Physics & Astronomy Instructional Support Technician

Cal Poly Humboldt University•Humboldt, SK

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Physics and Astronomy Instructional Support Technician at Cal Poly Humboldt provides comprehensive support services for the faculty and teaching staff of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. This role involves designing, fabricating, maintaining, repairing, and updating equipment used in lecture demonstrations, laboratory experiments, and activity sessions. The position also includes purchasing supplies and equipment, maintaining inventories, managing bookkeeping and CMS documentation for budget reviews, and providing computer hardware and software support. Additionally, the technician is responsible for the maintenance and repair of equipment at Cal Poly Humboldt’s Fickle Hill Observatory.

Requirements

Equivalent to two years of experience providing instructional support services for a unit or discipline, acting as a student assistant, or in producing materials or supplies related to the discipline.
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 related discipline may be substituted for the experience.
Knowledge of principles of providing support services
Knowledge of the common principles, methods, and techniques related to the instruction of experimental physics and astronomy
Knowledge of the materials, supplies and equipment and their uses related to physics and astronomy
Ability to evaluate the materials and supplies used
Ability to learn to adjust and make minor repairs on scientific equipment
Ability to operate scientific or highly technical equipment and to interpret results
Ability to plan activities and prepare schedules
Ability to use methods, techniques and skills related to the discipline in preparing specialized materials.
Ability to effectively communicate with a diverse population
Ability to use knowledge of physics and physical laws to devise and to assist faculty in devising experiments and demonstrations to assist faculty members in teaching
Ability to work independently and collegially

Nice To Haves

Equivalent to an undergraduate degree in Physics (preferred), or an undergraduate degree in a physical science.

Responsibilities

Maintenance, preparation, and issuance of materials and equipment for undergraduate laboratory and activity sessions – 40%
Maintains scientific and laboratory equipment and supplies
Maintains a database and inventory of experiments and equipment and the supplies necessary for their use
Insures that all appropriate equipment and supplies are available for laboratory and activity work throughout the department
Repairs, modifies, and calibrates scientific and laboratory equipment
Issues equipment and supplies for laboratory and activity courses
Assists faculty members with the instruction of students in the proper use of scientific equipment
Assists in updating laboratory exercises
Assists Property Office in the maintenance of equipment and instrument records
Maintains orderly stockrooms such that equipment is easily accessed and readily available to department faculty and staff
Ensures work spaces are clean and orderly to ensure the safety of students, staff and faculty
Design and construction of demonstrations and displays – 35%
Designs or assists in the design of and fabrication of new laboratory equipment, experiments, and classroom demonstrations
Assembles received items when necessary
Designs and constructs equipment not purchasable for a reasonable price
Modifies purchased items to be more suitable for specific uses
Designs and constructs displays and demonstrations of scientific principles suitable for science students with various levels of experience
Occasionally assists faculty members with community presentations
Supervision and maintenance of the Cal Poly Humboldt Fickle Hill Observatory and observatory equipment – 10%
Performs limited maintenance on grounds and buildings
Orders, modifies, installs, cleans, and maintains telescopes and other astronomical instruments
Purchasing and bookkeeping – 5%
Researches, specifies, and orders equipment, supplies, and replacement parts as necessary to minimize equipment down-time
Develops purchase requests, tracks orders, and assures receipt of orders
Maintains up-to-date financial information based on the CMS and other information sources
Prepares and maintains purchasing and budgetary documents as needed
Departmental informational technology support – 5%
Assists campus ITS and departmental staff and faculty members with computer hardware and software installation and maintenance
Other Duties as Assigned – 5%