Lab Technician

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Position Title:

Lab Technician

Job Category:

University Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Lab Technician

Job Duties:

This position primarily reports to the Laboratory Manager and serves as a departmental lab technician supporting the undergraduate laboratories. This individual operates a laboratory stockroom servicing faculty, teaching assistants, and students and facilitates the daily operation of the undergraduate laboratories for the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. The position frequently lifts packages up to forty (40) pounds. This position works closely with the Laboratory Manager, the Department Administrator, and the Department Chair to ensure the safety of the labs, efficiency of lab operations, and effectiveness of lab undergraduate activities. This position is also directly responsible for technical lab support of the General, Analytical, Physical, and Organic Chemistry classes.

Key Job Responsibilities:

LAB TECHNICIAN FOR GENERAL, ANALYTICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ORGANIC CHEMISTRY UNDERGRADUATE LABORATORIES (65%)

• •Operate and maintain a chemical stockroom and undergraduate laboratories in a professional, safe, clean, and orderly manner.
• •Prepare, set up, and take down experiments for General, Analytical, Physical, and Organic Chemistry undergraduate laboratories.
• •Maintain a service counter for the distribution of chemicals (e.g., acids, bases, alcohols, toxins, carcinogen’s, etc.), supplies and equipment to students and faculty for undergraduate chemistry laboratories.
• •Calculate and safely prepare a variety of chemical concentrations from stock materials, including concentrated acids, caustic solids, and other hazardous materials.
• •Maintain and operate laboratory instruments such as pH meters, analytical balances, Vernier LabQuest, spectrophotometers, centrifuges, spectrofluorometers, rotary evaporators, Gas Chromatography, Infra-Red Spectroscopy, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and other equipment.
• •Monitor the inventory and quality of chemicals and supplies for undergraduate laboratories and initiate ordering process as needed.
• •Routinely restock consumable supplies, such as gloves, filter paper, and glassware, as necessary for the function of the labs
• •Receive chemical orders and enter or remove materials from the chemical inventory system.

OVERSEE LABORATORY SAFETY (15%)

• •Serve as a laboratory safety resource for the undergraduate laboratories and report to Laboratory Manager, Department Administrator and University Safety & Assurances as necessary.
• •Monitor undergraduate lab activities to ensure that appropriate safety precautions are used.
• •Provide support to laboratory teaching assistants in removing students that are not adhering to the safety standards and attire.
• •Coordinate the safe storage, handling, disposal, and recordkeeping of hazardous chemicals and chemical waste.
• •Keep laboratory benches and reagent shelves clean and orderly.
• •Maintain and update the hard copy versions of the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department Safety Data Sheet (SDS) records.

PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT (15%)

• •Prepare, set up, perform, and clean up demonstrations as requested by course instructors.
• •Maintain functional use of the instruments and report serious malfunctions to the Laboratory Manager.
• •Be capable of operating all instruments in areas of responsibility. (Initial training will be provided from faculty and staff on new instruments.)
• •Work with course instructors on implementation of new laboratory experiments.
• •Attend weekly meetings to go through laboratory safety considerations for upcoming experiments with faculty and teaching assistants.
• •Detailing, prepare, and recommend changes to chemistry experiments as needed.
• •Assist teaching and research faculty with laboratory related activities as required.
• •Substitute for other lab technicians in case of illness, vacation or other operational needs.

MISCELLANEOUS DUTIES (5%)

• •Perform housekeeping and organizational duties as assigned by the Laboratory Manager, Department Administrator, or Department Chair.
• •Perform other duties as assigned by the Laboratory Manager, Department Administrator, or Department Chair.

Department:

The Chemistry Department is large, complex, dynamic and very productive with an annual budget of approximately $4.2 M including grants from the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Health, Department of Energy, etc. It consists of 16 faculty, 4 academic staff, 3 classified staff, 4 postdocs/research associates, approximately 52 graduate students. The Chemistry & Biochemistry Department offers four undergraduate degrees, two M.S. degrees and a PhD with a significant international student population.

Compensation:

$19.23/hour - $21.63/hour (Final offer will be determined based on qualifications and experience)

Required Qualifications:

• •Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or related field from an accredited institution granted by date of hire or commensurate combination of education and experience.
• •Chemical laboratory experience in laboratory terminology, principles of laboratory instrument techniques and laboratory safety.

Preferred Qualifications:

• •Experience with techniques used in analytical chemistry.
• •Knowledge of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and practical application.
• •Knowledge of computer operations sufficient to operate chemical inventory software, access and download SDS sheets, and communicate effectively through email.
• •Strong written and oral communication skills and ability to effectively communicate with faculty, staff, students and the public.
• •Ability to independently prioritize work to meet deadlines while working in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions.
• •Demonstrated organizational skills, independent judgement and initiative, excellent writing skills, analytical skills, and problem-solving ability with high attention to detail.
• •Demonstrated working knowledge of common software packages such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint.

Additional Skills:

Knowledge of University Work Rules.

Provide courteous professional customer service to campus and non-campus clientele.

Physical Requirements:

Ability to frequently lift packages up to 40 pounds.

OCCPUATIONAL SAFETY PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABLIITY STANDARDS

• •Maintain safety protocols in your work area(s). Become aware of the health and safety rules for your work area, as set forth by the Wisconsin Building Code, federal, state and local requirements and regulations, UWM and UW System policies and the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, http://dsps.wi.gov/Home, as set forth on the UWM University Safety and Assurances web page, http://www4.uwm.edu/usa/safety/
• •Advise your management/supervisors of suspected or perceived risks as soon as possible, so as to prevent and control occupational injuries and illnesses. Follow the directives of the Department of University Safety and Assurances in correcting identified risks in a prompt and responsible manner.
• •Report all accidents immediately to your supervisor.
• •Use protective safety equipment, devices and tools provided.
• •Complete safety training programs recommended by your supervisor or the Department of University Safety and Assurances.

WORKING CONDITIONS WHILE PERFORMING ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• •Exposure to low-level noise and chemicals relate to operation of laboratory equipment.
• •Exposure to occasional orders from volatile chemicals.
• •General office environment. Exposure to low-level noise and chemical related to operation of equipment such as photocopiers, printers, fax machines or computers.

EQUIPMENT USED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Computer, calculator, printer, scanner, copier, telephone, audiovisual equipment, and a variety of la