Lab Manager

Texas A&M University System • College Station, TX

1d

About The Position

The Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University is home to a state-of-the-art Sensory Science Laboratory, supporting both basic research and applied client projects in human sensory evaluation. Our facility includes a 30-booth sensory suite, kitchen, and preparation laboratory, serving industry partners and academic researchers across a wide range of food and consumer science disciplines. Texas A&M University is one of the largest universities in the nation and is committed to excellence in education, research, and service. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Department of Animal Science are recognized leaders in applied and basic sciences, with deep ties to industry and a long tradition of training the next generation of scientists and professionals.
We are seeking a full-time Lab Manager to oversee daily operations of the Sensory Science Laboratory at Texas A&M University. The Lab Manager will coordinate industry and academic sensory studies from planning through execution, managing client projects, supporting graduate student research, and maintaining efficient operation of a high-throughput testing facility. This is a salaried position with benefits.

Requirements

• B.S. in a sensory-related field (e.g., Animal Science, Food Science, Psychology, Neuroscience) or a B.S. in a business-related field (e.g., Business Management, Accounting, Business Analytics)
• 5 years experience with human-subjects research and IRB protocols
• Strong organizational and project-management skills
• Ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously

Nice To Haves

• 3+ years of experience in sensory or consumer research
• Graduate-level degree with published research
• Familiarity with survey software (e.g., Qualtrics) or sensory software (e.g., RedJade, Compusense)
• Experience managing staff or participant-based testing environments

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily laboratory operations, testing schedules, and participant workflow
• Coordinate client sensory studies from planning through reporting, including study logistics, recruitment, sample preparation, and test execution
• Train and lead sensory descriptive panels and focus groups
• Supervise staff conducting sensory sessions and maintain efficient facility operations
• Support graduate student projects through scheduling, recruitment, and study coordination
• Maintain IRB compliance and human-subjects research procedures
• Manage supplies, purchasing, inventory, and vendor coordination

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M AgriLife contributing to employee health and basic life premiums
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
• Employee Wellness Initiative for Texas A&M AgriLife

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager