Student Assistant - Anatomy Laboratory

Major Responsibilities:

The Anatomy– Lab Assistants may be asked to: 

• Assist with laboratory setup and rotation, including placement of plastinated specimens, models, and related anatomy resources.  
• Move, rotate, position, and organize anatomical specimens or laboratory materials, as directed.  
• Provide limited peer-level support to MS1 students during selected group activities (e.g. during LAUNCH), open laboratory sessions, or other course-related sessions.  
• Complete or review required onboarding materials, including laboratory safety expectations, donor respect and professionalism guidelines, specimen and plastinate handling procedures, course-specific logistics, hour tracking procedures, and role expectations.  
• Carry out instructions from the anatomy faculty/staff.  
• Follow all safety procedures for specimen handling, body mechanics, PPE, and laboratory movement.  
• Communicate promptly and professionally regarding scheduling, availability, and assigned responsibilities.  
• Accurately track and submit hours worked according to institutional procedures.  
• Work cooperatively and respectfully with MS1 students, faculty, staff, and other lab assistants.  

Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required:

• N/A

Education Required:

• Current WFUSM-CLT second-year medical student in good academic and professional standing.  
• Successful completion of relevant MS1 anatomy coursework.  

Experience Required:

• N/A

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• The Lab Assistants are expected to: 
• Treat donors, specimens, plastinates, images, models, and laboratory materials with respect and contribute to a professional and supportive learning environment. 
• Follow anatomy laboratory policies, safety requirements, donor respect guidelines, and professionalism expectations.  
• Demonstrate reliability, punctuality, mature judgment, and professional communication.  
• Communicate promptly about scheduling conflicts, delays, absences, or concerns.  
• Maintain appropriate role boundaries and refer questions about grading, assessment, accommodations, course policies, or student concerns to the HSF Course Director. 
• Comfort working with anatomical specimens, plastinates, models, and laboratory materials.  
• Reliability, punctuality, and ability to follow detailed instructions.  
• Professional written and verbal communication.  
• Ability to collaborate well with students, faculty, staff, and other lab assistants.  
• Ability to maintain appropriate boundaries in a peer-support role.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Hours: Variable, based on course needs and student availability; no more than 5 hours in any week. Lab assistants may work in pairs and will rotate coverage to minimize disruption to academic responsibilities. 
• The ideal candidate is reliable, professional, highly engaged in anatomy, comfortable in the anatomy laboratory environment, physically able to assist with specimen logistics, and able to collaborate effectively with students, faculty, staff, and other lab assistants. 
• Moving and positioning heavy anatomical specimens (weighing up to 75 pounds, with a student colleague).  
• Standing, sitting, bending, and walking throughout the laboratory space.  

Preferred Job Requirements:

Experience Required:

• Strong engagement with and competence in anatomy.  
• Interest in anatomy, surgery, radiology, medical education, or peer learning.  
• Prior experience supporting small-group learning, mentoring, tutoring, laboratory work, or educational logistics.  

#WFUSM

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.