Assistant Lab Curator

Stony Brook University•Town of Brookhaven, NY

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Lab Curator is responsible for the preparation, setup, and changeover of undergraduate biology laboratories each semester, including summer and winter sessions. They will help coordinate repair of laboratory equipment and the maintenance of support facilities for the instructional laboratories such as: the aquarium, storage, autoclave, and dishwashing rooms, and the Biology Learning Center. Duties include the collection, transportation, setup, and maintenance of live biological materials as well as the handling of toxic, volatile, flammable, and biological substances. This job requires lifting and moving equipment between laboratory and storage spaces. The incumbent must possess the ability to work with laboratory instrumentation and will serve as the primary liaison to the Department of Information Technology (DoIT) in supporting the maintenance of computer hardware and software in the instructional laboratories. The incumbent must have excellent interpersonal skills, exercising strong organizational skills with an exceptional attention to detail. Essential for this role is the adeptness to work independently as well as part of a team with a collaborative approach to problem solving. The incument must have experience interacting with individuals at various levels within an institution. Prepare appropriate specimens for the weekly undergraduate and assigned upper level laboratory exercises in a timely manner in accordance with the schedule of laboratories. (i.e. media, reagents, cultures, preserved and live specimens such as plants, animals, and invertebrates; aquaria are maintained.) Instruct graduate teaching assistants, work study students, and others as necessary on laboratory procedures. Assist faculty and laboratory curators in the formulation, design, testing, documentation, and implementation of laboratory exercises. Participate in the setup of daily student laboratories and teaching assistant laboratories with the appropriate equipment and experimental specimens for all academic terms. Provide updated information for preparatory guidelines ("prep lists") for specific instructional exercises to the Curator as changes occur. Conduct scheduled cleaning, testing, and calibration of selected equipment used in the instructional laboratories, such as microscopes, electronic pH meters, spectrophotometers, and balances. Assist in maintenance of various equipment in the Biology Learning Center, including cameras, computers, monitors, printers and other AV equipment. Serve as the primary liaison with DoIT and other specialists in the Life Sciences and Centers for Molecular Medicine (CMM) complex in the maintenance of computer hardware and software for the instructional laboratories in Undergraduate Biology. Inventory, order, and stock undergraduate instructional laboratory materials and supplies, such as slides, preserved specimens, and equipment between laboratory facilities. Other duties or projects as assigned as appropriate to rank and departmental mission.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree (foreign equivalent or higher) in Biology or a related field.
Experience working in a laboratory.
Familiarity with an array of biology laboratory procedures and techniques.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
Ability to work independently.
Ability to work as part of a team with a collaborative approach to problem solving.
Experience interacting with individuals at various levels within an institution.
Ability to lift and move equipment between laboratory and storage spaces.

Nice To Haves

Experience in cellular and molecular biology techniques.
Experience with microscopy and imaging techniques.
Experience with the collection, cultivation, and maintenance of living organisms.
Knowledge of laboratory safety procedures.
Experience working as a member of a team in a laboratory setting.
Experience with common computer hardware and software packages (i.e. printers, monitors, Microsoft Office applications, Google Suite, etc).

Responsibilities

Preparation, setup, and changeover of undergraduate biology laboratories each semester, including summer and winter sessions.
Coordinate repair of laboratory equipment and maintenance of support facilities for instructional laboratories (aquarium, storage, autoclave, dishwashing rooms, Biology Learning Center).
Collection, transportation, setup, and maintenance of live biological materials.
Handling of toxic, volatile, flammable, and biological substances.
Liaison to the Department of Information Technology (DoIT) for supporting the maintenance of computer hardware and software in instructional laboratories.
Prepare appropriate specimens for undergraduate and upper-level laboratory exercises.
Instruct graduate teaching assistants, work study students, and others on laboratory procedures.
Assist faculty and laboratory curators in the formulation, design, testing, documentation, and implementation of laboratory exercises.
Participate in the setup of daily student and teaching assistant laboratories with appropriate equipment and experimental specimens.
Provide updated information for preparatory guidelines ("prep lists") for specific instructional exercises.
Conduct scheduled cleaning, testing, and calibration of selected equipment (microscopes, pH meters, spectrophotometers, balances).
Assist in maintenance of various equipment in the Biology Learning Center (cameras, computers, monitors, printers, AV equipment).
Serve as the primary liaison with DoIT and other specialists for computer hardware and software maintenance in instructional laboratories.
Inventory, order, and stock undergraduate instructional laboratory materials and supplies.
Other duties or projects as assigned.