Job Description

The Natural Sciences Laboratory Assistant (NSLA) is a part-time 20-hour per week position located primarily on the Old Charlotte Highway Campus in Monroe, NC with some work on the LL Polk Campus in Polkton, NC. Under the direction of the Department Chair or Assistant Department Chair for Mathematics and Natural Sciences, the NSLA will assist instructional staff/faculty with preparation for curriculum lab activities. Primary duties of this position include: media and reagent preparation; setup of materials and instrumentation for weekly labs; weekly cleanup and storage of used lab resources. When necessary the NSLA will provide basic assistance and information to students regarding equipment operation, instrument applications, location of materials, and pertinent safety procedures as dictated by OSHA. The NSLA must have basic knowledge of general laboratory practices across the Sciences and a skill-set that will allow them to work independently.

Job Duties

• Prepares facility for classes and ensures that work areas are clean and neat; ensures that equipment, materials, and handouts are laid out for classes
• Monitoring of laboratory activities; enforces rules and regulations and ensures safe environment
• Preparing requested media within acceptable turn-around times for various laboratory areas
• Proper use of basic laboratory instrumentation/equipment such as but not limited to balances, pH meters, incubators, spectrophotometers, micropipettes, autoclave, and Chemical Fume hood
• Working with chemicals that are potentially hazardous
• Monitors inventory of materials and supplies, initiates ordering process as needed
• Maintain equipment and supply usage records
• Assists in maintaining laboratory equipment; performs simple maintenance, cleans and stores equipment when not in use, monitors condition, and notifies supervisor of any needed repairs
• Updating and maintenance the Lab Safety Plan/Manual
• Monitors students in a lab setting; process basic data entry
• Answering phone calls and emails regarding media requests in a timely and professional manner
• Provide quality customer service to students, faculty and staff
• May serve multiple campuses
• Additional job-related duties as required by Department Chair or Assistant Department Chair
• Environment: Work is performed primarily in a lab setting with frequent interruptions and distractions; the employee is regularly exposed to fumes or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals; the employee is frequently exposed to risk of chemical hazards, explosive hazards, burn hazards and electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in a lab setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull up to 25 pounds; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; to see in the normal visual range with or without correction and to verbally communicate to exchange information.