Lab Technician

This position primarily reports to the Laboratory Manager and serves as a departmental lab technician supporting the undergraduate laboratories. This individual operates a laboratory stockroom servicing faculty teaching assistants and students and facilitates the daily operation of the undergraduate laboratories for the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. The position frequently lifts packages up to forty (40) pounds. This position works closely with the Laboratory Manager the Department Administrator and the Department Chair to ensure the safety of the labs efficiency of lab operations and effectiveness of lab undergraduate activities. This position is also directly responsible for technical lab support of the General Analytical Physical and Organic Chemistry classes.

LAB TECHNICIAN FOR GENERAL ANALYTICAL PHYSICAL AND ORGANIC CHEMISTRY UNDERGRADUATE LABORATORIES(65%)

• Operate and maintain a chemical stockroom and undergraduate laboratories in a professional safe clean and orderly manner.
• Prepare set up and take down experiments for General Analytical Physical and Organic Chemistry undergraduate laboratories.
• Maintain a service counter for the distribution of chemicals (e.g. acids bases alcohols toxins carcinogens etc.) supplies and equipment to students and faculty for undergraduate chemistry laboratories.
• Calculate and safely prepare a variety of chemical concentrations from stock materials including concentrated acids caustic solids and other hazardous materials.
• Maintain and operate laboratory instruments such as pH meters analytical balances Vernier LabQuest spectrophotometers centrifuges spectrofluorometers rotary evaporators Gas Chromatography Infra-Red Spectroscopy Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and other equipment.
• Monitor the inventory and quality of chemicals and supplies for undergraduate laboratories and initiate ordering process as needed.
• Routinely restock consumable supplies such as gloves filter paper and glassware as necessary for the function of the labs
• Receive chemical orders and enter or remove materials from the chemical inventory system.

OVERSEE LABORATORY SAFETY (15%)

• Serve as a laboratory safety resource for the undergraduate laboratories and report to Laboratory Manager Department Administrator and University Safety & Assurances as necessary.
• Monitor undergraduate lab activities to ensure that appropriate safety precautions are used.
• Provide support to laboratory teaching assistants in removing students that are not adhering to the safety standards and attire.
• Coordinate the safe storage handling disposal and recordkeeping of hazardous chemicals and chemical waste.
• Keep laboratory benches and reagent shelves clean and orderly.
• Maintain and update the hard copy versions of the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department Safety Data Sheet (SDS) records.

PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT (15%)

• Prepare set up perform and clean up demonstrations as requested by course instructors.
• Maintain functional use of the instruments and report serious malfunctions to the Laboratory Manager.
• Be capable of operating all instruments in areas of responsibility. (Initial training will be provided from faculty and staff on new instruments.)
• Work with course instructors on implementation of new laboratory experiments.
• Attend weekly meetings to go through laboratory safety considerations for upcoming experiments with faculty and teaching assistants.
• Detailing prepare and recommend changes to chemistry experiments as needed.
• Assist teaching and research faculty with laboratory related activities as required.
• Substitute for other lab technicians in case of illness vacation or other operational needs.

MISCELLANEOUS DUTIES(5%)

• Perform housekeeping and organizational duties as assigned by the Laboratory Manager Department Administrator or Department Chair.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Laboratory Manager Department Administrator or Department Chair.

The Chemistry Department is large complex dynamic and very productive with an annual budget of approximately $4.2 M including grants from the National Science Foundation National Institute of Health Department of Energy etc. It consists of 16 faculty 4 academic staff 3 classified staff 4 postdocs/research associates approximately 52 graduate students. The Chemistry & Biochemistry Department offers four undergraduate degrees two M.S. degrees and a PhD with a significant international student population.

$19.23/hour - $21.63/hour (Final offer will be determined based on qualifications and experience)

• Bachelors degree in Chemistry or related field from an accredited institution granted by date of hire or commensurate combination of education and experience.
• Chemical laboratory experience in laboratory terminology principles of laboratory instrument techniques and laboratory safety.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with techniques used in analytical chemistry.
• Knowledge of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and practical application.
• Knowledge of computer operations sufficient to operate chemical inventory software access and download SDS sheets and communicate effectively through email.
• Strong written and oral communication skills and ability to effectively communicate with faculty staff students and the public.
• Ability to independently prioritize work to meet deadlines while working in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions.
• Demonstrated organizational skills independent judgement and initiative excellent writing skills analytical skills and problem-solving ability with high attention to detail.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of common software packages such as Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint.

Additional Skills:

• Knowledge of University Work Rules.

• Provide courteous professional customer service to campus and non-campus clientele.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to frequently lift packages up to 40 pounds.
  

OCCPUATIONAL SAFETY PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABLIITY STANDARDS

• Maintain safety protocols in your work area(s). Become aware of the health and safety rules for your work area as set forth by the Wisconsin Building Code federal state and local requirements and regulations UWM and UW System policies and the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services as set forth on the UWM University Safety and Assurances web page your management/supervisors of suspected or perceived risks as soon as possible so as to prevent and control occupational injuries and illnesses. Follow the directives of the Department of University Safety and Assurances in correcting identified risks in a prompt and responsible manner.
• Report all accidents immediately to your supervisor.
• Use protective safety equipment devices and tools provided.
• Complete safety training programs recommended by your supervisor or the Department of University Safety and Assurances.

WORKING CONDITIONS WHILE PERFORMING ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Exposure to low-level noise and chemicals relate to operation of laboratory equipment.
• Exposure to occasional orders from volatile chemicals.
• General office environment. Exposure to low-level noise and chemical related to operation of equipment such as photocopiers printers fax machines or computers.

EQUIPMENT USED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Computer calculator printer scanner copier telephone audiovisual equipment and a variety of laboratory equipment.

How to Apply:

Interested applicants are required to apply online and provide a cover letter detailed resume/CV that addresses your professional level work experience as it relates to all required and preferred qualifications. Applicationsmissingany of therequired documents listedprior to the application deadlinewill bemarked asincompleteand will not beconsidered.

In instances where the Search and Screen Committee are unable to ascertain from a candidates application materials whether they meet any of the qualifications they will be evaluated as not meeting such qualifications.

Finalist candidate(s) being considered for hire will be required to provide three professional/supervisor references through an external reference checking tool. References will not be contacted prior to candidates being notified.

Apply electronically by the application deadline of Saturday November 7 2026.

Contact Information:

For any questions regarding the position please contact Tom Schwartz ().

Reasonable Accommodations
Pursuant to university policy UWM provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability please contact or . This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.

Confidentiality of Applicant Materials
UWMis a State agency and subject to Wisconsins Open Records not however reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsins Open Records certain circumstances the identities of final candidates and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request.

CBCand Reference Check Policy
Employment will require a criminal background the prevention of sexual misconduct seriously. As such you and your references will be required to answer questions regarding any past findings of sexual violence and sexual harassment or any pending allegations of sexual violence or sexual harassment.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)
For theUWMAnnual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e. Clery Report) which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies see or call UWMs Dean of Students Office Student Union 345 at for a paper copy.

Employment Authorization
In compliance with federal law all persons at the time of their start date will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin age pregnancy disability status as a protected veteran or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds perspectives and skills and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.