Lab and Academic Specialist

Michigan Technological University•Houghton, MI

3d•$60,000•Onsite

About The Position

Michigan Technological University is seeking a Lab and Academic Specialist for our Civil Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering department. We are seeking a dedicated and skilled Laboratory and Academic Specialist to manage and enhance our civil engineering laboratory courses. This role is crucial for providing students with hands-on experience, maintaining cutting-edge equipment, and contributing to the development of our practical curriculum. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background and a passion for teaching and laboratory innovation.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, or a closely related field.
One year of experience in industry or academia in a civil engineering related position
Demonstrated experience in a laboratory setting, including equipment operation, maintenance, and experimental design.
Strong understanding of fundamental civil engineering concepts and practical applications.
Ability to teach lab courses in at least two of the following civil engineering areas: civil engineering materials, water resources, or soil mechanics.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively instruct and assist students in both on-campus and online formats.
Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Nice To Haves

Experience with education- or research-grade civil engineering laboratory software (e.g., MATLAB, DASYLab, LabVIEW, PASCO Capstone, or similar).
Prior teaching or instructional experience at the university level, including experience with lab course delivery.
Familiarity with curriculum development and assessment practices.
Experience with safety protocols and best practices in a laboratory environment
Demonstrated ability to work with faculty members to develop and deliver course material in lectures and/or laboratories.
Demonstrated ability to succeed in recruitment activities, for example, summer youth programs.
Demonstrated success in, or potential future contributions to, working with people with a wide variety of personal characteristics and viewpoints.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and implement new laboratory experiments and course materials for on-campus civil engineering laboratory courses to ensure alignment with curriculum objectives and industry standards.
Deliver engaging and practical instruction for multiple sections of civil engineering laboratory courses, guiding students through practical exercises and reinforcing theoretical concepts.
Provide hands-on support and technical guidance to students during laboratory sessions, troubleshooting equipment, and assisting with experimental procedures, whether in a physical lab or a virtual/remote environment.
Manage, maintain, and upgrade civil engineering laboratory equipment, instrumentation, and software to ensure optimal functionality, safety, and readiness for instructional use.
Oversee inventory of laboratory supplies and components, initiating procurement as needed.
Develop and enforce laboratory safety protocols and procedures for on-campus lab settings.
Assist the department Chair and/or the curriculum committee in maintaining documentation in support of college (ABET) and university (Higher Learning Council) accreditation activities and in the preparation of the associated self-study reports.
Assess student performance in laboratory settings, providing constructive feedback on technical skills and understanding.
Coordinate and administer the curriculum proposal process (binder process) with the department chair.
Serve as liaison and host for prospective student inquiries and visits.
Collaborate with Civil Engineering faculty to integrate laboratory activities with lecture content and contribute to continuous course improvement.
Develop and deliver departmental outreach activities.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each job responsibility satisfactorily. The required qualifications listed are representative of the education, experience, knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
Other duties as assigned.
Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work. Actively engage in University continuous improvement initiatives.
Apply safety-related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work.