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The Laboratory Assistant (LA) spends 40 hours/work working in the Physical Sciences Department. The position primarily provides operational support for physical sciences instructional laboratory activities, courses, classrooms, and community service events. The position also plays a crucial role in assisting with the maintenance of GRCC’s main campus laboratory stockroom, long-term storage and preparation areas.
Requisition ID:
Position Number: 00002125
Employee Group: Professional, Management, & Administration (PMA)
Schedule: 40 hours/52 week
Compensation: AP2; $19.83 per hour
Benefits: Full Time
Reports to: Physical Sciences Lab Coordinator
Posting Opens:
Posting Closes:
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Laboratory Activity Preparation
- Set up weekly carts of laboratory course activities that use laboratory reagents, stockroom glassware and/or equipment via following Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) written by a lab coordinator.
- Prepare laboratory classrooms for weekly activities from prepared carts following SOP.
- Laboratory Classroom Dismantling:
- Take down weekly laboratory activities from laboratory classrooms and places used reagent containers, used stockroom glassware, lab waste and/or lab equipment on carts following SOP.
- Take down weekly carts containing laboratory course activities by (1) preparing chemical solutions and laboratory reagents and refilling depleted reagent containers, (2) placing laboratory waste into allocated collection container(s), (3) washing student glassware, (4) inspecting lab equipment, and (5) returning all laboratory materials back to their appropriate storage locations according to SOP.
- Prep Room Maintenance:
- Prepare chemical solutions and laboratory reagents according to SOP written by a lab coordinator and/or protocols provided by a lab coordinator.
- Follow laboratory preparation notes to formulate, prepare, and package chemical reagents, solutions, solids, and unknown samples for chemistry laboratory experiments and demonstrations.
- Assist with characterizing and packaging laboratory waste generated within the instructional laboratory classrooms.
- Stockroom Maintenance:
- Assist with purchase order preparations for chemicals, glassware, consumables, and equipment for the physical sciences stockroom, laboratories and storage areas.
- Assist with maintaining inventories of chemicals, glassware, consumables and equipment.
- Assist with maintaining department collections of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and laboratory equipment instruction manuals.
- Assist with maintaining laboratory course prep books and/or SOP to reflect appropriate laboratory requirements and storage locations.
- Laboratory Classroom Maintenance:
- Maintain cleanliness and organization of the laboratory classroom environment, including stocking student drawers, laboratory stations, cabinets and kits each semester.
- Assemble and calibrate scientific equipment and instruments, and provide routine maintenance and troubleshooting as needed.
- Laboratory Safety:
- Follow safety procedures related to chemistry instructional laboratory classrooms, stockrooms, and preparation areas.
- Maintain security, practice safe handling, proper storage, and labeling of chemicals, reagents, and unknown samples.
- Utilize the Flinn catalog’s Laboratory Waste Disposal methods guide to characterize, lab pack, treat, and/or properly dispose all laboratory waste generated by the biology and chemistry laboratory experiments and demonstrations.
- Maintain proper housekeeping within the physical sciences’ instructional laboratory classrooms, stockrooms, and preparation areas. Clean laboratory glassware, benches, equipment, etc., as required.
- Other:
- Provide instructional/technical support, training and assistance to faculty, students, and staff as needed.
- Interview hire/release, train, supervise and evaluate student employees. Maintain student employee scheduling records. Assign, monitor and delegate activities to be performed by student employees (i.e., cleaning glassware, cleaning laboratory classrooms, benches, and equipment, preparing chemical reagents, restocking laboratory consumables, repairing equipment, etc.).
- Regular attendance during normal scheduled hours is required.
- Engage in professional development activities (i.e., laboratory safety training, bloodborne pathogen training, annual GRCC compliance training, etc.).
- May require occasional evening and/or weekend duties.
- Execute other related duties as assigned by the laboratory coordinator.
JOB SPECIFICATIONS
Educational Credentials
- Associate’s degree with an emphasis in chemistry required, or equivalent work experience.
Work Experience
- Knowledge of laboratory safety practices, devices, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Knowledge of common chemical reactions.
- Must possess basic laboratory skills consistent with chemistry laboratory courses, including the ability to calculate and prepare chemical solutions and reagents to exact standards without supervision.
Skills
- Attention to Detail
- Laboratory Equipment and Reagents Handling
- Safety and Compliance
- Organizational and Inventory Management
- Team Collaboration and Training
Physical Demands
- Ability to lift and move up to 45 pounds
- Ability to stand for extended periods of time
Mental Demands
- Demonstrates strong attention to detail, organizational skills, financial accountability, strategic thinking, sound decision-making, and problem-solving abilities.
- Capable of working effectively under pressure and in environments with frequent interruptions.
- Provides backup for the Laboratory Coordinator position in their absence.
- Exercises good judgment in handling sensitive, confidential, or challenging situations in a professional and courteous manner.
- Able to perform both routine and unexpected tasks with minimal supervision.
- Takes direction well, uses discretion appropriately, and maintains a high level of professionalism and responsiveness in daily interactions with a diverse range of stakeholders.
- Willing to collaborate as part of a team and lead projects as needed.
Working Conditions
- GRCC will comply with any mandated health and safety requirements. Compliance information is available on our policies website.
- Laboratory environment in an academic setting.
- Work with chemicals and potentially hazardous conditions on a routine basis.
- Ability to work flexible hours as needed. May require occasional evening and weekend hours.