Anatomy/Physiology Lab Technician

Solano Community College•Fairfield, CA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the division Dean, the Anatomy/Physiology Lab Technician supports anatomy and physiology instruction by maintaining laboratory equipment, handling human cadavers and prosections, developing operating procedures, and assisting students and instructors with proper equipment use. The technician prepares, designs, and sets up laboratory materials and equipment for demonstrations and student use, and orders, receives, stores, and inventories laboratory supplies and equipment. The role also uses a computer to prepare and maintain records and reports. Instructional lab technicians oversee a complex laboratory environment and are expected to have technical and academic training in anatomy and physiology. They work independently in a laboratory dedicated to a specific academic or vocational subject, assist instructors, maintain activity records, order supplies and equipment, and keep laboratory facilities and equipment clean and operational. The position includes preparing instructional materials and demonstrations; maintaining cadaver, specimen, equipment, and hazardous-material inventories; performing equipment maintenance and coordinating repairs; supporting purchasing and class budgets; and maintaining purchasing, safety, service, inventory, and other laboratory records. The technician may also help set up lecture demonstrations and assist other science classes as directed by the division Dean. The work is performed in an instructional laboratory. The employee may be exposed to chemicals, bacteria, human bodily contaminated materials, ultraviolet light, airborne contaminants, and occasionally computer-generated video radiation. The environment is moderately noisy due to fume hoods. Physical duties include prolonged standing, walking and moving equipment between labs, handling tools and equipment, and frequently lifting, carrying, or moving objects weighing up to 25 pounds. A respirator and other assigned safety equipment may be required.

Requirements

Completion of two years of college with major coursework in anatomy/physiology, bioanatomy/physiology, or a related field, or two years of work experience in an anatomy/physiology laboratory that includes cadaver-based work.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents; respond to common inquiries or complaints; write routine reports and correspondence; and speak effectively.
Ability to apply fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical anatomy/physiology laboratory situations.
Ability to apply logic to intellectual and practical problems, including developing laboratory exercises that demonstrate anatomy/physiology principles; interpret formulas and scientific equations; and learn and apply precise measurement and notation techniques.
Knowledge of anatomy and physiology, the purpose of laboratory equipment, handling human cadavers and human waste, and rules for use, storage, and disposal of hazardous chemicals, cadavers, prosections, and contaminated materials.
Competence operating, maintaining, and performing minor repairs on science-related equipment, including specimen jars, surgical and dissection tools, rib shears, analytical equipment, metal tags, an engraving machine, a bone saw, spectrophotometers, a sphygmomanometer, a stethoscope, BIOPAC software, an autoclave, an otoscope, an ophthalmoscope, a micropipette, a lab scale, and SDS-PAG gel-electrophoresis equipment.
Competence operating, maintaining, and performing minor repairs on safety and office equipment, including computers, printers, fire extinguishers, and first aid kits.
Ability to plan and organize work and work independently with little direction.
Sensitivity in relating to people from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, including people with disabilities; ability to establish and maintain effective, cooperative working relationships.
Ability to meet schedules and timelines and maintain timely, accurate records and reports.
Ability to perform clerical work using modern office practices, procedures, and equipment, including computers; learn instructional methods and techniques; and train, schedule, supervise, and evaluate student workers.
Ability to perform work in compliance with health and safety regulations and handle, store, and dispose of hazardous materials according to legal procedures.
Ability to issue, receive, store, and inventory equipment and supplies; prepare, monitor, and maintain assigned class budgets; and ensure the security of assigned equipment, materials, and supplies.
Ability to meet physical demands that include prolonged standing; walking and moving equipment between labs; sitting; using hands to handle objects, keyboards, machines, tools, and controls; reaching; speaking clearly; and hearing and understanding people in person and by telephone.
Ability to frequently lift, carry, or move objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
Ability to meet the vision requirements of close vision, color vision, and adjustment of focus.
Willingness and ability to wear a respirator and other assigned safety equipment when required.
No certificates, licenses, or registrations are required.

Responsibilities

Plan, schedule, and perform work to prepare anatomy/physiology laboratories on time for classes as requested by instructors.
Train, schedule, supervise, and evaluate student workers.
Maintain preparation, balance, instrument, and storage rooms in a safe, clean, and orderly condition.
Prepare or assist in preparing cultures, specimens, cadavers, chemical solutions, glassware, equipment, and other instructional materials for demonstrations and student use.
Maintain records of materials and equipment loaned to or broken by students.
Confer with instructors about laboratory changes and determine reagent quantities needed for each lab.
Prepare sufficient cultures, specimens, and cadavers for restocking laboratory setups; dismantle demonstrations, clean equipment, and set up benches, carts, and fume hoods.
Enter inventory changes for cultures, specimens, cadavers, and equipment into the computer.
Research, order, receive, catalog, store, and inventory equipment and supplies; issue and maintain inventories of human cadavers and prosections according to university and state protocols.
Periodically re-wrap and moisten cadavers and prosections as needed, and ensure adequate quantities are available for instructional use.
Mark equipment with approved identification and label and date cultures, specimens, and cadavers using established safe procedures.
Organize and store cultures and specimens using a safe, compatible system; maintain the water purification system.
Clean, test, calibrate, adjust, inspect, and perform major maintenance on anatomy/physiology equipment; request outside service, maintenance, or repair when appropriate.
Develop operating procedures consistent with modern laboratory practices and assist students and instructors in correct equipment operation.
Handle, store, and dispose of hazardous materials, cultures, specimens, and cadavers according to legal requirements and established procedures; maintain required hazardous-material inventories and records.
Provide technical assistance in preparing specifications for new or replacement equipment and materials; recommend equipment and, when requested, interview vendors about equipment and supplies.
Prepare and maintain budgets for anatomy/physiology classes based on purchasing requirements and budget allocations; monitor expenditures.
Prepare and maintain records and files for purchasing, hazardous materials, equipment service and repair, procedures, inventories, legal authorizations, vendor catalogs, correspondence, equipment manuals and warranties, equipment circulation, and backup computer disks.
Assist instructors with setting up anatomy/physiology demonstrations in lecture classrooms as assigned.
Assist other science classes with similar duties as directed by the division Dean, and perform related duties as assigned.