Research and Instrumentation Technician

Te Kura Matū | School of Physical and Chemical Sciences
Located in Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa | New Zealand

• Full-time at 37.5 hours per week (1.0 FTE)
• Fixed term (2 years) position

Kia hiwa rā, kia hiwa rā!
He hiahia, he pūkenga nōu ki te mahi a te Research and Instrumentation Technician? Nāia te pōwhiri nā Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha kia tono mai i te tūranga nei.

Āu Mahi | What You Will Do
The School of Physical and Chemical Sciences is excited to invite applications from highly motivated individuals to join our dynamic team as a Research and Instrumentation Technician. This role has two distinct yet interconnected focuses: the setup of the Hybrid Materials Research Laboratory and the use of advanced instrumentation, which plays a critical role in supporting research across the broader School.

You will play a key role in setting up and establishing the Hybrid Materials Research Laboratory, working closely with key researchers, to ensure the lab is fully operational and aligned with long-term research goals. This involves everything from selecting and installing equipment to developing lab workflows and ensuring safety protocols are met.

Beyond the Hybrid Lab, you will significantly contribute to the operation, maintenance and enhancement of a diverse range of cutting-edge advanced analytical and characterisation equipment used across various research areas within the School. This includes delivering specialised instrumentation services, providing training and support to students, staff, and external stakeholders on high-end instruments. Examples include TGA, DSC, GCMS, UV-Spectrophotometers, and X-ray diffraction equipment. Your work will support a wide range of research projects, ensuring excellence in both teaching and research activities throughout the School and wider university.

We offer a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact during this 2-year fixed-term role, with the chance to gain hands-on experience in setting up a state-of-the-art research lab and working with advanced instrumentation. This role will allow you to expand your technical expertise, contribute to high-impact research projects, and collaborate with leading researchers in materials science, giving you invaluable experience for the next steps in your career.

Mōu | Who You Are
To excel in this role, you possess as a minimum, a master's degree (NZQA Level 9) in Chemistry, Materials Science or Physics and bring valuable relevant experience from complex research laboratory environments, preferably within a tertiary setting.

Your proficiency in a wide range of high-end advanced analytical and characterisation instruments, along with your ability to apply theoretical knowledge and critical thinking skills in unfamiliar research environments, will be crucial, and while experience in lab setup is beneficial, we welcome candidates who are eager to apply their technical expertise and problem-solving skills to a new and exciting challenge.

You excel at effective communication, training staff and students, and managing multiple tasks in a dynamic research environment. You maintain high standards under pressure, working well both independently and collaboratively. Your enthusiasm for scientific communication and problem-solving sets you apart, as does your eagerness to contribute to the advancement of our research capabilities.

A commitment to health and safety protocols and a willingness to upskill in new instrumentation will set you up for success in this role.

Mahi Ngātahi | Who You Will Work With
The School of Physical and Chemical Sciences | Te Kura Matū is a thriving community with a legacy spanning 150 years of academic excellence. Amongst the largest Schools within the University, we are driven by our collective commitment to search for innovative solutions that address the problems and challenges both within New Zealand and the World.

Our School boasts a vibrant tapestry of individuals, encompassing academic, technical, and administrative professionals from a wide spectrum of backgrounds. United by our shared purpose, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery.

Immersed within the Rutherford Regional Science and Innovation Centre (RRSIC), our laboratories thrive amidst a state-of-the-art teaching and research infrastructure. Furthermore, our association with the broader university opens doors to other exceptional research and computational facilities, enhancing the depth of exploration.

The School of Physical and Chemical Sciences offers a spectrum of majors including Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences. Our research endeavours are channelled through five central themes: Sustainability and the Environment, New Materials, Nanotechnology and Laser Physics, Energy and Storage, and Astronomy and Astrophysics, as well as Human, Animal, and Plant Health.

By joining our School, you will be a part of pioneering initiatives that shape the future of scientific discovery and leave an indelible mark on the world.

For more information about our team, please visit us at Physical and Chemical Sciences | University of Canterbury

Ngā Painga o UC | Why UC
Ngā Uara | Our Values of manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and tiakitanga guide our decisions and behaviour and provide a roadmap for how we do things at UC, affirming our commitment to pastoral care and support for our ākonga and staff. They challenge and inspire us to be the best we can, and make UC a great place to work and study. For more info on Ngā Uara | Our Values visit us here.

We are committed to accessible higher education, service to the community and the encouragement of talent without barriers of distance, wealth, class, gender or ethnicity. The University explicitly aims to produce graduates and support staff who are engaged with their communities, empowered to act for good and determined to make a difference in the world.

For more information about Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, please visit https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/

This role sits within the General Staff Collective Agreement salary range of between $91,171 and $95k, and salary will be based on skills and experience.

The closing date for this position is: 30 October 2024 (midnight, NZ time)
Please note applications will be reviewed after the close date.

Pēhea te tono mai | How You Apply

Applications for this position must be submitted via our careers website and should include a cover letter and resume.

Please note, we do not accept applications by email, however we are happy to answer your queries in relation to the application process, please forward these to [email protected]

You must have Aotearoa New Zealand or Australian citizenship/permanent residency to be considered for this role. If you hold a valid work visa and are physically present in New Zealand, then you may also be considered.