Instructional Support Technician II - Cell & Molecular Biology

California State University, Sacramento•Sacramento, CA

8d•$4,595 - $6,694•Onsite

About The Position

The Instructional Support Technician II (IST II) is responsible for providing overall instructional support for undergraduate and graduate laboratory courses in cell and molecular biology, as well as related courses and research. This role involves ordering and preparing supplies, reagents, cell cultures, and experimental setups. The IST II ensures safe storage and handling of materials and equipment, manages laboratory preparation and ordering for cell/molecular courses, and maintains reagents, supplies, consumables, cell cultures, and nucleic acid samples. The position also coordinates chemical, laboratory, and biological safety, including maintaining chemical inventories, proper waste disposal, conducting inspections, and maintaining safety documentation. Additionally, the IST II troubleshoots and performs routine maintenance on equipment such as biosafety cabinets, incubators, microscopes, and thermocyclers. The incumbent provides lead work direction to undergraduate and/or graduate students.

Requirements

Knowledge of the principles of performing support services for lower and upper division and masters-level cell and molecular biology courses.
Ability to work independently, handle multiple work priorities, organize and plan work and projects effectively, and follow written protocols.
Knowledge of the use of materials and supplies in cell and molecular biological sciences laboratory courses.
Knowledge of laboratory safety including state and federal guidelines and regulations for laboratory safety.
Ability to safely handle, store, and dispose of chemicals and biohazardous waste.
Experience and ability to use aseptic techniques to prepare and culture both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell cultures and freeze and recover viable eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell lines.
Experience with and ability to prepare and store and maintain DNA, RNA and protein samples, enzymes, agarose and SDS-PAGE gels, and other cell and molecular reagents.
Experience with and ability to prepare buffers, PCR reagents, sterile culture media, and other cell and molecular reagent solutions.
Knowledge of ordering laboratory materials needed for specific laboratory exercises and protocols.
Ability to provide lead work direction and coordinate student assistants and teaching associates in the preparation of materials.
Ability to troubleshoot and provide basic maintenance of laboratory equipment used in cellular and molecular biology courses, such as centrifuges, UV transilluminators, brightfield and fluorescent microscopes, cameras and digital imagers, spectrophotometers, thermal cyclers, pH meters, CO2 incubators, pipettes, micropipettes, and glassware.
Experience using basic computer software including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Outlook.
Commitment to maintaining a welcoming and inclusive work environment with diverse colleagues and constituents including faculty, students, staff, and members of the community.
Equivalent to three years of experience providing instructional support services for a related unit or discipline, or in producing materials or supplies or repairing equipment in a discipline related to the area to which assigned.
OR Equivalent to two years of college with 16 semester units in courses involving extensive use of materials, supplies, or equipment and in a discipline related to the area may be substituted for one year of the required experience.
OR Equivalent to four years of college with 16 semester units in courses involving extensive use of materials, supplies, or equipment and in a discipline related to the area to which assigned may be substituted for two years of the required experience.

Nice To Haves

B.S. or B.A. degree and graduate coursework in biology or related field.
Experience working or assisting in teaching laboratories.
Experience working with diverse student populations.
Familiarity with general molecular biology and eukaryotic cellular biology experimental workflows.
Knowledge of state and federal guidelines and regulations for storage and disposal of hazardous and biohazardous waste.

Responsibilities

Ordering and preparation of supplies, reagents, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell cultures, and experimental set-up.
Safe storage and handling of materials and equipment in the cell/molecular area.
Laboratory preparation and ordering for cell/molecular courses.
Preparing and/or maintaining all reagents, supplies and consumables, eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell cultures and nucleic acid samples.
Coordinating chemical, laboratory and biological safety in assigned spaces.
Maintaining a chemical inventory.
Ensuring proper handling and disposal of chemical and biohazardous waste.
Conducting inspections and maintaining updated safety documentation.
Troubleshooting and basic routine maintenance of equipment used in cell and molecular biology laboratory courses, including biosafety cabinets, incubators, microscopes, thermocyclers, and other routine equipment.
Providing lead work direction to undergraduate and/or graduate students.