Laboratory Technician II

A Laboratory Technician II works under the general supervision of the Department Chair. They are expected to accomplish all tasks with minimal supervision. Faculty determine the experiments and demonstrations to be done and the equipment needed for certain cases the Laboratory Technician II works closely with faculty to design and test experiments/demonstrations and assemble corresponding equipment lists. The Laboratory Technician II assembles needed equipment for all laboratory and lecture courses tests equipment to be sure it is functioning properly and returns the equipment to proper storage facilities when course experiments/activities are completed. The Laboratory Technician II works closely with the Department Chair and faculty to manage inventory hazardous waste and safety practices. The Laboratory Technician II works closely with the Department Chair and Executive Assistant to manage budgets and purchasing of equipment and supplies.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Technical support for Physics and Biophysics Curriculum and Faculty:

• Setup maintain and tear down laboratory class experiments and lecture demonstrations. Must develop a working knowledge of all laboratory experiments in the physics curriculum.
• Provide input on lower division lab design and most effective equipment to achieve laboratory goals.
• Provide input on most effective lecture demonstration equipment to achieve desired goals.
• Manage equipment and experiments for upper-division laboratory courses.
• Manage equipment and experiments associated with independent student research projects.
• Supervise students conducting select research projects focused on experiment design and equipment development and characterization.
• Work with lead laboratory instructors to design/maintain/update course equipment lists.
• Train new faculty and adjunct faculty on how to operate equipment when needed.
• Repair old equipment when necessary and assist in bringing new equipment on-line.
• Organize and maintain all Physics and Biophysics laboratory preparation rooms and stockrooms.
• Work with the Building Manager and the other laboratory technicians to organize and maintain shared spaces.

Budget:

• Maintain record of expenses for laboratory and lecture courses.
• Keep accurate purchasing records for all materials (chemicals supplies equipment) relating to laboratory courses lecture demos and research groups as requested.
• Submit detailed expense reports.
• Identify errors in billing and work with the Executive Assistant to resolve billing errors.
• Manage and process return of purchased items.

Purchasing:

• Work with Department Chair and faculty to purchase supplies equipment and chemicals relating to laboratory courses lecture demonstrations and research groups as requested.
• Keep accurate records of all purchases.

Safety Representative:

• Prepare forms and safety quiz for student safety orientation at beginning of semester.
• Attend quarterly Safety Committee Meetings and Chemical Safety Committee Meetings.
• Maintain current inventory of all radioactive nuclides in departmental teaching and research laboratories and storerooms.
• Work with faculty to ensure research laboratories adhere to all safety regulations.
• Maintain current inventory of all chemicals in departmental teaching and research laboratories and storerooms.
• Dispose of old/degraded chemicals as determined by inventory analysis.
• Work with faculty to ensure research laboratory chemical inventories are completed yearly.
• Check the safety equipment tags to make sure the equipment is regularly tested.
• Compile a list of hazardous waste; collect process and manage all Physics and Biophysics Department hazardous waste for disposal in coordination with the Building Manager.
• Train student workers on general laboratory and chemical safety.
• Maintain updated library of Material Safety Data Sheets for all chemicals in the department.
• Train students staff and faculty on proper safety protocols for Machining Tools in the Shiley Center for Science and Technology.
• Has responsibility to investigate and respond to possible hazardous or emergency situations in the Shiley Center for Science and Technology (regardless of departmental affiliation).

Facilities/Lab/Equipment Maintenance:

• Understand the operation and maintenance of all equipment used in the teaching labs including computers and act as a resource to faculty.
• With lab coordinators lab preparation personnel and faculty maintain the clean physical condition of all teaching labs and shared spaces lab support/prep areas and equipment in teaching labs.
• Responsible for alerting the Building Manager about any problems and repairs needed (including long range maintenance planning) in Physics and Biophysics spaces and shared spaces.
• Work with and coordinate safe and effective use of shared spaces with laboratory technicians in other science departments.

Other:

• Order and receive cryogens and gases as needed and see to it that they are delivered to and from labs when necessary.
• Keep records of all purchases and repairs of equipment.
• Make arrangements for outside technicians to come fix broken equipment.
• Maintain a catalog or database of scientific supplies and equipment.
• Coordinate prepare and assist visiting groups with space and lab equipment.
• Various other duties as assigned by Chair.

Special Conditions of Employment:

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.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Masters degree in physics or a related field from an accredited university is required. Coursework must include a minimum of 2 years of physics with laboratory.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in experimental physics research and/or instruction is preferred.

Performance Expectations- Knowledge Skills andAbilities:

• The ability and willingness to maintain common physics instrumentation and to train and supervise undergraduate workers.
• A working knowledge and experience with undergraduate physics laboratory curriculum.
• A desire to develop and test experiments for undergraduate laboratory courses and work with faculty to achieve course goals.
• General office skills needed to manage the equipment chemical and hazardous waste inventories.
• Training will be required in software systems used at USD for purchasing budgeting and accounting.

Tools and Equipment Used:

• Common physics and astronomy instrumentation.
• Standard office computer software.

37.5 Hours per week

Closing date:Open until filled