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**

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.

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, gende