Scientist Technical Supervisor - Microscopy - CVUC

Department: LSD AFL Diagnostics Unit
This position is represented by the agreement between the Professional Staff Association and the University of Guelph

Temporary full-time from 05/01/2026 to 10/31/2027 

If you are a current employee of the University of Guelph you must apply on the internal Career Page in order to be considered as an internal applicant. 
Career Opportunities (sapsf.com) 

General Purpose

The primary emphasis of the microscopy lab and Canadian Veterinary Urolith Centre is to provide rapid, fee-for-service testing to the Agri-Food industry and to support ongoing research and development in the area of urinary tract disease as well as to provide exceptional care for canine and feline patients.  An appreciation of maintaining client confidentiality and experience handling time-sensitive, legal samples is important. The successful applicant will provide advanced microscopy analysis in the analytical microscopy lab, act as a subject matter expert and supervise a group of six full-time staff: for the identification of foreign materials in food products; to certify that meat samples are free from Trichinella in a Federally accredited program; and perform the analysis of veterinary uroliths. The applicant must be proficient in the operation, alignment and maintenance of a variety of light microscopes, scanning electron microscopes, x-ray microanalysis systems, FTIR spectrometers and IR microscopes. Experience with polarized light microscopy and crystallographic techniques for the determination of the refractive index of crystals is required for urolith analysis. Detailed final reports must be written for clients in consultation with the supervisor, therefore compilation and interpretation of data from numerous analytical methods is required to reach conclusions about the identity of foreign materials and uroliths. The bench work and written reports of other technicians must be evaluated and approved. Experience with digital microphotography and digital image processing using Adobe Photoshop is also a critical skill.

Requirements

• Master of Science Degree with a focus in Biological Sciences (Botany, Biology, Entomology, Zoology).2-3 years experience in the study and identification of materials using light, electron and infrared microscopy techniques.
• Ability to work both independently and with other members of the lab team.
• Ability to rapidly assimilaten new material is essential.
• Demonstrated experience handling sensitive legal samples and manipulation of microscopic particles is critical.

Other requirements include:  

• Experience with QA/QC protocols and laboratory accreditation requirements.
• Experience with financial budgeting and costing to ensure budget targets are met each year and expenses are kept under control.
• Hiring of new staff and students.
• Method development/validation and implementation.
• Maintaining a safe environment for staff.
• Good health and safety practices and experience handling and disposing of highly toxic materials and liquid nitrogen; capable of following an accredited method for cutting and processing fresh pork/meat samples for parasite detection.
• Familiarity with analysis of veterinary uroliths using polarized light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with x-ray microanalysis, and FTIR spectroscopy.
• Proven verbal/writing skills and experience creating reports and reviewing those of others and communicating with clients, other laboratory staff and scientists is essential.
• Experience working with Photoshop, Word, and Excel as well as a computerized Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is also required.   

Employee Type: Regular 
Position Number: 10483077 
Classification: P&M FT- Band 05    
Professional/Managerial Salary Bands 
The target hiring salary for this position is minimum and up to 96% of midpoint for the salary grade.

*Tentative evaluation; subject to committee review.

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.

Posting Date:  04/22/2026  
Closing Date:  05/06/2026