Research Associate - IRC in Water Treatment

Department:	Civil Engineering	Effective Date:	March 30, 2004
Grade:	USG 12	Reports to:	Chair

General Accountability

Under the general direction of the Chairholder, the incumbent will be responsible for all microbiological components of the Chair’s research program and for all aspects related to the routine operation of the Chair’s microbiology laboratory. It is expected that the person filling this position would direct or at least take a lead role in research projects in this area. Position responsibilities include the implementation of advanced test protocols and the development of new test protocols in addition to quality assurance/quality control aspects of methods in use. It is expected that any new methods that are developed will be published in the peer-reviewed literature. This position will normally oversee junior microbiologists and assist with the technical supervision of co-op and graduate students working in the microbiology area. The incumbent will be responsible for overall laboratory safety in a Level 2 laboratory including the acquisition of pathogen permits and enforcement of regulations associated with handling these organisms.

Nature and Scope

The NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Water Treatment is a multi-disciplinary undertaking directly involving several distinct major research foci, the direct participation of professional and technical staff and students and requiring close liaison with the industrial partners. In order for the Chair to function effectively and make a leading edge contribution, the Chairholder, while maintaining ultimate responsibility and scientific leadership, must be able to delegate significant supervisory/managerial responsibility to and receive substantial scientific input from, the incumbent of this position.

Under the general direction of the Chairholder/Principal Investigator the incumbent must demonstrate the ability to perform all duties listed below. All responsibilities specified require either a major role or significant input from the incumbent with only minimal direct supervision. The incumbent must be able to function independently for extended periods of time and assume some duties usually associated with the Chairholder during his absence. In addition to the duties listed below it is expected that the individual possess the ability to adapt quickly and effectively to new challenges as they arise.

Statistical Data

The incumbent has signing authority on all accounts. Several projects with varying microbiological components are currently underway or will be in the near future. Projects which would be directly overseen by the Senior Microbiologist include:

Ontario MOE (2004-2006): Removal or Inactivation of Identified Pathogens Present in Source Waters for Drinking Water Treatment ($97,500)
NSERC Chair in Water Treatment - Microbiological component (2003-2007): Investigation of the Presence of both Known and Emerging Pathogens in Raw Waters, and their Removal or Inactivation by Treatment Processes (total Chair funding 2003-2007 = ~$1,900,000)

Projects in which the Senior Microbiologist would be involved include:

-Canadian Water Network (2002-2005): Pathogen Loadings at Drinking Water Intakes on a Heavily Impacted River: Assessing Urban and Agricultural Inputs (budget for NSERC Chair component - $173,475)
Ontario MOE (2004-2005): Sustainable Water Treatment of Grand River Surface Water with Multistage Filtration ($65,235)

Specific Accountabilities

The major end results expected of the individual filling this job are:

to be responsible for all aspects of the group’s microbiological research capability, including authority to act and sign on behalf of the Chairholder, signing authority for all project expenditures including major equipment and instrumentation purchases, interacting as a team member with other Research Associates and Research Assistant Professors in the group, interacting effectively with other UW staff in all areas with which the project group has contact; and acting as liaison with senior officials at the University of Waterloo and other government institutions and regulatory bodies
to provide leadership in projects involving a substantial microbiological component, including: technical supervision of project participants, providing microbiologically-associated technical expertise to research group members and students; assuming responsibility for lab safety and adherence of lab personnel to rules; ensuring project milestones and deadlines are met; possessing skills and knowledge required to operate and trouble-shoot instrumentation associated with image analysis systems and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques; implementing microbial methods; and developing innovative new methods
to be responsible for related aspects of personnel administration and supervision, including: day-to-day supervision of project microbiologists, co-op students, and other technicians/technologists working in our microbiology labs; preparing and conducting performance evaluations; preparing job descriptions; interviewing and testing prospective project staff; conducting reference checks; and approving selection of project microbiologists when delegated by the Chairholder
to provide substantial scientific input for research grants and contracts including: developing research concepts based on funding source priorities and available resources at UW; writing research proposals; preparing preliminary project budgets, writing abstracts; writing research papers for publication and presentation; writing progress reports; presenting research findings at conference and meetings; attending meetings as a representative of the Chairholder/Principal Investigator and/or project team; designing detailed experimental programs; designing specific experiments (including appropriate statistical analyses); detailed interpretation and analysis of experimental results (including appropriate statistical analyses); collaborating closely with faculty members to generate and report on research findings; chairing project meetings; reviewing information generated by other project team members (research data, abstracts, papers, presentations, etc.); and traveling to meet with industrial partners
to take a leading role in all areas of responsibility with only very minor direct supervision including: acting as liaison with senior individuals at various municipalities as well as senior officials at the University of Waterloo and other government institutions and regulatory bodies; collaborating closely with faculty members (information transfer, equipment purchases, committees, etc.); providing expertise with regard to water related issues to interested individuals organizations/press; assisting and advising undergraduates (specifically related to project courses); working with or assisting graduate students (co-author papers, advise on methods and procedures, provide information and expertise, assist with equipment and supplies acquisition, etc.); providing equipment/instrument demonstrations to project members, undergraduate students and graduate students; teaching seminars and courses developed for NSERC Chair partners; giving occasional lectures in environmental microbiology to undergraduate or graduate students in Civil Engineering; and the potential for teaching undergraduate/graduate microbiology courses for engineers courses (assuming interest and Chairholder and Department Chair consent)
to participate in the acquisition of major equipment and the upgrading of research facilities including: identification of needs; preparation of equipment grant applications; development of specifications for major equipment/instrumentation; initiating procedure for acquisition of quotes; reviewing quotes; authorizing equipment and instrumentation purchases; and designing and redesigning laboratories to suit project requirements
and, to function completely independently for extended periods of time and assume duties usually associated with the Chairholder during these periods (but not limited to these periods). The incumbent must also be able to be respected by and work well with Civil Engineering Faculty members on significant issues and in the absence of the Chairholder the incumbent may also be required to act on his behalf in meetings or discussions with the Departmental Chair, Dean or their designates and/or associated Administrative Assistants