| Job Description: |
Laboratory Preparation
Coordinates the preparation and daily readiness of assigned undergraduate chemistry teaching laboratories.
- Prepares chemical solutions and refills empty bottles/jars as required for scheduled laboratory experiments.
- Cleans, resets, and restocks laboratory spaces between course sections.
- Sets up the laboratory according to established course procedures, instructional schedules, and enrollment needs.
- Labels, stores, and organizes chemicals and laboratory materials in accordance with established safety and departmental procedures.
- Conducts trial runs of experiments and verifies that procedures, materials, and equipment function as intended before laboratory sections begin.
- Maintains preparation areas, stockrooms, and shared instructional spaces in an organized and operational condition.
- Coordinates laboratory preparation priorities with faculty instructors and other teaching laboratory staff.
Instructional Support
Provides technical and instructional support for undergraduate chemistry laboratory courses.
- Assists faculty instructors and teaching assistants with the delivery of laboratory exercises and demonstrations.
- Demonstrates the proper use of laboratory equipment, instruments, software, and standard laboratory techniques.
- Provides students and teaching assistants with procedural guidance regarding laboratory equipment and established experimental methods.
- Responds to routine technical questions and assists with troubleshooting during laboratory sessions.
- Monitors laboratory activities and communicates safety or operational concerns to the appropriate instructor or laboratory supervisor.
- Assists faculty with the development, testing, revision, and implementation of laboratory experiments and instructional materials.
- Helps ensure that laboratory exercises are delivered consistently across multiple sections of the same course.
Equipment Support
Maintains instructional laboratory equipment and coordinates routine equipment support.
- Inspects, cleans, tests, and performs minor maintenance and repairs on teaching laboratory equipment.
- Troubleshoots routine problems involving laboratory instruments, computers, data-collection equipment, and related software.
- Monitors the condition and availability of laboratory equipment and recommends repair, replacement, or purchase when appropriate.
- Assists with the installation and preparation of new instructional laboratory equipment.
Materials and Safety
Supports the safe handling, storage, inventory, and use of chemicals and laboratory materials.
- Maintains inventories of chemicals, laboratory supplies, glassware, personal protective equipment, and other instructional materials.
- Identifies supply needs and recommends purchases within established departmental procedures and approved budgets.
- Receives, verifies, labels, stores, and distributes laboratory materials and supplies.
- Maintains access to safety data sheets, equipment instructions, laboratory procedures, and other required reference materials.
- Supports compliance with applicable university, departmental, and environmental health and safety requirements.
- Assists with chemical waste collection, labeling, storage, and disposal coordination in accordance with established procedures.
- Inspects instructional laboratories for operational or safety concerns and reports conditions requiring corrective action.
- Confirms the availability and condition of personal protective equipment and emergency safety equipment.
Department Support
- Participates in departmental meetings, training, and laboratory planning activities.
- Assists with the orientation and training of teaching assistants, student employees, and other laboratory personnel regarding equipment, preparation procedures, and laboratory safety.
- Maintains required records and assists with periodic inventory, safety, or operational reviews.
- Supports special laboratory projects and departmental instructional activities.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
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| Preferred: |
- Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical education, or a closely related scientific field.
- Experience supporting chemistry teaching laboratories in a college or university setting.
- Experience preparing chemical solutions, reagents, samples, and laboratory materials for instructional use.
- Knowledge of laboratory safety practices, chemical handling, labeling, storage, waste management, and personal protective equipment requirements.
- Experience operating, maintaining, calibrating, or troubleshooting common chemistry laboratory equipment and instrumentation.
- Experience maintaining chemical, equipment, and laboratory supply inventories.
- Ability to organize work across multiple laboratory courses, sections, and deadlines.
- Strong attention to detail and the ability to follow written experimental procedures and safety protocols.
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with faculty, instructors, teaching assistants, students, and laboratory staff.
- Proficiency with standard computer applications and electronic recordkeeping systems.
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