Department: Chemistry

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or other accommodations to apply for employment, or for an interview, at Michigan Technological University, please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or .

Job Description Summary

The Laboratory Instrument Coordinator will be responsible for maintaining scientific instruments and equipment for the teaching and research laboratories in the Department of Chemistry. The coordinator will work closely with faculty and lab supervisors in physical, analytical, biochemistry, and other courses. The coordinator will train graduate and undergraduate students to use the equipment, perform routine maintenance, work with vendors and service representatives, as needed. Some contributions to the teaching mission are expected including training teaching assistants, assisting with design of new laboratory modules, preparing demonstrations, and teaching troubleshooting skills.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities (other duties may be assigned)

1. Promote and model a safe working environment.

2. Develop policies, procedures, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for safe operation of laboratory equipment.

3. Perform routine maintenance and repairs on instruments in teaching and research labs.

4. Interface with service representatives to facilitate updates, repairs, and purchases of instruments.

5. Train students and teaching assistants in safe and responsible operation of laboratory equipment.

6. Assist faculty in developing and updating modules for teaching laboratories.

7. Assist faculty and researchers with in developing experimental procedures with department instruments.

8. Develop and oversee a program to hire undergraduate instrument specialists (modeled on an existing campus program). 

9. Manage scheduling calendars for equipment.

10. Manage computers that support instruments, including equipment interfaces and software.

11. Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work. Actively engage in University continuous improvement initiatives.

12. Apply safety-related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work.

     

     

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures (minimum requirements)

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry or related subject and 3 years of relevant experience; Or Master's degree in chemistry or related subject

   

   

Required Experience (minimum requirements)

• Hands-on experience operating chemistry equipment.

• Experience in safely working in a laboratory environment.

   

   

Desirable Education and/or Experience

• MS in chemistry or related subject.

• 5 years of laboratory experience.

• Experience in diagnosing and repairing electronic equipment.

• Experience in managing computer-instrument interfaces.

• Experience in informal or formal STEM teaching.

   

   

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities (minimum requirements)

• Experience operating and maintaining instruments such as liquid or gas chromatographs; mass spectrometers; NMR; atomic or molecular spect