Sr Technical Assoc

Responsibilities Reports to the Assistant Director of Business Administration and is under the general direction of the Director of the Undergraduate Program in Biology & Medicine (UPBM). With significant latitude for independent judgment, is responsible for the daily preparation, set-up, and clean-up for almost all lower-level and upper-level biology lab courses. This typically includes 5-6 courses per week with approximately 75 sections and serving students (over 800 per semester). Provides direct teaching support at the senior professional level by taking charge of complex research projects and goals. Provides guidance to and directly supervises one technician, and several laboratory aides and undergraduate students. Runs and troubleshoots complicated experiments used in the teaching labs and advises lab instructors on modifications and/or enhancements to the protocols to ensure meaningful results. Position plays a critical role in the success of the departments teaching mission. Position is both strongly scientific and administrative in nature. Calls for exceptional written and verbal communication skills, professionalism, diplomacy, and confidentiality. Must be comfortable engaging with a wide variety of people and hierarchies. Strong interpersonal, analytical, and conflict resolution skills are needed. Ideal candidate will be proficient at prioritizing needs of multiple faculty and courses at once, delegating comfortably, and articulating limits and policies clearly and directly. Job entails frequent and consistent development of new and creative processes and resources to support a vast and ever-changing student body and curriculum. Should be familiar and comfortable with Microsoft applications such as Word, Excel, and Outlook, and online databases such as Blackboard and Job Link. Laboratory Course Design & Preparation 20% Collaborates with research instructors in writing protocols for the conduct of experiments which include purposes of study, design of experiments, lists of materials and methods to be used and the schedule of activities. Assists faculty researchers in the design of research projects and in the preparation of experiment proposals to ensure that students get meaningful results. Organizes research activities in accordance with approved protocols. Analyzes and evaluates experimental data and interprets results within the scope of the project. Keeps careful records documenting methods used and results obtained from tests of laboratory protocols.Draws on the primary scientific literature in offering suggestions to methods for data collection and sample handling. Tests and troubleshoots complicated experiments, reviews materials lists and guidelines for the execution of each lab course.Sets up laboratory classrooms, including the equipment, consumables, and reagents needed for each course daily.Replenishes all materials as needed between lab sections, cleans each room, and washes and sterilizes glassware. Works with the Departments undergraduate office to create course schedules for each new semester.Provides all required details to any substitute instructors when necessary, including description, schedule, explanation, and training. Orients visitors to the laboratory. Equipment design/maintenance 20% Independently operates complex scientific equipment with responsibility for developing critical research data. Designs or collaborates in designing sophisticated research equipment. Evaluates the performance of the equipment, making or recommending correctional design changes or developing new approaches for its use. Makes suggestions to the dept chair for equipment needed for the capital budget. Budgetary responsibility 20% Coordinates service support: repair and replacement of equipment, requisitioning of supplies and research materials and minor construction. Tracks the expenses for each course and provides end of semester data to the department chair. Recommends expenditures for major laboratory equipment.Authorizes expenditure for supplies and maintenance. Directs the gathering of research materials, supplies, equipment and apparatus and experimental subjects (e.g., laboratory animals). Maintains contact with outside research laboratories, vendors, and technical representatives. Teaching Assistant Supervision 20% Informs laboratory aides and technician of their responsibilities in each project. Coordinates and instructs all employees in the roles they will play in preparing materials, setting up equipment, and changing over rooms between laboratory exercises. Teaches laboratory techniques and instrumentation procedures to graduate student TAs, instructional faculty and laboratory support staff.Counsels them on technical problems, advises and assists them with special experiments. Works in conjunction with instructors to train and provide technical support for all teaching assistants (70 per year) before and during lab periods.Assists TAs and attends TA meetings weekly. Advises instructors in choosing the best TAs for each semester. Safety and Policy Compliance - 10% Ensures that health and safety practices are maintained in accordance with University policy and federal and state laws. Ensures that TAs are appropriately trained to safely work with students in the laboratories. Creates and updates Lab Safety course for students.Works in close collaboration with the facilities manager and EH&S. Responsible for enforcing safe lab practices, and proper storage and disposal of hazardous all student laboratory and prep stations in compliance with University Environmental Health & Safety and OSHA standards.Audits and evaluates all experiments for any deviation from compliance and makes appropriate provisions for proper handling of materials, protocols, and waste management.Keeps abreast of all policies and disseminates new information to all teaching assistants, students, and faculty as needed. Inventory Maintenance 10% Maintains an active inventory and works directly with vendors to order supplies and equipment for all lab courses as needed. Keeps records of all transactions and monitors the teaching lab budget and ledgers. Meets monthly with the departments Senior Financial Analyst. Makes recommendations regarding spending and cost-cutting measures, and equipment replacement and acquisition. Maintains and updates all equipment and troubleshoots problems as necessary. Responsible for setting up multiple student-use laptops and coordinates with Classroom Tech and University IT for software installation and updates. Requirements: Bachelor's degree and 5 years of relevant experience required, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Master's degree and 2 years of relevant experience preferred; PhD in biological science, particularly in molecular biology, large-scale cell and organism culture and microscopy is preferred. Must have extensive experience designing and running experiments, and managing a lab staff. Must have experience with budget management and equipment inventory. The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion to advance the Universitys mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion/creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other status protected by law. This commitment extends to the administration of our policies, admissions, employment, access, and recruitment of candidates from underrepresented populations, veterans, and persons with disabilities consistent with these values and government contractor Affirmative Action obligations. How To Apply All applicants must apply online. EOE Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled Apply for Job Careers Sign In New User Location: The College Full/Part Time: Full-Time Opening: Schedule:

Created: 2024-10-28