Staff - Union

Job Category

CUPE 116

Job Profile

CUPE 116 Hourly - Research Assistant /Technician 1

Job Title

Zooarchaeology Research Assistant

Department

Research | Alaica | Department of Anthropology

Compensation Range

$27.07 - $28.40 CAD Hourly

Posting End Date

September 29, 2026 Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

April 30, 2027

There are 3 vacancies for this position.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

With direction from the supervisor, Dr. Aleksa Alaica, will perform inventory and care duties for the zooarchaeology collection housed in the Laboratory of Archaeology. Assists with coordinating session meetings, maintaining supplies, performing anatomical assessments, record data, and care for the storage of data.

Organizational Status

Works under the direction of the Principal Investigator of the Multispecies Archaeology Research Group (MARG). Interacts with student researchers and other members of the research team.

Work Performed

- Assists in organizing, preparing and undertaking collection assessments, which includes photocopying and preparing forms.
- Contacting and scheduling appointments with research group members, volunteers, honours students, and visiting researchers.
- Running participants through standards of operation (SOPs); recording inventory data. All components follow set lab protocols.
- Adheres to guidelines concerning the integrity and respectful treatment of results and participants.

Consequence of Error/Judgement Errors in the laboratory would result in the loss or contamination of samples,



the vast majority of which have been collected from archaeological sites and are of high cultural value and irreplaceable. Errors can result in safety hazards, as well as result in loss of time and will create delays in the busy operations of the facility. MARG as part of the Department of Anthropology the MARG Research Assistant is responsible for ensuring that these collections are analyzed according to MARG.

Errors could have financial, legal, ethical, and other consequences for MARG, LOA and UBC and could damage relationships with the provincial government, descendent communities, the academic community, and the general public.

Supervision Received The lab director provides direct supervision. Written and/or verbal protocols for all procedures will be provided.

Supervision Given

None.

Minimum Qualifications

High school graduation and a minimum one year of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

- Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline, preferably in Anthropology.
- Experience as a coordinator position within research working in social sciences research.
- Knowledge of MS-Word, Excel, Powerpoint, & Presentation software.
- Able to grasp things quickly & able to learn with minimal instruction.
- Able to multitask; comfortable working in a research environment that involves many projects.




- Very detail-oriented & accurate; able to stay on top of many details simultaneously.
- Calm, patient, flexible - able to work quickly to meet sudden deadlines.
- Very strong interpersonal skills.
- Computer and data analysis skills (Word processing, EXCEL, Reference Manager or RefWorks, R Studio).
- Effective interpersonal and organizational skills.

About Us

The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities globally. A large part of what makes us unique is the community of engaged students, faculty, and staff who are collectively committed to shaping a better world. Recognized as a leading employer in British Columbia and Canada, UBC supports inspired students, faculty and staff on their journey of discovery, and challenges them to realize their greatest potential. New ideas, changing infrastructure, creative technology, and fresh approaches are opening up possibilities for the future of research, teaching, and work. Are you ready to embrace the future together?

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C.

Human Rights

Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, and/or Indigenous person.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

If you have any accommodation or accessibility needs during the job application process, please contact the Centre for Workplace Accessibility at [email protected].

📌 Zooarchaeology Research Assistant (Vancouver)
🏢 University of British Columbia
📍 Vancouver