Laboratory Operations Specialist

Job Title:

Laboratory Operations Specialist

City:
West Lafayette

Job Description:

Laboratory Operations Specialist, P2/P3
College of Science | Research Instrumentation Center

Turn your technical expertise into meaningful support for scientific discovery. The College of Science is seeking a Laboratory Operations Specialist to join the Research Instrumentation Center (RIC), supporting sophisticated instrumentation and helping faculty, students, and staff conduct high-quality research. In this role, you will support the day-to-day operation of laboratory spaces and instrumentation, train researchers on proper instrument use and data acquisition, and help maintain a safe, efficient, and collaborative laboratory environment.

• Support or oversee daily laboratory operations and provide guidance to RIC users.
• Train faculty, students, and staff on instrument operation, data acquisition, and basic analysis.
• Perform routine maintenance, calibration, tuning, troubleshooting, and repair of instrumentation.
• Provide sample analysis services, including mass spectrometry, thermogravimetric analysis, and/or CHN analysis.
• Manage instrument scheduling and laboratory access systems.
• Partner with customers to understand needs, establish expectations, and provide effective service.
• Help develop and implement policies, procedures, training resources, and standards that strengthen RIC operations.
• Collaborate with management and faculty on laboratory initiatives and continuous improvements.
• Participate in outreach through presentations, posters, talks, and other educational activities.

At the P2 level, you will work under general supervision while building expertise in RIC instrumentation and operations. You will assist with oversight of laboratory users, instrumentation, training, maintenance, troubleshooting, and the development of new processes and procedures.

At the P3 level, you will work with greater independence, overseeing assigned laboratory operations and serving as a subject matter expert for at least one type of instrumentation. You will take a larger role in developing training materials, establishing policies and procedures, troubleshooting instrumentation, and identifying opportunities to increase the RIC’s effectiveness and impact.

This position may be filled at the P2 or P3 level commensurate with the education and experience of the chosen candidate. The selected level will be determined by the hiring manager based on the successful candidate’s education and experience. Join the College of Science and bring your technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and collaborative approach to an environment supporting research across the University.

Education and Experience

Required:

As the P2 Laboratory Operations Specialist you will need the following:

• Bachelor's degree
• Minimum of Two (2) years of experience
  • operating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing scientific equipment and instrumentation
  • training or mentoring less experienced researchers in using scientific equipment and instrumentation
  • preparing samples and performing instrumental analysis including quantification

Preferred:

• Advanced degree
• Experience in an academic core facility environment
  • Experience in performing trace level elemental quantification using ICP-MS
  • Experience with optical spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and/or electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy
  • Experience with iLab online equipment reservation/billing software

As the P3 Laboratory Operations Specialist you will need the above and following:

• Master's degree
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience is required.
  • Experience in operating,…