What are the responsibilities and job description for the Research Lab/Operation Manager - Biomedical Engineering position at InsideHigherEd?

Job no : 526470

Work type : Staff Full Time

Location : UMass Amherst

Department : Biomedical Engineering

Union : PSU

Categories : Laboratory & Research, College of Engineering

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world.

Job Summary

The Lab / Operations Manager provides facilities and equipment maintenance, technical services, and support to department laboratories, skilled and semi-skilled machine shop services, as well as mechanical and electrical construction services in Biomedical Engineering (BME). The Lab / Operations Manager leads the daily technical operation and training of student users for all research lab equipment. This position establishes operating protocols and collaborating with faculty, staff, students, and outside users to maximize high-impact research output.

Essential Functions

Laboratory / Operations Manager– 60%

Manages all department individual and shared research lab spaces in coordination with faculty and lab personnel.
Orders instrumentation, equipment, consumable lab supplies, and chemicals for BME research and instructional labs, in consultation with faculty, staff, Research Assistants (RAs), and students as needed for replacement and additions. Responsible for inventory control including consumables (calibration gases, test samples, pressure and temperature sensors, cabling, etc.). Manages incoming packages. Schedules and coordinates all deliveries to BME Life Sciences Lab (LSL) and assists with deliveries to Goessmann Laboratory.
Prioritizes and schedules tasks for continuous improvement in research laboratories. Develops and maintains a preventative maintenance program for the facilities and provides preventative maintenance in accordance with manufacturer guidelines.
Installs new equipment including but not limited to engines, dynamometers, controls, pumps, valves, etc.
Modifies, debugs, and implements control software (e.g., LabView, MatLab, etc.).
Implements new apparatus, experiments, control software, Graphical User Information (GUI) and infrastructure.
Maintains, inspects, repairs, tests, calibrates, adjusts, reconfigures, and operates electrical, analytical, and wet lab equipment using small hand tools, portable power tools and electrical and electronic testing equipment and devices according to specifications, schematics, blueprints, technical manuals, and diagrams. Maintains records, logs and schedules of equipment installation, maintenance, and repairs.
Operates and provides instruction to researchers on proper laboratory techniques, general laboratory equipment, specialized laboratory instrumentation and software. Trains and supervises users of the research lab space. Maintains user schedule, users list, and assists with reviewing and determining usage fees. May supervise graduate and undergraduate student assistants. Assists with supervising graduate and undergraduate students for lab maintenance and safety.
Develops written laboratory practices, protocols, and lab manuals.
Manages all BME lab tools and equipment on loan.
Responds promptly and appropriately to emergencies or urgent issues as they arise.
Coordinates with university and vendors to execute and manage renovation and building plans.
Conducts lab tours for visitors, sponsors, students and prospective students, STEM, Women in Engineering group and middle school science classes. Performs outreach activities as requested by the department. Outreach activities include preparing and giving research demonstration presentations to the public and assisting faculty in preparation of demonstration materials for outreach purposes. Other activities related to outreach can also include advertising, reagent, and materials preparation, and ordering of supplies.

Safety Manager – 20%

Attends monthly Safety Coordinator and annual Shop Safety meetings with Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S), to ensure that all BME laboratories and facilities adhere to guidelines as specified by both the College of Engineering and EH&S requirements.

Performs weekly safety and hazardous waste inspections of all labs and coordinates safe disposal of hazardous materials.

Serves as Department Safety Training Manager. Provides and schedules training for faculty, students, and staff on proper laboratory safety techniques; chemicals and hazardous material and disposal; fire safety; gas cylinder safety, usage and care; autoclave; sanitation and sterilization equipment and procedures. Maintains lab, fire, and biological training modules. Maintains and updates online training records and ensures compliance.

Assists with lab safety inspections and ensures infractions have been corrected on faculty-specific safety reports.

Assists with hazardous and biological material inventory.

Maintains security of the labs and associated equipment (swipe access for all people in and out of BME LSL Labs).

Coordinates tracking and disposal of hazardous waste.

Building Manager – Goessman Labs and LSL SME Facilities - 20%

Serves as liaison to Physical Plant and Facilities & Campus Planning.

Reports building issues and all follow-up. Attends building coordinator meetings, facilitates special projects, assists with space management, and communicates to all building occupants about : new infrastructure and repair, electrical upgrades, shut downs, special deliveries, planned custodial work, DI water reports, constant temperature room recorders and general building upkeep as needed.

Other Functions

Serves as liaison to :

Environmental Health and Safety

Facilities and Campus Planning including UMass Ready Continuity Planning Program

UMass Public Safety and Property Office

Public Utilities

Specialty gas vendors, managing leased tanks, tank delivery and tank return

Stays current with technology development and suggests purchases of new equipment. Negotiate technical specifications and prices for new instruments purchase and supervise the installation of the instruments.

Manages laboratory fees in consultation with department staff.

Assists Teaching Lab / Operation Manager as needed and is their back-up.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

Bachelor's Degree in engineering or related field.

One or more years of experience with an instrumentation-related laboratory (e.g., metrology, structures, materials, robotics, etc.).

Committed to the ideas and implementation of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Ability to work in a courteous, collaborative, and collegial manner with faculty, other staff, students, international scholars, and visitors with diverse backgrounds and training.

Ability to physically move lab equipment, tools, and materials when necessary.

Excellent oral and written communication skills; ability to give instruction in a precise, understandable manner.

Proficient in instruction and operation of undergraduate laboratory equipment.

Skilled in use of specialized and standard shop and hand tools.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

Ability to work with Windows OS, MS Office (specifically Excel); demonstrated knowledge / experience with engineering applications such as Mat Lab, LabVIEW. Computer and IT literate, with knowledge of instrument control, word processing, data management, acquisition programs, and computational software.

Experience with microcomputers, microcontrollers, and data acquisition equipment and software.

Knowledge and use of tools, testing, equipment, materials, and standard practices that apply to research laboratories.

Knowledge of sanitation and sterilization equipment and procedures.

Knowledge of fundamental principles of electronics, vacuum systems, high-pressure pumps, and gas line installation.

Knowledge of occupational hazards and safety precautions that pertain to wet-lab experimentation and analytical chemistry.

Ability to read and interpret sketches, specifications, technical literature, written and oral instruction.

Ability to track and accurately maintain equipment inventory.

Ability to professionally relate and cooperatively work with a heterogeneous group : faculty, students, staff, and the public.

Ability to understand and apply the policies, rules, regulations, procedures, specifications, standards, and guidelines governing assigned unit activities.

Organizational skills.

Ability to complete projects within a given timeline and to meet deadlines.

Ability and willingness to learn operation of new instrumentation and software.

Physical Demands / Working Conditions

Able to lift 50 lbs.

Typical Workshop Conditions.

On-site position

Work Schedule

Monday through Friday 8 : 00 am - 4 : 00 pm. Occasional out-of-hours work may be required when responding to emergencies.

Salary Information

Salary Level 26.

Exempt Hiring Ranges.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Upload your cover letter and resume, along with your completed application. Our team will check references at the final stage of the interview process. Please be prepared to provide contact information for at least three (3) professional references. This position will remain open until filled or the advertised closing date, whichever occurs first. Early submissions are recommended.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.

Advertised : Feb 14 2025 Eastern Standard Time

Applications close : May 18 2025 Eastern Daylight Time

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