Biology Laboratory Instructor

University of Waterloo

Aug 8, 2024

Applications are closed

Job
Full-time
Junior Level
Waterloo

Requirements

MSc in Biology is required, PhD preferred
Minimum of two years’ teaching experience is required in a laboratory and/or classroom setting. Requires a broad knowledge of biology
Demonstrated understanding of safe chemical handling as well as Health and Safety and emergency procedures in a laboratory environment is required
Ability to demonstrate the proper use of a variety of laboratory equipment in normal use in Biology labs, including but not limited to: microscopes, centrifuge, spectrophotometer, balance, heating/stirring block, and pipettors
Experience troubleshooting and working with scientific equipment is preferred
Experience with molecular and microbiology techniques
Excellent written and oral communication skills required
Knowledge of modern tools for online pedagogy is an asset for the successful tenure of this position
Organizational, technical, analytical, and multi-tasking skills are essential

Responsibilities

- Administration of assigned laboratories, including but not limited to:
- Independently organizes and runs laboratory-only courses
- Independently organizes and runs combined lecture and laboratory courses
- Ensures that laboratory experiments reflect the course content directly associated with the laboratory
- Organizes and creates assignments, laboratory manuals, midterms and final exams for the laboratory courses assigned, including updates to materials as necessary
- Responsible for collecting and maintaining laboratory reports, midterms and exam grades; calculates and submits final grades to the Registrar’s Office
- Marks assignments, midterms and exams; calculates and submits final grades to the Registrar’s Office
- Prepares protocols of laboratory procedures – individual techniques and/or manuals
- Oversees enrollment into each laboratory/tutorial section, monitors course limits and signs course override forms
- Schedules laboratory and tutorial sections and corrects scheduling problems as they may occur, in coordination with the Undergraduate Program Manager
- Monitors laboratory sessions and identifies and addresses potential safety concerns for students and Teaching Assistants (TAs)
- Orders chemicals needed for laboratory experiments and arranges proper disposal of waste
- Organizes lab set-up/tear down in coordination with Laboratory Technicians
- Purchases and maintains laboratory equipment, including fixing minor equipment problems
- In coordination with Laboratory Technicians and Teaching Assistants, ensures that equipment and chemicals are put away at the conclusion of each experiment
- Closes each laboratory section upon completion of the laboratory session
- Is available for answering student and TA questions
- Advises and provides help to students on an individual basis, as needed, and reassigning students who have missed laboratory sections
- Provides students in distress with the first step in emotional support and referrals for counselling; Interacts with and attends workshops organized by Counselling Services to obtain appropriate guidelines
- May serve on Biology/Science undergraduate committees and undergraduate curriculum committees
- Recommends major equipment purchases and negotiates competitive pricing with equipment vendors
- Reviews, updates and improves existing experiments annually
- Develops new content annually for laboratory-only courses and specific courses that include laboratories
- Teaches specific courses as assigned by the Associate Chair, Undergraduate:
- Plans, creates and teaches specific courses assigned by the Associate Chair, Undergraduate Studies
- Independently prepares to deliver course content either in the classroom or online
- Organizes and creates assignments, quizzes, midterms and final exams, including make-up exams for the lecture courses assigned
- Marks assignments, midterms and exams; calculates and submits final grades to the Registrar’s Office
- Manages laboratory Teaching Assistants and Other Teaching Supports (Co-op students) each term, including but not limited to:
- Helps recruit, interview, and select graduate and undergraduate TAs and Co-op students for their placement in laboratory courses for which the Instructor is responsible
- Meets regularly with the TAs and other teaching supports to provide them with direction/instruction/explanation regarding laboratory concepts/objectives and marking
- Trains, manages and supervises weekly TA activities, including organizing and executing the Teaching Assistant Workshop twice yearly
- Mentors both graduate and undergraduate Teaching Assistants and other teaching supports regarding teaching
- Trains the TAs on the particular safety aspects of the laboratories
- Ensures that TAs and other teaching support staff are trained regarding concepts with which they may not be fully familiar and that they fully comprehend the equipment and procedures to be used
- Designs marking schemes and/or rubrics for the TAs
- Provides help to undergraduate students on an individual basis as needed, and reassigns students who have missed their laboratory sections
- Co-ordinates feedback regarding potential problems in the laboratories and tutorials
- Evaluates performance of Teaching Assistants and other teaching support staff at the end of each term
- Safety Administration
- Establishes, administers, and enforces safety standards and regulations including WHMIS requirements and UW Safety policies and procedures to ensure a safe laboratory setting for students and TAs
- Update posted safety procedures including WHMIS, hazardous waste disposal etc. in the laboratories
- Ensures that the laboratory is kept clean and maintains a safe laboratory environment
- Maintains personal certifications as required by the Safety Office

FAQs

What are the primary responsibilities of a Biology Laboratory Instructor?

The primary responsibilities include organizing and instructing laboratory courses, developing laboratory experiments and manuals, grading assignments and exams, overseeing laboratory sessions, ensuring safety standards, managing Teaching Assistants, and maintaining laboratory equipment.

What qualifications are required for this position?

A Master's degree in Biology is required, with a PhD preferred. Additionally, a minimum of two years of teaching experience in a laboratory or classroom setting is necessary.

Is there a focus on safety in the laboratories?

Yes, the Biology Laboratory Instructor is responsible for establishing and enforcing safety standards and regulations, updating safety procedures, and maintaining a clean and safe laboratory environment.

Will I have the opportunity to develop new courses?

Yes, the Biology Laboratory Instructor is responsible for developing new content annually for laboratory-only courses and specific courses that include laboratories.

What types of teaching experience are preferred for candidates?

Candidates should demonstrate experience in teaching in a laboratory and/or classroom setting, as well as experience with molecular and microbiology techniques.

Are there support mechanisms in place for students in distress?

Yes, the Biology Laboratory Instructor provides the first step in emotional support and referrals for counseling to students in distress.

Does the University value diversity and inclusion?

Yes, the University of Waterloo values equity and diversity as integral to academic excellence and actively encourages applications from historically disadvantaged and marginalized individuals.

How does this role support Teaching Assistants?

The Biology Laboratory Instructor recruits, trains, supervises, and evaluates the performance of Teaching Assistants, providing them with direction regarding laboratory concepts and objectives.

Is there a requirement for knowledge of online teaching tools?

Yes, knowledge of modern tools for online pedagogy is considered an asset for this position.

What is the procedure for applying for this position?

Interested candidates should submit their applications to the University of Waterloo, ensuring they meet the qualifications and adhere to the application guidelines provided in the job posting.

University of Waterloo

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Mission & Purpose

University of Waterloo is a leader in innovation that drives economic and social prosperity for Canada and the world. We are home to a renowned talent pipeline, game-changing research and technology, and unmatched entrepreneurial culture, that together create solutions to tackle today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. Our greatest impact happens together. A strategic integration of research and teaching excellence, the world’s largest co-operative education program, entrepreneurship-intensive programs, and creator-owned IP, has resulted in extensive industry collaboration, the generation of thousands of commercial and social enterprises, and a dynamic learning experience for more than 41,000 undergraduate and graduate students.