Microbiology Technician

Cal Poly Pomona•Pomona, CA

8d•$5,044 - $7,348•Onsite

About The Position

The primary functions of the Biological Sciences Department are to provide high-quality instruction, advance biological knowledge through research, and serve the university and community. The department serves over 1,200 undergraduate and 90 graduate students. The faculty includes full-time, joint, early retirement, part-time faculty, and graduate teaching associates. The department also has administrative and technical staff who oversee graduate assistants and student assistants. The curriculum is laboratory intensive, offering students valuable experiential learning opportunities. The Biological Sciences Department maintains a large selection of microorganisms for its microbiology classes at undergraduate and graduate levels. This position will provide technical support to faculty and students in microbiology teaching and research, working closely with faculty, staff, graduate teaching associates, graduate assistants, and undergraduate student assistants.

Requirements

Combination - Equivalent to four 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 specialty 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 to which assigned 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 specialty area to which assigned may be substituted for two years of the required experience
Knowledge of the principles and methods related to performing support services; knowledge of the principles, information, methods and techniques related to discipline to which assigned; knowledge of the materials and supplies related to the curriculum, their characteristics, and uses.
Ability to plan, organize and schedule work; ability to operate and repair technical and scientific equipment; ability to coordinate support service to meet a comprehensive variety of needs; ability to develop off-campus resources related to the discipline for obtaining materials or equipment.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Biological Science, Microbiology, Molecular Biology or closely related discipline.
Cell/tissue culture training (hands-on)
Hematology course
Medical mycology course
Post-baccalaureate training or experience in advanced microbiology, biological techniques or molecular biology is desirable.
Ability to be proactive, recognize problems and needs and make modifications to lab situations to achieve desired outcome.
Ability to work independently and handle multiple work priorities and projects, effectively handle a broad range of interpersonal contacts with the department, vendors, scientific companies, service personnel from facilities and the community.
Ability to make a wide range of lab media, solutions, and reagents.
Aseptic technique.
Ability to write Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Computer literacy: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel), Windows operating systems.

Responsibilities

Independently support laboratory preparation and instructional support for BIO 2060L, BIO 3620L, BIO 3640L, BIO 4360L, BIO 4635L, BIO 4650L, BIO 4670L, BIO 4680L, and BIO 4690L.
Provide partial support for BIO 1110L, BIO 1150L, BIO 1210L, BIO 1220L, BIO 4660L, and other Biology instructional laboratories as assigned.
Coordinate laboratory setup requirements with faculty and Teaching Associates (TAs), ensuring all instructional supplies, equipment, reagents, media, microbial cultures, tissue culture materials, specimens, PPE, and support resources are available for assigned laboratory classes and support other courses as needed.
Assist instructors and students in preparing teaching laboratories with instructional materials for microbiology, molecular biology, and cell biology experiments.
Organize and fulfill daily and weekly preparation requests by providing microbial cultures, tissue culture materials, media, solutions, reagents, laboratory supplies, specialized biological materials, and other instructional resources for teaching and research laboratories.
Assist instructors in the development of new or modified laboratory courses and experiments.
Maintain microbial cultures, tissue culture materials, and other biological resources to ensure their quality, viability, availability, and compliance with instructional and research laboratory standards.
Evaluate laboratory materials, equipment, and procedures to optimize instructional quality, laboratory efficiency, and safety.
Establish and/or refine Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for microbiology and cell culture operations based on university standards and best practices.
Provide technical guidance in the preparation of microbiological media, tissue culture materials, laboratory solutions, reagents, and other instructional materials in accordance with established protocols and safety requirements.
Maintain, troubleshoot, clean, calibrate, store, and prepare laboratory equipment and instrumentation used for microbiology, molecular biology, and cell biology instruction.
Assist instructors with laboratory preparation sheets, laboratory manuals, and instructional support needs for assigned courses.
Maintain the Building 4 stockroom inventory of supplies, equipment, media, reagents, and biological materials required for supported instructional laboratories.
Coordinate with other staff technicians in the Cellular and Molecular Biology (CMB) area, Central Biology Stockroom (4-2-557), Building 8 Stockroom, greenhouse, vivarium, and other biology work areas to ensure stockrooms remain fully operational and adequately supplied.
Assist with stockroom coverage during business hours.
Oversee the organization and operation of the microbiology preparation room to ensure efficient laboratory support for instructional activities serving more than 500 students each semester.
Assist with the operations of the Cellular and Molecular Biology (CMB) Stockroom (4-2-774), including the Common Chemical Room, Flammable Chemical Room, preparation room, deep-freeze freezers, walk-in refrigerator, incubators, autoclaves, dishwasher, and related laboratory support facilities.
Obtain vendor quotes and order instructional laboratory supplies, equipment, biological materials, replacement parts, and services using university purchasing systems while remaining within department budget.
Reconcile vendor purchases and procurement transactions monthly.
Serve as a primary contact with vendors and service providers to coordinate purchasing, deliveries, maintenance, and laboratory support services.
Maintain responsibility for the care, operation, and maintenance of specialized microbiology, molecular biology, and tissue culture equipment used in instructional laboratories.
Assist with laboratory renovations, equipment installations, and facility improvement projects supporting instructional operations.
Attend department committee meetings related to equipment, laboratory operations, safety, and instructional exercises.
Participate in professional development and technical training to remain current in laboratory safety, purchasing procedures, microbiological methods, and emerging instructional technologies.
Maintain compliance with university, EH&S, Cal/OSHA, CUPA, and other applicable environmental, health, and safety regulations.
Coordinate with EH&S regarding laboratory inspections, regulatory compliance activities, hazardous materials management, and laboratory renovations.
Conduct laboratory and safety inspections; inspect instructional spaces and safety equipment; identify hazards, report incidents, and document corrective actions.
Maintain student safety training records, laboratory inspection reports, incident documentation, and other regulatory compliance records.
Maintain biological and chemical waste inventories generated by instructional laboratories.
Oversee the collection, labeling, storage, and disposal of biological waste, chemical waste, and sharps in collaboration with EH&S.
Coordinate biohazardous waste decontamination by monitoring autoclave operations, documenting biological indicator (spore) testing, and maintaining compliance with university biosafety procedures.
Maintain Safety Data Sheets (SDS), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), biological inventories, and other laboratory compliance documentation.
Schedule and direct the daily work assignments of student assistants to ensure the microbiology stockroom operates efficiently, safely, and meets departmental instructional needs.
Monitor the performance of student assistants and graduate Teaching Associates assigned to the area and provide feedback to the Chair/HEERA Manager.
Train undergraduate and graduate student assistants in the safe handling, storage, maintenance, and disposal of microorganisms, tissue culture materials, laboratory equipment, and biological specimens.
Track and verify student assistant work hours, maintain accurate timesheet records, and ensure compliance with university timekeeping procedures.
Assist with the recruitment, onboarding, and training of student assistants, including participating in interviews and providing input on candidate selection.