Lab Support Specialist

The Opportunity:

In this role, you will report to the Site Supervisor and will work closely with the Avantor’s Lab and Production Services professionals to serve our customers by performing customized, mission-based lab work and research protocols that help return time back to science.

Hourly Rate: $28 - $30

Location:

Novato, CA Shift: Monday - Friday, 8 am - 4:30 pm

• Health and Wellness:
  Medical, Dental, Vision and Wellness programs (eligible for medical coverage on day
  1)
• Time Off:
  Paid Time Off (PTO), Company paid holidays, Choice holidays etc.
• Financial Well Being:
  Spending Accounts:
  Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Savings Accounts (HSA), commuter benefits, 401(k), tuition assistance, employee stock purchase plan discount
• Added Protection Coverage:
  To include critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident, legal, identity theft protection, pet, auto and home insurance
• Recognition:
  Celebrate your peers and earn points to redeem on gifts and products

Education:

High School Diploma or GED is required;
Associate’s degree in Biology, Chemistry, Biotech, or a related field is preferred

Experience:

1+ year of laboratory, manufacturing, research, or laboratory support experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience

Collaboration Tool:
Microsoft Office experience

Experience with purification and chromatography systems, especially ÄKTA, highly preferred.

Knowledge of scientific products and services is a plus.

Effective communication and teamwork in a lab environment

Laboratory equipment maintenance and calibration

Buffer and reagent preparation

Chromatography techniques (column packing, gradient elution, buffer exchange, endotoxin testing)

Operation and troubleshooting of ÄKTA systems (UNICORN software)

Ability to lift, move, push, or pull up to 25 pounds with or without accommodation

Regular use of PPE including safety glasses, lab coats, gloves, and other site-required protective equipment

Ability to handle laboratory materials, containers, and equipment safely

Inventory and supply chain management

Laboratory safety and chemical hygiene

Data recording and documentation best practices

Strong organizational and multitasking skills

Avantor’s Lab and Production Services team is a crucial part of the Avantor Services group serving over 500 customers in biopharma, pharmaceutical, educational, industrial, and high-tech industries with customizable, flexible solutions and end-to-end laboratory operations support.

• Prepare buffers, media, reagents, solvents, and chemical solutions according to approved procedures, scientific protocols, and customer requirements.
• Perform routine laboratory support activities including weighing materials, pH adjustments, conductivity testing, filtrations, dilutions, and solution preparation.
• Support scientific operations by preparing materials, equipment, and laboratory work spaces required for research and development activities.
• Perform routine calibration, verification, cleaning, preventative maintenance, and basic troubleshooting of laboratory equipment, including pH meters, conductivity meters, balances, pipettes, sonicators, peristaltic pumps, and other laboratory instrumentation.
• Execute Clean-in-Place (CIP) procedures, sanitization protocols, preventative maintenance activities, endotoxin testing, and performance verification of AKTA chromatography systems, columns, sample loops, and associated purification equipment.
• Support AKTA system readiness by preparing maintenance solutions, replacing filters and consumable components, performing equipment cleaning, documenting maintenance activities, and escalating equipment issues when necessary.
• Monitor, maintain, label, and replenish laboratory inventories including chemicals, reagents, consumables, glassware, maintenance solutions, and compressed gas cylinders.
• Manage material receipt, storage, distribution, and disposal activities while ensuring compliance with laboratory safety and environmental requirements.
• Utilize electronic inventory, procurement, and laboratory management systems to support purchasing, material tracking, inventory…