Research Assistant

Date Posted: 12/11/2025
Req ID: 46384
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Pharmacy
Department: Faculty of Pharmacy
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00058677

About us:

The Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto is Canada’s top faculty of pharmacy and ranked among the top in the world. We bring together Canada’s leading scientists, researchers, and educators in the heart of Toronto’s innovation and health research ecosystem. We advance professional pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical science through world-leading education and research and are recognized worldwide for our outstanding scholarship, ingenuity, creativity, and impact.

Our faculty, students, staff, and alumni come together to create a vibrant, collaborative environment rich with possibilities. We are at the forefront of redefining pharmacy’s impact in health care and developing the capacity of pharmaceutical science to pinpoint better therapeutic targets, create new ways of building medications, and ensure medication use is safe and effective. We are committed to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering an environment where each member of our community can achieve their full potential.

Learn more: www.pharmacy.utoronto.ca

Your opportunity:

The Pardee Lab (www.pardeelab.org) at the University of Toronto is seeking a Research Assistant with expertise in engineering to join our multidisciplinary team. The Research Assistant will work alongside synthetic biologists in the lab to develop the next generation of devices for the distributed production of protein therapeutics and other molecular medicines at the point-of-need.

The recently funded project (https://cepi.net/transatlantic-scientists-transition-traditional-vaccinedevelopment-rapid-response-platform-faster) marries engineering method-side innovation with cell-free synthetic biology and vaccine production, with a focus on the development of devices for the distributed production therapeutic proteins in benchtop, accurate, automated deployment ready units. Through broader efforts in the lab, the Research Assistant will also have an opportunity to work on projects dedicated to bringing biomanufacturing to the point-of-need, with implications for patients in Canada’s North, low- and middle-income countries, and personalized medicine.

Under the general supervision of the Principal Investigator, the Research Assistant provides technical support in designing, prototyping, and testing next-generation fluidic devices for automated, cell-free protein synthesis and purification. The Research Assistant will be responsible for engineering a fluid-handling system that integrates precise temperature control, real-time optical monitoring, and automated process control. This involves developing and implementing fluidic and electronic systems and hardware-software interfaces to enable dynamic control of cell-free synthetic biology reactions.

The Research Assistant will work in a collaborative, mission-driven environment at the forefront of biomanufacturing and synthetic biology and gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge device prototyping, automation, and bioprocess integration. The successful incumbent will join a diverse team of engineers, biologists, and biochemists and will have an opportunity to learn protein expression and purification techniques, directed evolution, and computational protein design. This role will provide exposure to biomanufacturing process development for therapeutic proteins.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Preparing, assembling and setting-up material, equipment and supplies according to the needs of the project
• Modifying experimental processes and implementing more efficient ways to conduct experiments
• Documenting and maintaining standard operating procedures
• Implementing plans and process improvements for lab/workshop activities
• Analyzing and recommending suitable materials and methods of approaching fabrication and/or lab work
• Determining technical requirements for fabrication projects
• Creating and reviewing technical drawing sets for manufacturing
• Designing, modifying and fabricating custom lab apparatus

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Biomedical, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related discipline, or acceptable combination of equivalent education and experience.
• Minimum two years of recent and related practical experience in engineering design, prototyping, and fabrication of mechatronic and fluidic systems, including hands-on experience with automation, electronics integration, and hardware-software interfacing.
• Experience in device design and fabrication using CAD software (e.g., Fusion 360), 3D printing, laser cutting, and CNC machining.
• Proficiency in mechatronics and hardware development, including sensor integration, electronics, and automation.
• Experience with systems integration, including hardware-software interfacing, graphical user interface development, real-time control, and automation.
• Strong programming skills for device control and data acquisition (e.g., Python, C++).
• Experience with microprocessor programming (e.g., Raspberry Pi, Arduino) and embedded systems.
• Experience in electronic circuit design, PCB layout, and circuit debugging.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and analytical skills and the ability to explain complex techniques to various audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise a high level of confidentiality, professionalism, good judgment, initiative, tact and discretion.
• Highly developed organizational, time management and problem-solving skills, with a keen attention to detail.

Assets (Nonessential):

• Familiarity with molecular biology, biochemistry, and protein engineering principles.
• Master’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Biomedical, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related discipline

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Adaptable
• Diligent
• Meticulous
• Organized
• Problem solver
• Team player

Notes:

• This is a term position ending January 31, 2027.
• This is a fully in-person position that will require the incumbent to be on campus 5 days/week.

Closing Date: 12/22/2025, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Grant - Term. This is a term position ending January 31, 2027.
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:
USW Pay Band 09 -- $67,916. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $86,855. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Engineering / Technical

Lived Experience Statement

Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.