Lab Assistant Science - Environmental Science and Geology

About This Role

This lab assistant position supports environmental science and geology courses by preparing experiments, maintaining equipment and supplies, and ensuring a safe and organized laboratory environment. The role involves assisting faculty and students with equipment use and troubleshooting, and requires a candidate who can manage lab resources effectively.

Responsibilities

• Prepare all classroom experiments using solutions/media and supplies according to course syllabi and prep sheets, using various products/chemicals and laboratory equipment
• Maintain an adequate stock of required equipment and supplies
• Keep an inventory of all types of equipment, supplies and chemical/bio-hazard waste, determine user needs, and provide lab manager with supply requests
• Track expiration dates of products as appropriate
• Ensure supplies are organized and accessible according to department requirements
• Maintain equipment in laboratories and classrooms as requested, performing minor repairs and maintenance as required
• Assure all equipment is routinely checked and maintained, informing the appropriate supervisor of the need for major repairs and/or replacements
• Assist in implementation of proper safety procedures and standards; identify and report potential safety hazards
• Assist in the disposal of used/spent supplies/products, in accordance with Federal EPA regulations, State, local city ordinances and College policies
• Organize and maintain all lab rooms, completing all tasks such as but not limited to washing and refilling empty containers, collecting trash from all containers, and putting away all unused clean containers
• Adjust and clean screens and monitors
• Clean spills and equipment as specified by instructors or supervisor
• Maintain records, forms and system data, performing data entry and copying as described
• Greet students, faculty, staff and the general public in a friendly and professional manner
• Answer the telephone as quickly as possible, maintain professional demeanor at all times
• Maintain confidentiality of all records
• May prepare various cultures, chemicals, stains, solutions, dilutions, etc. from discipline prep sheets and ensures used supplies are disposed of properly and safely
• May produce slides, handouts, flyers or other collateral for classroom, recruiting activities, etc.
• Train new personnel as needed and requested
• May assist supervisor in monitoring work of student assistants, and/or part-time lab assistants, when requested
• Assist in the coordination of troubleshooting between students, instructors, web services and others to help solve problems
• Assist faculty in the use of equipment, software and tools
• Connect and disconnect equipment and tools according to oral or written instructions
• Cross-train in various functions as required in order to backup other staff positions
• Attend all department and division meetings as required
• Participate in professional development/health and safety training courses as required by supervisor
• Represent the department at college and community events
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Perform all duties and maintain all standards in accordance with college policies, procedures and Core Values

Requirements

• Associate degree from an accredited institution
• Two (2) years of related experience OR equivalent combination of education and experience
• This position is Security Sensitive, therefore, candidates will be subject to a criminal background check
• Transcripts are required at the time of application

Important Details

• Schedule: may be required to be flexible to morning, afternoon or evening time frames as needed; may require evening and weekend scheduling
• Application deadline: 05 November 2026, 12am

Physical Demands

• Medium Work - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly having to move objects
• Positions in this class typically include talking, hearing, seeing, grasping, standing, walking and repetitive motions, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and reaching, plus climbing and balancing
• Incumbents may be subjected to moving mechanical parts, odors, dusts, poor ventilation, chemicals, oils, extreme temperatures, inadequate lighting and intense noises
• Incumbents may be subjected to gases and workspace restrictions
• Occasional exposure to unpleasant environmental conditions and/or hazards
• Occasional outside work
• Occasional physical effort required