Biology Laboratory Manager

Position: Biology Laboratory Manager

Department: College of Arts & Sciences/Biology

Status: Full Time

Position Summary

As a full staff position, with benefits, the biology department laboratory manager serves as the lead instructor, coordinator and manager of all persons, preparations, and activities involved in the BIOL 111L – Biology 111 laboratory course, BIOL 113L – Biology 113 laboratory course and the BIOL 101L – Biology 101 laboratory course, as well as laboratory course support for other large service courses in the department. In addition, the position is responsible for departmental laboratory inventory, equipment maintenance, safety, waste management, evaluation and acquisition of instrumentation for enhancement of laboratory instruction and laboratory facility renovations.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Hire, train and supervise laboratory instructors including:
• BIOL 101L – Biology for Life laboratory sections (2-3 in Spring only)
• BIOL 111L and BIOL 113L – Basic Biology I & II laboratory sections.
• Direct weekly preparation and safety meetings with these laboratory instructors.
• Will typically teach the first laboratory section of the week for the primary lab course(s) supervised.
• Supervise maintenance of laboratory instructors’ grading at a standard level and format. Coordinate the delivery of grades to the lecture instructors.
• Approve or deny students wishing to attend a lab section different than their own, depending upon whether the student’s reasons for the switch meet certain set criteria which includes following established procedure.
• Mediate issues that arise between students and the lab assistants teaching the student’s lab section.
• Manage issues involving student enrollment.
• Evaluate the performance of lab instructors, taking necessary personnel actions when warranted. Compile & disseminate results to individual lab assistants and to Administrative Assistant.
  
  

• Ensure weekly concurrent labs are set-up properly and completely for BIOL 101L, BIOL 111L, and BIOL 113L. This includes:
• Hire, train and supervise undergraduate student workers who assist in preparation and disassembly of the equipment and materials for the lab sections. Delegate weekly responsibilities.
• Maintain laboratory rooms and equipment for BIOL 101L, BIOL 111L, and BIOL 113L.
• Schedule major repairs and annual maintenance of equipment, and instrumentation.
• Report facility maintenance problems to the CU Facilities via the department Administrative Assistant.
• Preparation of chemical solutions.
• Set-up of materials and equipment in lab rooms for all the Fall and Spring lab sections.
• Re-supply expendable items and new or needed equipment by submitting orders to the departmental Administrative Assistant.
• Submit requisitions for supplies, materials, and equipment to the Administrative Assistant.
• Maintain chemical inventory for BIOL 101L, BIOL 111L, and BIOL 113L.

• Act in capacity of Chemical Safety Officer for Biology department.
• Compile an inventory of chemicals in the Biology department and maintain a current organized listing.
• Establish procedures to keep chemical inventory complete and current.
• Attend Laboratory Safety training.
• Supply faculty with the means to classify chemicals in each stockroom into safe groups and corresponding safe shelving arrangements.
• Work with Chemistry department Safety Officer to coordinate disposal of old and hazardous chemicals.
• Maintain department laboratory equipment, including routine servicing as needed for microscopes, micro-pipettors, balances, and hoods.
• Coordinate department computer laptop use with Faculty.
• Attend monthly department meetings.
• Develop and update student lab manuals for the Biology for Life and Basic Biology courses. As part of this the lab manager will:
• Develop lab exercises and update existing lab activities in collaboration with faculty.
• Hire student(s) dedicated to examining and performing new laboratory activities prior to implementation.
• Develop and edit laboratory preparation procedure manuals.
• Develop and edit laboratory procedure manuals for laboratory instructors.
• Develop and furnish lab instructors with instructional tools – such as PowerPoint presentation lectures, quiz templates and keys and worksheet keys – for use in helping to maintain a high and consistent standard of teaching in weekly labs.
• Maintain and update instructor blackboard site.
  

Education/Experience

• Minimum of BS in Biology or closely related discipline.
• Experience teaching or working in laboratory, especially in an academic setting, is desired.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Strong background in biological systems and scientific method.
• Strong communication and management skills for interacting with faculty, laboratory instructors, students, science Administrative Assistants, and other institutional staff persons, laboratory supply vendors, and service contractors.
• Substantial independent decision making and organization for preparation and implementation of laboratory activities.
• Creative thought in development of laboratory activities, and the ability to provide laboratory instruction.
• Ability to prioritize and balance time spent on numerous tasks in a time-sensitive fashion.
• Ability to develop, update, and implement departmental laboratory policies and procedures.
• Ability to develop, update, and implement instructional curriculum for BIOL 101 and Basic Biology laboratory courses.
• Strong decision-making skills, pertaining to employment of laboratory instructors, evaluation of and purchasing of laboratory supplies and instrumentation, determining suitable courses of action regarding equipment maintenance, repair, and replacement, identifying and selecting suitable vendors of laboratory supplies and instrumentation.