Lab Technician

Posting Details

• Posting Number: S15452P
• Working Title:
  
  Lab Technician
• Department: VPR-Complex Carbohyd Rsch Ctr
• About the University of Georgia:
  The University of Georgia is a public flagship university chartered in 1785 with extensive academic programs and campuses. UGA is ranked among the top public universities and employs thousands of faculty and staff.
• About the College/Unit/Department Website: —
• Posting Type:
  External
• Retirement Plan: TRS
• Employment Type:
  
  Employee
• Benefits Eligibility:
  Benefits Eligible
• Full/Part time:
  Full Time
• Work Schedule:
  
  Normal schedule is Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5 pm; hours/days may vary based on research needs
• Advertised Salary: $40,000
• Posting Date: 07/16/2026
• Open until filled:
  Yes

Position Information

• Classification
  
  Title:
  
  Lab Tech-Life Science III
• FLSA:
  Non-Exempt
• FTE: 1.0
• Minimum Qualifications:
  
  High school diploma or equivalent and 5 years of related experience
• Preferred Qualifications:
  
  Not specified

Position Summary

The position is for a laboratory technician in the Szymanski group. The candidate will provide research support and complete small projects focused on understanding disease mechanisms of BSL-2 pathogens, including Campylobacter jejuni and Streptococcus mutans. The candidate will assist with supervision of undergraduate students and provide administrative support and organization for the lab.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

• BS in any Life Science discipline (Biology, Microbiology, Virology, Biochemistry) with preference for Microbiology
• BSL-2 laboratory experience; ability to work with animal models; ability to work effectively in a team; strong time management and organizational skills

Physical Demands

Normal lab activity.

Is driving a responsibility of this position?

No

Is this a Position of Trust?

Yes

Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources?

No

Does this position require a P-Card?

No

Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position?

No

Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care?

No

Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications)

Yes

Credit and P-Card policy

Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.

Background Investigation Policy

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including a criminal background check, verification of credentials and employment history, reference checks, and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. A pre-employment drug test may be required for positions with high-risk responsibilities. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Duties/Responsibilities

Code sections below describe major areas with approximate time allocation.

Research Support and Independent Laboratory Projects (50%)

• Conduct complex laboratory research activities supporting studies of disease mechanisms in BSL-2 pathogen work. Perform microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and cell-based techniques using established and modified protocols.
• Independently prepare, culture, maintain, and monitor bacterial strains per BSL-2 practices and biosafety requirements.
• Perform procedures such as bacterial culturing, media preparation, aseptic technique, DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, qPCR, gel electrophoresis, protein isolation and characterization, microscopy, and spectrophotometric analyses.
• Assist graduate students, postdocs, and faculty with experimental design, protocol implementation, and project execution.
• Plan and conduct portions of projects with minimal supervision, coordinating timelines, equipment usage, and workloads.
• Collect, organize, analyze, and interpret data using software, spreadsheets, databases, and statistics tools.
• Prepare summaries, technical reports, figures, and documentation to support grants, meetings, publications, and presentations.
• Evaluate outcomes and determine when modifications are needed to improve reliability and reproducibility.
• Troubleshoot procedures, equipment issues, contamination, and deviations; identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Exercise independent judgment on whether results meet quality standards and when escalation is required.
• Maintain detailed lab notebooks and electronic records compliant with regulations.

Laboratory Operations, Administration, and Regulatory Compliance (40%)

• Coordinate daily laboratory operations to ensure safety and compliance.
• Maintain readiness of facilities, instrumentation, and equipment for microbiology/molecular biology research.
• Monitor and replenish inventory of reagents, consumables, and supplies; procure as needed.
• Prepare purchase requests and track orders, inventory usage, and resources.
• Calibrate, maintain, inspect, and coordinate servicing of equipment per manufacturer recommendations.
• Organize sample tracking,…