01/27/2026

Job Type

Limited Term (>12 months)

Close Date

02/02/2026

Employee Group

Unifor Unit 1, Staff

Favorite Job

Department

Biochemistry

Full/Part Time

Full-Time

Salary Grade/Band

Grade 7

Salary Range

$25.70 - $39.89 (hourly)

Job Code

JD0620

Existing Vacancy

Yes - Newly Created Position

Contract Duration

12.2 Months

Target Number of Openings

1

Hours per Week

37.5

Posting Details

Schedule

Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

37.5 hours per week. 7.5 hours per day.

Hybrid Position

Education Level

Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field of study

Career Level

Requires 2 years of relevant experience

Contract Duration

1 year + 1 day - Expected start date in February 2026

Job Description

Should the successful applicant be a Unifor Unit 1 bargaining unit member, who meets the eligibility conditions of Article 19.02 of the Unifor Unit 1 Collective Agreement, then the Limited Term Assignment will be defined as a Career Growth Opportunity in accordance with Article 19 of the Unifor Local 5555 Unit 1 Collective Agreement.

Unit/Project Description:

Ranked as one of the world’s top 70 universities, McMaster University is known for teaching and research excellence. In our teaching, research, and scholarship, we are committed to creativity, innovation, and excellence. We value integrity, quality, inclusiveness, and teamwork in everything we do. We inspire critical thinking, personal growth, and a passion for lifelong learning. We serve the social, cultural, and economic needs of our community and our society.

The Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences (BBS), within the Faculty of Health Sciences integrates education, research, and community partnership in the heart of what we do. Our faculty, staff and students are committed to excellence, and our goal is to aim high and tackle anything that comes our way.

The laboratory of Dr. Katie Houlahan within BBS invites applications for a full‑time Research Laboratory Technician‑III. Dr. Houlahan's Lab is part of BBS and the Centre for Discovery in Cancer Research (CDCR) at McMaster University. The Houlahan Lab works at the interface of cancer biology, computer science and machine learning integrating state‑of‑the‑art computational algorithms with large‑scale patient‑omics data to develop novel biomarkers of tumour initiation and progression. Our team strives to create a collaborative, supportive, and stimulating environment for multi‑disciplinary research.

We are recruiting for a full‑time Research Laboratory Technician‑III, who will, in consultation with the Principal Investigator, lab researchers, and collaborators, create innovative technological and methodological strategies to enhance cancer screening and early detection. Collaborating with computational and experimental biologists as well as clinicians, they will analyze and interpret extensive sequencing datasets, including whole genome/exome sequencing, RNA‑seq, and single‑cell datasets.

Job Summary:

The Research Laboratory Technician (III) is responsible for providing research support to faculty members in their research and teaching laboratory activities. This support includes performing standardized and non‑standardized laboratory experiments and conducting literature searches for use in publications such as journal articles or papers. Works in a developing capacity with increased responsibility for performing a range of laboratory assignments under general direction.

Purpose and Key Functions:

• Perform various in‑vitro and in‑vivo procedures that are moderately complex and specialized.
• Provide recommendations for procedure modifications and development of the research protocol methodologies.
• Adapt and modify established methods, assays, techniques, and equipment for various laboratory and test procedures.
• Liaise with other laboratories, external departments, and agencies to coordinate resources and schedules to meet research objectives.
• Develop presentations and present information at meetings, seminars, and conferences.
• Recognize and investigate apparent reasons for obvious deviations in results obtained.
• Write a variety of documents such as technical and procedural sections for research reports and standard operating procedures.
• Observe details and maintain accurate records of experiments and results.
• Log samples and related pertinent information.
• Gather and compile experimental results and assist in the preparation of data for reports and publications.
• Use software to conduct moderately complex statistical analyses.
• Exchange technical and scientific information with others.
• Provide updates at research group meetings.
• Responsible for keeping laboratory facilities, equipment, and area in clean, safe working order.
• Assemble and adjust tests and laboratory equipment for experiments and procedures.
• Operate, adjust, and maintain a variety of laboratory equipment and scientific instruments.
• Ensure adequate supplies are available for experiments.
• Schedule laboratory equipment for use.
• Demonstrate and train others on experimental techniques and the operation of laboratory equipment.
• Prepare chemical reagents and biomedical media according to formulae and assume responsibility for accuracy in the preparation and standardization of solutions.
• Pipette a variety of reagents and media.
• Monitor supplies and order inventories.
• Responsible for the proper storage of materials and the appropriate disposal of waste.
• Adhere to standardized procedures and protocols when dispensing chemicals and base media.
• Input, maintain, and verify information in a variety of databases and spreadsheets.
• Conduct literature searches and write literature review summaries.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study.
• Requires 2 years of relevant experience.

Assets:

• The ideal candidate will have completed a B.Sc. or B.HSc. in bioinformatics, computational biology, computer science, or a related field at the time of appointment.
• Strong background in bioinformatics
• Experience working with UNIX/Linux environment
• Fluency in programming languages such as R or Python
• Experience cancer multi‑omics data is preferred
• Familiarity with machine and statistical learning is considered an asset
• Experience with bioinformatics and data handling is preferred
• Demonstrated ability to learn new techniques and train others is desired
• Highly motivated with excellent time management skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Attention to detail and problem‑solving/troubleshooting skills

Additional Information:

• Must have the ability to write a variety of documents, including standard operating procedures and ethics board submissions
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required
• The incumbent will be required to collaborate and engage with other researchers and to present their work in written and oral formats.
• The successful applicant must be highly organized and be expected to maintain rigorous records of their research work.

How To Apply

To apply for this job, please submit your application online.

Employment Equity Statement

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.

The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information.

Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:

• Human Resources Service Centre at 905-525-9140 ext. 222-HR (22247), or
• Faculty of Health Sciences HR Office at ext. 22207, or
• School of Graduate Studies at ext. 23679

to communicate accommodation needs.

Hybrid Work Language

To ensure an ongoing and vibrant University community that meets the needs of our students, staff and faculty and supports the University mission, ability to work on-site continues to be a requirement for most University positions. The University is supportive of exploring flexible work arrangements that effectively balance operational needs and employee interests.

Interview Experience

At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews. If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to talent@mcmaster.ca or the HR contact associated with your position of interest.

AI Statement

McMaster and its third-party partners may use AI tools to screen, assess, or select applicants during the hiring process. Please note that currently our recruitment platform does not use AI nor is it part of our current recommended recruitment process.