Manager, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility - Department of Chemistry

University of Iowa•Iowa City, IA

16d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Iowa Department of Chemistry seeks a Manager for its multi-user core Nuclear Magnetic Resonance facility. This full-time, 12-month staff position in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences oversees the use and maintenance of solid-state and solution NMR instruments. The manager organizes user access and billing, trains and assists postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate users, supports collaborative research with faculty, and works with local industry. The position is 100% on-site at the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City, Iowa, and is not eligible for University sponsorship for employment authorization. The manager is responsible for facility safety, instrument operation and maintenance, user and research support, and instructional support. The role includes maintaining and calibrating instruments; coordinating cryogen deliveries and fills; optimizing instrument performance through preventative maintenance and upgrades; and supervising equipment and experimental troubleshooting. The manager also manages facility support and the online booking and billing system, prepares user guides and standard operating procedures, and provides expertise to researchers from the University of Iowa, other universities, and industry. Instructional duties include training course teaching assistants, developing materials for advanced NMR techniques, and maintaining the instructional NMR spectrometer. The manager is expected to stay current with new NMR technologies and capabilities.

Requirements

PhD in chemistry or a closely related field; the introductory description specifies Chemistry or Biochemistry.
At least five years of experience working with NMR spectrometers and extensive knowledge of NMR techniques and experiment implementation for chemistry applications.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Working knowledge and demonstrated ability to operate and troubleshoot NMR software, hardware, and instrumentation, including maintaining and repairing NMR spectrometers.
Working knowledge and training in safe magnet cryogen fills using liquid nitrogen and helium.
Knowledge of safety procedures for NMR superconducting magnets and scientific equipment.
Expertise guiding users through the development and implementation of complex methods and analyses and interpretation of resulting data.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively with people from varied backgrounds and perspectives.
Strong technical background in NMR spectroscopy and a proactive approach to facility management.
Prior experience with magnetic resonance instruments, including board-level troubleshooting, Linux administration, and networking.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience using and managing NMR instrumentation in teaching and research settings.
Supervisory skills, including fostering effective teams and developing positive working relationships.
Experience with basic website development and maintenance.
Hands-on experience with electronics instruments such as a voltmeter or oscilloscope.
Knowledge of customer service concepts and techniques, with the ability to meet or exceed customer needs and provide excellent professional service.

Responsibilities

Ensure facility safety, including procedures for high magnetic fields and safe chemical handling, are established and followed by users.
Maintain, operate, and calibrate NMR instruments; schedule cryogen deliveries and liquid nitrogen and liquid helium fills.
Optimize instrument performance through preventative maintenance and upgrades.
Supervise the resolution of ongoing equipment and experimental issues.
Manage facility support, including mentoring and supervising graduate student staff.
Manage the online booking and billing system, schedule appointments, and coordinate user access to instruments.
Prepare user guides and standard operating procedures for NMR equipment.
Provide research support and expertise to University of Iowa researchers, other universities, and industry customers.
Advise NMR users on experimental strategy and support a range of research needs, including designing and implementing specialized experiments.
Support instruction and laboratory courses by training course teaching assistants, developing instructional materials and modules for advanced NMR techniques, and maintaining the instructional NMR spectrometer.
Maintain current knowledge of new NMR technologies and capabilities.