Job Description:
Reporting to the Director, CCOVI, the Lab Manager and Technologist carries out laboratory and field research activities relevant to Canadian agricultural industries. The position will work with diagnostic and analytical testing services in the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) and interacts with research activities at CCOVI. The Lab Manager and Technologist is responsible for overseeing common-use spaces and equipment in CCOVI for maintenance, training and scheduling.
Job Responsibilities:
- Learn plant tissue culture techniques for new initiatives in CCOVI
- Carry out grape, juice or wine analysis for basic wet chemistry and advanced analytical testing using GC/FID or GD/MS
- Establish relationships with outside vendors to be apprised of specials and deals on commonly used consumables in CCOVI.
- Maintain common use equipment by performing both routine and on demand maintenance in IH210, IH306 and IH216 and other common use facilities in CCOVI including the water purification system, centrifuges, spectrophotometer, fridges, freezers, microscope, balances, chemical inventory, fermentation chambers, cold rooms. Check for operational problems, diagnose and organize repair and replacement of broken equipment
- Monitor and submit routine supply requests for chemical and supply inventory for IH210
- Work with CCOVI Analytical Services personnel and Finance for client billing for contract services
- Transfer testing technologies developed in research projects for grape or wine analytes over to analytical and/or molecular testing services for new revenue generation streams (example, TanninAlert grape skin and seed tannin analysis)
- Follow microbial populations throughout fermentation as part of contract research or general research project
- Train qualified Brock technologists, technicians, research assistants, graduate students, undergraduate, co-op students and external personnel in various techniques, how to achieve a level of competence in operating common equipment and cleaning and maintaining equipment;
- Drive research projects with a focus on short term contract research with industry for revenue generation into CCOVI as assigned by the Director of CCOVI
- Schedule common use equipment and facilities within CCOVI for high use items such as the spectrophotometer, centrifuges, ddPCR, cold room storage, freezer storage
- Prepare standard operating procedures (SOPs) and maintain daily laboratory and safety protocols
- Dispose of any hazardous materials (i.e. microbial and chemical wastes in IH210) in accordance with the safety policy guidelines
- Develop new molecular approaches for micro-organismal identification with new equipment in CCOVI, test proof of adaptability and pricing structure for technology transfer to CCOVI molecular testing services to increase portfolio of revenue generating services.
- Perform data analysis on testing results and contribute to report writing or manuscript writing
- Provide technical support for other grape or wine related projects
Job Requirements:
- Ability to correctly analyze research results and draw accurate conclusions
- Experience managing an oenology/biotechnology lab for equipment scheduling, maintenance, supplies, training
- Experience training graduate students, undergraduate students and other technical personnel
- Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines; meticulous attention to detail.
- Demonstrated knowledge of advanced molecular techniques to detect fermentation micro-organisms such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), and Next Generation Sequencing
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to readily readjust priorities and lead the team to new direction as needed
- 6+ years of experience working in molecular and analytical laboratory setting
- Ability to work on several projects at one time while overseeing laboratory operations
- Ability to solve problems in ad-hoc situations in a logical and effective manner
- Knowledge of wine chemistry and juice/wine analysis and of wine microbial identification using traditional and molecular approaches;
- 2+ years of experience in diagnostics and microbial identification and working experience with wine chemistry, molecular biology techniques, polymerase change reaction, fermentations, experimental design, report writing
- MSc in Oenology, Molecular biology/Biotechnology or related field
- Ability to troubleshoot and resolve technical measurement issues, diagnostic issues, and microbial identification issues relevant to the local agricultural industries
- Ability to communicate clearly with clients of testing services both in written form and oral communication via telephone or video-conferencing
- Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with colleagues within department and industry practitioners
- Experience in recording, organizing, analyzing and summarizing data and experience in writing reports
Job Details:
Company: Brock University
Vacancy Type: Full Time
Job Location: Welland, Ontario, CA
Application Deadline: N/A
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