Science Lab Assistant
Job Description
In the first year, students develop foundational lab habits. By the second year, students begin to engage more directly with lab operations. In the third year, students take on a more independent and technical responsibility.
Overall, this progression helps students:
- Develop strong laboratory and safety skills for chemistry and biology labs
- Gain hands-on experience with equipment and experimental preparation
- Improve organization, responsibility, and communication as a vital support to the stockroom team
- Build confidence and independence in a scientific work environment
- Students are better prepared for future science related lab work, graduate school, or a professional role right out of college
Year 1
Responsibility/Function
Develop familiarity with the daily workflow and operational needs of teaching laboratories.
Begin learning basic lab supply maintenance, including:
- Refilling DI (deionized) water containers
- Checking and restocking gloves
- Refilling paper towels
- Refilling disinfectant bottles (70% ethanol)
- Refilling hand soap/glassware soap
- Water greenhouse plants as scheduled
Conduct routine inspections of:
- Eyewash stations
- Emergency shower stations
- Clean and organize glassware, using the glassware dishwasher. Learn to operate the autoclave to sterilize glassware and biological waste.
Assist in other daily stockroom tasks through shadowing Lab Manager/Lab technicians.
Gain preliminary understanding of the locations of key course-related materials and their storage locations throughout the MNS building.
Learn necessary chemical storage and disposal policies.
Year 2
Responsibility/Function
Expand upon and demonstrate proficiency in all Year One responsibilities.
Assist with laboratory preparation, including:
- Pulling and organizing required materials
- Helping set up lab stations
- Update the inventory system for chemical storage, or for course specific materials (biological slide, media, microscopes, etc.)
- Respond to basic inquiries and provide routine lab supplies to students and staff.
- Learn how to use Liquid Nitrogen, including safe practices, and dispensing LN into dewars
Learn how specific lab equipment/instrumentation works.
Year 3
Responsibility/Function
Maintain and propagate greenhouse plants to establish new plant growth and manage pest maintenance in the greenhouse
Prepare basic reagent solutions for laboratory use
Perform routine maintenance and minor repairs on small laboratory equipment including meters, probes, and microscopes. This may include yearly maintenance, along with routine calibrations.
Competent to be able to full prep for a lab section based on the supplies list (without direct oversight from supervisors). Basically serve as a part-time technician role.
Work alongside staff to efficiently update/improve lab protocols or prep design, based on the knowledge/experience of year 1 and 2.
*Students are prohibited from driving during work-study employment with the limited exception of authorized work-study driver positions.