Lab Assistant Jobs in Kitchener Waterloo, ON (NOW HIRING)

Department: Faculty of Science 

Job Type: Limited Term

Full-time/Part-time: Full Time (>=1249 hrs/year) 

Campus: Waterloo 

Reports to: Manager, Teaching Labs, Biology, Chair, Department of Biology and the Senior Administrative Officer, Faculty of Science.

Employee Group: WLUSA 

Application Deadline: August 12, 2026

Requisition ID: 11714 

Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading multi-campus university that excels at educating with purpose. Through its exceptional employees, students, researchers, leaders, and educators, Laurier has built a reputation as a world-class institution known for its rich student experience, academic excellence, and global impact. With a commitment to Indigenization and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, Laurier's thriving community has a place for everyone.

Laurier has more than 21,000 students and 2,100 faculty and staff across campuses in Waterloo and Brantford, as well locations in Kitchener and Milton. The university is committed to providing an inclusive workplace, a flexible work policy and employing a workforce that is reflective of local and national demographics. Laurier's Waterloo, Kitchener, and Brantford campuses are located on the shared traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. This land is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples and symbolizes the agreement to share, protect our resources, and not to engage in conflict. Laurier's Milton campus is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, and part of the Nanfan Treaty of 1701 between the British Crown and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

This job posting is for a current vacancy.

Position Summary

At Laurier, we are a community. It's what brings our students here and what keeps our people here.

As an educational institution, we inspire lives of leadership and purpose in our student community. As an employer, we seek, foster and value the same qualities of leadership and purpose in our employee community.

We currently have an opportunity to join the Laurier community as a Laboratory Technician for the Department of Biology.

This position reports to the Manager of Teaching Labs, Biology and works in collaboration with the Laboratory Coordinator/Technicians for the Department of Biology.

The incumbent is responsible for the maintenance of equipment and materials in support of all teaching laboratories fulfilling the parameters and learning objectives of undergraduate biology courses. This responsibility involves assisting the Lab Coordinator/Technicians in carrying out the teaching goals of Biology and Water Science courses, assisting with the testing and maintenance of appropriate protocols and materials. The position requires a high level of laboratory competence to work independently and maintain a safe working environment. Care, maintenance and repair of all equipment and materials used in the design of each lab is a key responsibility of this position. Given the breadth of the lab curriculum, the incumbent requires a diverse understanding of organisms, biological processes and techniques.

Accountabilities

Lab Preparation and Management

• Works with (bio)hazardous equipment, chemicals, reagents, organisms, biological samples and procedures ensuring that all participants are able to conduct work safely;
• Assists with preparation of chemicals, buffers, reagents and other supplies for teaching labs, and assists with setting up lab exercises/experiments;
• Tears down and cleans up completed labs, including maintenance/repair of equipment, (bio)hazardous and chemical waste disposal;
• Cleans and maintains lab spaces including communicating with Physical Resources regarding necessary infrastructure repairs (e.g. plumbing, electrical, etc.);
• Decontaminates and disposes of sharps and (bio)hazardous waste;
• Maintains PPE, spill kits, showers/eye wash stations, and first aid kits;
• Assists with the maintenance and storage of equipment, tools, instrumentation, chemicals and other reagents and supplies according to regulations;
• Assists in the sourcing of animals, bacteria, plants, equipment, reagents, supplies and other resources as required for lab experiments;
• Participates in the field collection of required specimens and other materials as needed;

Administrative Duties and Lab Delivery Support:

• Completes daily/weekly tasks to ensure that labs are prepared and ready to run according to schedule;
• On occasion, provides support to Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs), undergraduate Instructional Assistants (IAs), and undergraduate students as they prepare for and actively deliver and participate in lab and tutorial exercises/experiments;
• Provides technical support for instrumentation and protocols to GTAs, IAs and course instructors;
• Available as a resource for students' questions outside of lab hours, e.g. when students need to make observations outside of regularly scheduled lab time;
• Updates SDS, chemical inventory;
• Complies with university safety and regulatory policies and procedures;
• Receives departmental deliveries and arranges for distribution of materials to respective (research) labs.

Qualifications

• Master of Science in Biological sciences
• 1-year previous job experience
• First aid and fire safety - preferred but will provide to successful candidate
• Sound knowledge of (bio)hazardous materials, handling, storage and disposal
• Ability to work within a team setting
• Ability to work independently
• High degree of problem-solving ability
• Ability to work within deadlines
• Sound knowledge of all programs available through Microsoft Office
• Knowledge of equipment control systems
• Comfortable speaking and conveying detailed information to an audience

Hours of Work: This is a full-time, limited term position with an approximate end date of August 21, 2028. The normal hours of work are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday. Flexibility in hours will be required, including evenings and/or weekends to prepare for evening teaching labs and for the care, maintenance and preparation of time-sensitive materials and living organisms. When possible, the manager will adjust the work schedule so that no more than 35 hours are worked in a week.

This role requires daily in person attendance and is not eligible for a flexible work arrangement as per Policy 8.14 (Flexible Work Policy).

Compensation:

Level: E

Rate of Pay: $42.83 to $45.28 per hour with an annual step progression on anniversary date up to $48.95 per hour.

Considerations for new hire step placements include, qualifications and length/depth of required experience, relevant market rates for similar jobs, internal equity, and estimated learning curve in starting the job.

Wilfrid Laurier University endeavors to fill positions with qualified candidates who have a combination of education, experience, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position while demonstrating Laurier's Employee Success Factors.

Equity, diversity and creating a culture of inclusion are part of Laurier's core values and central to the Laurier Strategy. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, racialized, having disabilities, and from persons of any minority sexual and gender identities. Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives. Candidates from other equity deserving groups who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact Equity & Accessibility. We have strived to make our application process accessible, however if you require any assistance applying for a position or would like this job posting in an alternative format, please contact Human Resources. Contact information can be found at careers.wlu.ca/content/How-to-apply/

Should you be interested in learning more about this opportunity, please visit www.wlu.ca/careers for additional information and the online application system. All applications must be submitted online. Please note, a resume and cover letter will be required in electronic form.

Please note, when pre-screening questions are used as part of the application process, AI is utilized to score responses. All other aspects of the hiring process are reviewed by our Talent Acquisition team.