Technical Assistant III-Instructional Laboratory Technician

Company: University of Massachusetts
Location: Amherst
Posted on: June 10, 2021

Job Description:

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

Two open positions to assist in the daily operations of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) instructional laboratories by coordinating lab activities and providing professional and timely services to course instructors, other instructional support staff and students.

Essential Functions

Examples of duties:

• Perform procedures associated with bacterial culture, PCR, cloning, gene expression, plasmid DNA isolation, protein purification, electrophoresis, enzyme kinetics and sample prep for various BMB laboratory courses.
• Develop methods, standard operating procedures, set-up and testing of experimental protocols for all BMB laboratory courses.
• Prepare, monitor and maintain stocks and reagents required for BMB laboratory courses, arrange appropriate storage and perform day-to-day monitoring of resources (including equipment) to ensure upkeep in the best possible order, with up-to-date service logs.
• Provide education and training to other instructional support staff and students.
• Maintain inventory and procurement database, perform purchasing and inventory maintenance and communicate with vendors.
• Maintain, troubleshoot and perform preventative maintenance on instructional laboratory equipment, maintain safety equipment routine testing checklist (including, but not limited to eye wash stations, chemical satellite accumulation areas and autoclave).
• Maintain literature awareness of course-related experimental principles and techniques.
• Communicate effectively with Manager of Laboratory Instruction, Teaching Assistants (TAs), Instructors and with colleagues in other collaborating departments (including, but not limited to Biology and Chemistry departments) to ensure smooth coordination of all processes, prep and logistics of BMB laboratory courses.
• Edit electronic laboratory manuals.
• Train and functionally supervise TAs and student employees in proper biohazard, chemical hazard, and autoclave waste disposal, oversee student adherence to Federal and Departmental/University environmental, safety, and chemical storage and disposal standards.
• Access Chemical Environmental Management System database to oversee inventory of chemicals in the BMB instructional laboratories and request regular collection of accumulated chemical waste by the UMass Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) department.
• Assist course instructors as requested.
• Participate in meetings with course instructors and other instructional support staff related to operational services.

Other Functions

• Work collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equality and inclusiveness.
• Work in partnership with colleagues within the College of Natural Sciences (CNS) community and across the campus to support the Dean's strategic priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the BMB Department and CNS.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Associates Degree plus one year of relevant work experience in Biochemistry, Biomedical Science or other relevant basic science subject, or Bachelors degree and zero experience at time of hire.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Experience in wet lab procedures including sterile technique, pipetting, reagent preparation, centrifugation, and other biochemistry and molecular biology equipment operation.
• Manual dexterity and laboratory skills consistent with the work being performed.
• Initiative and drive.
• Knowledge of general laboratory and biohazard safety.
• Ability to work independently.
• Knowledge of basic molecular biology, biochemistry, and chemistry.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including effective oral and written communication skills.
• Computer skills (E.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Excellent organization, time management, and record-keeping skills.
• Ability to prioritize, be flexible and work well with various personalities including students, instructors and staff.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

Typical laboratory environment.

Additional Details

Flexibility to work weekend and/or evening hours in order to support laboratory courses (including evening labs) is required.

Work Schedule

Variable hours between Monday - Friday; 8:30am - 5:00pm most days with a minimum of two days per week of evening lab support (as late as 9:30pm). Some weekend hours, as needed.

Salary Information

Grade 15

Special Instructions to Applicants

Submit a letter of application, resume and contact information for three professional references.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.

Advertised: Apr 1 2021 Eastern Daylight Time

Applications close:

Keywords: University of Massachusetts, Springfield , Technical Assistant III-Instructional Laboratory Technician, Other , Amherst, Massachusetts