Instructional Laboratory Technician

Job Summary

Support services in a scientific laboratory by preparing and setting up class materials, creating exams, training and supervising student instructors, assigning and assembling equipment for experiments, teaching laboratory classes, assisting with annual inventory of materials, assist in ordering and purchasing of supplies for classes, repairing and testing new and old laboratory equipment, and assisting with the writing, publishing and editing of Lamar University’s Laboratory Manuals.

Essential Job Functions

• Laboratory and Equipment Maintenance: Set-up and clean-up of equipment, display items, and apparatus used in instruction. Preparing solutions and media used in laboratory instruction. Performing duties associated with the maintenance and operation of departmental vehicles and boats. Repairing and modifying of laboratory equipment. Managing external repair orders. Performing minor computer maintenance and serving as liaison with IT Services. Maintaining departmental specimen collections and inventory of collections. Overseeing the operation of the greenhouse.
  
• Laboratory Instruction: Teaching material and experiments to students in the laboratory classroom with a short lecture, may include demonstrations, discussion of expected results and calculations. Preparing short lecture materials, handouts, and lecture guides. Grading worksheets and exams. Preparing and proctoring laboratory exams. Reviewing and preparing syllabi. Coordinating activities with lecture and other laboratory instructors. Assisting the classroom lecturer as needed. Creating new laboratory exercises. Assisting in improving existing exercises.
• Laboratory Administration: Training and supervising student and teaching assistants. Initiating requests, making purchases, receiving and distributing equipment and supplies. Coordinating with department personnel on the storage and availability of consumables. Acting as principal liaison with Physical Plant, Shipping and Receiving, gas cylinder delivery & pick-up personnel, Risk Management and Campus Police. Conducting yearly department chemical and equipment inventories. Maintaining records of borrowed and returned equipment. Receiving, monitoring, and maintaining files associated with vendors and operating manuals.
• Other Duties as Assigned: Examples: Overseeing departmental office operations during administrative assistant absence. Driving department vehicles as needed for field trips and moving departmental inventory.

Minimum and Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology.
  
• 2 years of experience in lab, related science or industry experience.

• Experience in keeping an inventory, purchasing, shipping and receiving

Supplemental Information

• Knowledge of biology
  
• Knowledge of basic laboratory safety
  
• Ability to effectively communicate in writing and orally
  
• Experience in instruction and supervision of students
  
• Working with minimal supervision
  
• Valid driver’s license and approval to operate state-owned vehicles
  
• Basic computer skills

Lamar University is An Equal Opportunity Employer

Lamar University is proud to provide employment preference to veteran applicants in accordance with Texas 805 Government Code, Section 657.003.

This position is security-sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of the Texas Education Code §51.215, which authorizes the employer to obtain criminal history record information.