Laboratory Technician (Physical Science)

Job Summary

Perform specialized chemical lab duties as required using knowledge from a chemistry education and the experience level required for this position. These duties include the determination and preparation of the proper concentrations of a variety of chemical solutions and the best packaging and placement for students' safe usage in addition to water storage. Also required is the setup and removal of laboratory equipment for the student exercises, experiments and faculty demonstrations for the chemistry labs.

Prepare materials and anticipate prompt setup and take down of those items and resources needed for the chemistry labs to operate appropriately, including experiments and lab practicals.

Prepare stock solutions and unknowns using analytical equipment (including but not limited to burette hand titration and serial dilution).

Familiarity with IR and GC operations preferred.

Provide laboratory solutions and chemicals in appropriately labeled containers and in amounts suitable for student use and to reduce waste and contamination.

Maintain and restock general laboratory utility equipment as necessary for student use.

Maintain and restock scientific and analytical instrumentation support materials and report low stock to full-time laboratory manager for re-ordering.

Repair breakdowns of small equipment (drawer locks), and facilitate glass waste removal.

Perform daily maintenance and rudimentary cleaning of equipment and countertops in student laboratories and storage rooms to ensure a safe and clean work environment.

Maintain a safe and logically ordered laboratory storage room.

Store chemicals in recommended cabinets or shelving by groups of compatibility.

Clean and wash laboratory equipment and glassware which has been cleaned improperly by the students after their use.

Aid the full-time Laboratory Manager in ordering chemical supplies using Colleague and assorted vendors as needed.

Aid in maintaining the chemical inventory database of all chemicals in stock. This must be updated at a minimum of annually.

Aid in updating the computer database of experiment setup sheets. This must be updated at the close of each semester to keep abreast of all changes.

Aid in coordinating laboratory check-in and check-out procedures.

Request maintenance service for needed items from Plant Operations and Maintenance or IT.

Conduct informational tours for prospective students as needed.

Aid in providing for the safe storage of in-house generated hazardous wastes.

Maintain ongoing inventory lists as these wastes are generated.

Possess the ability to prioritize and organize work effectively, to work with minimal supervision, and to develop and maintain effective working relationships with faculty and the full-time lab manager.

Use tact and courtesy, and establish and maintain effective relationships with persons contacted in the course of work.

Regular attendance is expected and mandatory to employee success.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepare materials and anticipate prompt setup and take down of those items and resources needed for the chemistry labs to operate appropriately, including experiments and lab practicals.
• Prepare stock solutions and unknowns using analytical equipment (including but not limited to burette hand titration and serial dilution).
• Familiarity with IR and GC operations preferred.
• Provide laboratory solutions and chemicals in appropriately labeled containers and in amounts suitable for student use and to reduce waste and contamination.
• Maintain and restock general laboratory utility equipment as necessary for student use.
• Maintain and restock scientific and analytical instrumentation support materials and report low stock to full-time laboratory manager for re-ordering.
• Repair breakdowns of small equipment (drawer locks), and facilitate glass waste removal.
• Perform daily maintenance and rudimentary cleaning of equipment and countertops in student laboratories and storage rooms to ensure a safe and clean work environment.
• Maintain a safe and logically ordered laboratory storage room.
• Store chemicals in recommended cabinets or shelving by groups of compatibility.
• Clean and wash laboratory equipment and glassware which has been cleaned improperly by the students after their use.
• Aid the full-time Laboratory Manager in ordering chemical supplies using Colleague and assorted vendors as needed.
• Aid in maintaining the chemical inventory database of all chemicals in stock. This must be updated at a minimum of annually.
• Aid in updating the computer database of experiment setup sheets. This must be updated at the close of each semester to keep abreast of all changes.
• Aid in coordinating laboratory check-in and check-out procedures.
• Request maintenance service for needed items from Plant Operations and Maintenance or IT.
• Conduct informational tours for prospective students as needed.
• Aid in providing for the safe storage of in-house generated hazardous wastes.
• Maintain ongoing inventory lists as these wastes are generated.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in life science or physical science (preferred) or Bachelor's degree in Education or related field with a major in Chemistry; must have minimum 20 hours total, including both chemistry and physics.
• Working knowledge of: adherence to proper laboratory safety practices and procedures, computers and software, analytical instrumentation operation and maintenance, spreadsheets and databases.
• The successful candidate must have the desire and ability to interact positively with all Physical Science faculty (Chemistry, Physics, Geology, and Physical Geography).