Nanoscience Facility Research Assistant or Associate and Electron Microscopy Specialist

Position title: Nanoscience Facility Research Assistant or Associate and Electron Microscopy Specialist, Concordia Centre for NanoScience Research (CeNSR)
Posting Period: April 1, 2025 – April 15, 2025
Union: CARE
Contract Period: June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026 (renewable subject to funding)
Minimum Hours Required: 37 hours per week
Salary Range:

• Associate: $29.55–$51.15 per hour (depending on experience)
• Assistant: $25.94–$44.93 per hour (depending on experience)
  

Scope

Reporting to the Co-Directors of the Centre for NanoScience Research, the Nanoscience Facility Manager and Electron Microscopy Specialist will provide essential research support for nanomaterial characterization facilities. The incumbent will manage facility operations, perform equipment maintenance, offer sample service measurements, and train users on a range of scientific instruments critical to nanoscience research, including but not limited to spectroscopy, structural/physical characterization, and electron and probe microscopy with a focus on SEM, TEM, and AFM. The role also includes contributing to ongoing research projects and activities of the CeNSR.

Primary responsibilities

• Provide specialized training to faculty, staff, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers on nanomaterials characterization instrumentation.

• Support CeNSR research teams by making recommendations for research protocols and data interpretation in electron and probe microscopy, spectroscopy, and structural characterization.

• Ensure the efficient operation of facilities through good user practice and compliance with safety regulations, laboratory procedures, and scheduling.

• Plan and coordinate center installations, facility modifications, and equipment purchases.

• Maintain and troubleshoot center instrumentation, including calibration, hardware, software, and computers.

• Assist with experiment design, data acquisition, and interpretation of experimental results.

• Contribute to ongoing research projects, including method development.

• Manage invoicing for equipment usage and operational expenses.

• Oversee and control budgetary expenses, tracking costs and revenues.

• Maintain relationships with service providers to ensure continuity of services.

• Prepare annual reports detailing research activities, grants, publications, and achievements of CeNSR members.

• Maintain and update the CeNSR website.

• Manage the facility’s personnel (other than the director), including high-quality personnel (HQP) desk assignments and building access.

• Build collaborative networks and increase facility usage through external research contracts.

• Participate in decisions related to core management and new equipment acquisition.

• Perform maintenance, sample service measurements, and provide instruction on the use of the Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) among other instruments.

• Ensure the seamless execution of daily operations and experiments by offering technical support as needed.

• Ensure that daily activities and experiments are conducted in compliance with environmental health and safety guidelines.

• Serve as a liaison between the CeNSR directorship, graduate students, CeNSR members, industry, and external academic partners.

Requirements

• PhD in a relevant field, or MSc with 2–4 years of experience in nanomaterials characterization, including research with electron microscopy.

• Experience maintaining electron microscopy instruments is desirable.

• Extensive hands-on experience with the operation and maintenance of other nanomaterials characterization instruments is an asset.

• Knowledge of laboratory health and safety regulations and standards.

• Proficiency in spoken and written English (level 4) with strong technical writing skills for developing experimental procedures, instructions, and reports.

• Strong oral communication and presentation skills for clear and effective interaction with staff, faculty, and students. Knowledge of spoken French is an asset.

• Proven ability to work under pressure, meet strict deadlines, and handle multiple tasks across various projects.

• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to plan and prioritize research responsibilities independently.

• Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with a diverse group of researchers.

• Willingness to undergo necessary training and deliver in-house training to others.

• Physical ability to perform primary responsibilities, including lifting, carrying, and moving equipment as required.

How to apply

Please email your curriculum vitae along with a covering letter by April 15, 2025 to the attention of Profs. Rafik Naccache and Pat Forgione, Co-Directors of CeNSR, at rafik.naccache@concordia.ca and pat.forgione@concordia.ca.

This position is subject to all conditions outlined in the CARE collective agreement. 

Employment equity

Concordia University is strongly committed to employment equity within its community, and to recruiting a diverse faculty and staff. The university encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including women, racialized persons, indigenous persons, 2SLGBTQI+ persons, and persons with disabilities; candidates are invited to self-identify in their applications.