Biology Lab Technician

Job Description

FLSA CODE: Exempt

NORMAL

WORK HOURS:

40 hours per week, Monday-Friday

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: Director of Laboratory

The Lab Technician supports Olin College’s hands‑on, project‑based learning by providing day‑to‑day technical, operational, and instructional support for science laboratories serving undergraduate courses in biology. Reporting to the Director of Lab Operations, the Lab Technician works closely with faculty, students, course assistants, and other laboratory staff to ensure laboratory spaces, equipment, supplies, and materials are prepared, maintained, organized, and ready to support teaching and student projects.

Through daily interaction with students and faculty, the Technician contributes to a welcoming, safe, organized, and empowering learning environment and promotes responsible stewardship of Olin’s shared spaces, equipment, materials, and resources. This is a full‑year, in‑person/on‑campus position based in Needham, MA.

• Provide day‑to‑day technical and operational support for Olin’s science laboratories and project spaces.
• Prepare laboratory spaces, materials, chemicals, samples, equipment, and instrumentation for undergraduate courses, laboratory exercises, demonstrations, and project activities.
• Work closely with faculty and the Director of Lab Operations to understand course requirements, anticipate laboratory needs, and ensure spaces, materials, and equipment are appropriately prepared for scheduled activities.
• Perform standard molecular biology techniques, including but not limited to DNA/RNA extraction, PCR techniques and primer development, electrophoresis, standard cloning techniques, preparation of plasmid mini‑preps, characterization of products, and selection techniques, and DNA sequence analysis.
• Assist faculty with the design and execution of laboratory experiments, including preparing protocols and reagents and providing technical and teaching assistance during undergraduate laboratory sections.
• Maintain accurate and detailed academic laboratory records, including experimental data, laboratory notebooks, protocols, and sample tracking logs.
• Support undergraduate courses in biology and related areas by providing hands‑on laboratory preparation and technical assistance.
• Provide students and course assistants with instruction and guidance on the safe and appropriate use of laboratory equipment, instrumentation, tools, materials, and facilities.
• Assist students, faculty, and staff with the technical aspects of academic projects.
• Assist with grading student deliverables related to laboratory activities and provide other course support as requested by faculty.

• Maintain laboratories as clean, organized, functional, and appropriately stocked environments that are ready for academic and project use.
• Order and manage laboratory supplies and inventory and coordinate equipment repairs and services as needed.
• Perform routine inspection, cleaning, maintenance, calibration, and basic troubleshooting of laboratory equipment and instrumentation, including thermocyclers, centrifuges, spectrophotometers, microscopes, and other laboratory equipment.
• Identify equipment problems and safety concerns and communicate them promptly to the Director of Lab Operations.
• Complete routine equipment repairs within the Technician’s area of expertise and assist the Director with coordinating external service and repairs when necessary.
• Maintain equipment records, maintenance logs, service documentation, warranties, manuals, and other assigned laboratory operational records.
• Support the setup, installation, relocation, and decommissioning of laboratory equipment.
• Maintain laboratory computers…