Laboratory Technician, Environmental And Ocean Sciences
- Full-Time
- San Diego, CA
- University Of San Diego
- Posted 3 years ago – Accepting applications
Job Description
The Environmental and Ocean Sciences department at the University of San Diego is hiring a Lab Technician I.
- This position is full-time, benefits-based, hourly position with expectations for both laboratory and field support.
- As an interdisciplinary and field intensive department, Environmental and Ocean Sciences has access to a diverse array of instruments used in labs for many courses, student and faculty research and in the field.
- Our department is very field oriented with daily local field trips, occasional weekend field trips and courses and research that require small boat support.
- This position will primarily provide support for field and laboratory instruments for teaching and research.
Duties & Responsibilities:
- General laboratory/departmental support
- The lab tech will provide general support of teaching labs and student/faculty research including:
- sample organization/sorting
- assisting the lab manager to supervise student workers
- course laboratory set-up/tear down
- laboratory supply inventory
- purchasing & ordering equipment and supplies
- logistical support of instructional field trips
- The lab tech will provide general support of teaching labs and student/faculty research including:
- Field equipment and field sampling support
- The EOSC department has a wide variety of field equipment and instruments including two small boats.
- The lab tech will evaluate and oversee inventory and maintenance of field equipment and will evaluate, send out, or perform basic repairs. Instruments include:
- boat sampling gear
- water quality meters
- field sampling gear
- GPS & survey instruments
- small boats and departmental vehicles
- The lab tech will assist with class field trips and field-based research (including occasional weekends [typically 4-6 weekends per year]). This assistance may include:
- driving departmental or rental vehicles
- captaining boats
- deploying boat sampling gear
- training students in field equipment operations
- assisting with field trip logistics
- The lab tech will train students and faculty to use and deploy field equipment including
- boat sampling gear
- water quality meters
- field sampling gear
- GPS & survey instruments
- boats
- Laboratory equipment operation, maintenance and training
- The lab tech will oversee laboratory instrument inventory, operation, maintenance and troubleshooting for some EOSC instruments such as
- GPS Survey instruments
- microscopes
- sample processing equipment
- geochemical analytical equipment
- other laboratory equipment.
- The lab tech will evaluate whether repairs can be made in house or sent out and may perform basic repairs
- The lab tech will also train students and faculty to use department laboratory instruments.
- The lab tech will oversee laboratory instrument inventory, operation, maintenance and troubleshooting for some EOSC instruments such as
- Maintain six storage facilities
- The lab tech will assure that field equipment and chemicals storage areas are clean and organized and maintain inventory of equipment, chemicals, and supplies.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor degree in natural sciences plus 1-year related experience.
- Prior experience leading or coordinating field education or field research.
- Prior experience with boat handling (preferred).
- Prior mechanical or construction experience (preferred).
- Prior experience with laboratory analytical equipment; (experience with EOSC equipment [listed above] is preferred).
Performance Expectations - Knowledge Skills and Abilities:
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
- Knowledge of laboratory safety procedures and ability to maintain a safe, clean, organized working environment.
- Ability to delegate tasks while maintaining leadership and effective communication skills.
- Ability and willingness to represent the University in the most positive manner.
- Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
- Ability to swim and be comfortable in marine field environments.
- Ability to establish and maintain strong working relationships and perform as a team member with colleagues, staff, administrators, students and the general public.
- Must possess flexibility and versatility in order to contribute to evolving work situations which include a wide variety of field environments.
- Use independent judgment to accommodate the needs of the University by determining proper corrective action or by referring the problem to other appropriate personnel.
- Ability to access, input and retrieve information from a computer system for word processing, design and other uses.
- Read, understand and express oneself clearly and effectively in written and oral form and request clarification when needed.
- Possess good organizational skills.
- Ability to drive different types of vehicles safely (truck, passenger vans, SUV’s)
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:
- CA Driver’s License
Tools & Equipment Used:
- Department laboratory and field instruments (see above).
- Laptop computers (MS Office).
- Basic construction tools used to assemble and build instruments.
Background check: Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.
Degree Verification Requirement: Persons offered employment in this position will be required to provide official education transcripts for degree verification purposes.
Posting Salary:$18.45-23.97/hour; Excellent Benefits
The University of San Diego offers a very competitive benefits package, to include medical, dental, vision, a retirement contribution given to you by the University (with three year vesting period), and access to on-campus Fitness Centers. Please visit the benefits section of our website to view all of the perks and benefits that USD has to offer.