The posting
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Position Title:
Lab Technician
Job Category:
University Staff
Employment Type:
Regular
Job Profile:
Lab Technician
Job Duties:
This position primarily reports to the Laboratory Manager and serves as a departmental lab technician supporting the undergraduate laboratories. This individual operates a laboratory stockroom servicing faculty, teaching assistants, and students and facilitates the daily operation of the undergraduate laboratories for the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. The position frequently lifts packages up to forty (40) pounds. This position works closely with the Laboratory Manager, the Department Administrator, and the Department Chair to ensure the safety of the labs, efficiency of lab operations, and effectiveness of lab undergraduate activities. This position is also directly responsible for technical lab support of the General, Analytical, Physical, and Organic Chemistry classes.
Key Job Responsibilities:
LAB TECHNICIAN FOR GENERAL, ANALYTICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ORGANIC CHEMISTRY UNDERGRADUATE LABORATORIES (65%)
- Operate and maintain a chemical stockroom and undergraduate laboratories in a professional, safe, clean, and orderly manner.
- Prepare, set up, and take down experiments for General, Analytical, Physical, and Organic Chemistry undergraduate laboratories.
- Maintain a service counter for the distribution of chemicals (e.g., acids, bases, alcohols, toxins, carcinogen’s, etc.), supplies and equipment to students and faculty for undergraduate chemistry laboratories.
- Calculate and safely prepare a variety of chemical concentrations from stock materials, including concentrated acids, caustic solids, and other hazardous materials.
- Maintain and operate laboratory instruments such as pH meters, analytical balances, Vernier LabQuest, spectrophotometers, centrifuges, spectrofluorometers, rotary evaporators, Gas Chromatography, Infra-Red Spectroscopy, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and other equipment.
- Monitor the inventory and quality of chemicals and supplies for undergraduate laboratories and initiate ordering process as needed.
- Routinely restock consumable supplies, such as gloves, filter paper, and glassware, as necessary for the function of the labs
- Receive chemical orders and enter or remove materials from the chemical inventory system.
OVERSEE LABORATORY SAFETY (15%)
- Serve as a laboratory safety resource for the undergraduate laboratories and report to Laboratory Manager, Department Administrator and University Safety & Assurances as necessary.
- Monitor undergraduate lab activities to ensure that appropriate safety precautions are used.
- Provide support to laboratory teaching assistants in removing students that are not adhering to the safety standards and attire.
- Coordinate the safe storage, handling, disposal, and recordkeeping of hazardous chemicals and chemical waste.
- Keep laboratory benches and reagent shelves clean and orderly.
- Maintain and update the hard copy versions of the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department Safety Data Sheet (SDS) records.
PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT (15%)
- Prepare, set up, perform, and clean up demonstrations as requested by course instructors.
- Maintain functional use of the instruments and report serious malfunctions to the Laboratory Manager.
- Be capable of operating all instruments in areas of responsibility. (Initial training will be provided from faculty and staff on new instruments.)
- Work with course instructors on implementation of new laboratory experiments.
- Attend weekly meetings to go through laboratory safety considerations for upcoming experiments with faculty and teaching assistants.
- Detailing, prepare, and recommend changes to chemistry experiments as needed.
- Assist teaching and research faculty with laboratory related activities as required.
- Substitute for other lab technicians in case of illness, vacation or other operational needs.
MISCELLANEOUS DUTIES (5%)
- Perform housekeeping and organizational duties as assigned by the Laboratory Manager, Department Administrator, or Department Chair.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Laboratory Manager, Department Administrator, or Department Chair.
Department:
The Chemistry Department is large, complex, dynamic and very productive with an annual budget of approximately $4.2 M including grants from the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Health, Department of Energy, etc. It consists of 16 faculty, 4 academic staff, 3 classified staff, 4 postdocs/research associates, approximately 52 graduate students. The Chemistry & Biochemistry Department offers four undergraduate degrees, two M.S. degrees and a PhD with a significant international student population.
Compensation:
$19.23/hour - $21.63/hour (Final offer will be determined based on qualifications and experience)
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or related field from an accredited institution granted by date of hire or commensurate combination of education and experience.
- Chemical laboratory experience in laboratory terminology, principles of laboratory instrument techniques and laboratory safety.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with techniques used in analytical chemistry.
- Knowledge of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and practical application.
- Knowledge of computer operations sufficient to operate chemical inventory software, access and download SDS sheets, and communicate effectively through email.
- Strong written and oral communication skills and ability to effectively communicate with faculty, staff, students and the public.
- Ability to independently prioritize work to meet deadlines while working in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions.
- Demonstrated organizational skills, independent judgement and initiative, excellent writing skills, analytical skills, and problem-solving ability with high attention to detail.
- Demonstrated working knowledge of common software packages such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint.
Additional Skills:
- Knowledge of University Work Rules.
- Provide courteous professional customer service to campus and non-campus clientele.
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to frequently lift packages up to 40 pounds.
OCCPUATIONAL SAFETY PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABLIITY STANDARDS
- Maintain safety protocols in your work area(s). Become aware of the health and safety rules for your work area, as set forth by the Wisconsin Building Code, federal, state and local requirements and regulations, UWM and UW System policies and the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, http://dsps.wi.gov/Home, as set forth on the UWM University Safety and Assurances web page, http://www4.uwm.edu/usa/safety/
- Advise your management/supervisors of suspected or perceived risks as soon as possible, so as to prevent and control occupational injuries and illnesses. Follow the directives of the Department of University Safety and Assurances in correcting identified risks in a prompt and responsible manner.
- Report all accidents immediately to your supervisor.
- Use protective safety equipment, devices and tools provided.
- Complete safety training programs recommended by your supervisor or the Department of University Safety and Assurances.
WORKING CONDITIONS WHILE PERFORMING ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Exposure to low-level noise and chemicals relate to operation of laboratory equipment.
- Exposure to occasional orders from volatile chemicals.
- General office environment. Exposure to low-level noise and chemical related to operation of equipment such as photocopiers, printers, fax machines or computers.
EQUIPMENT USED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Computer, calculator, printer, scanner, copier, telephone, audiovisual equipment, and a variety of laboratory equipment.
How to Apply:
Interested applicants are required to apply online and provide a cover letter, detailed resume/CV that addresses your professional level work experience as it relates to all required and preferred qualifications. Applications missing any of the required documents listed prior to the application deadline will be marked as incomplete and will not be considered.
In instances where the Search and Screen Committee are unable to ascertain from a candidate’s application materials whether they meet any of the qualifications, they will be evaluated as not meeting such qualifications.
Finalist candidate(s) being considered for hire will be required to provide three professional/supervisor references through an external reference checking tool. References will not be contacted prior to candidates being notified.
Apply electronically by the application deadline of Saturday, November 7, 2026.
Contact Information:
For any questions regarding the position, please contact Tom Schwartz ([email protected]).
Reasonable Accommodations Pursuant to university policy, UWM provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact [email protected] or 414-229-4463. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.
Confidentiality of Applicant Materials UWM is a State agency and subject to Wisconsin’s Open Records Law. UWM will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin’s Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of “final candidates” and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request.
CBC and Reference Check Policy Employment will require a criminal background check. UWM takes the prevention of sexual misconduct seriously. As such, you and your references will be required to answer questions regarding any past findings of sexual violence and sexual harassment or any pending allegations of sexual violence or sexual harassment.
Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act) For the UWM Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, see http://www.cleryact.uwm.edu/, or call UWM’s Dean of Students Office, Student Union 345 at (414) 229-4632 for a paper copy.
Employment Authorization In compliance with federal law, all persons at the time of their start date will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.
