Lab Assistant

GEMS AMERICAN ACADEMY - ABU DHABI; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 60,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

GEMS American Academy – Abu Dhabi is seeking a dedicated Laboratory Support role to assist Science teachers by managing laboratories, stocking equipment, and ensuring safety standards. The incumbent will help prepare experiments, manage chemicals, and monitor PPE and waste disposal.

The position involves regular lab maintenance, inventory control, and participation in health and safety activities, with opportunities to support IB students on their IA projects.

Qualifications

• Minimum of one year’s experience in a similar position/environment.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work with staff and students.
• Attention to detail and strong organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Support the work of Science teachers by managing laboratories and stocking equipment, tools, chemicals, and materials.
• Help maintain Health & Safety compliance in science laboratories.
• Set up experiments and practical demonstrations, including preparation of required solutions, instruments, and materials.
• Monitor stock levels and assist with ordering and receiving chemicals, equipment, and consumables.
• Prepare chemicals and solutions of required concentrations.
• Ensure adequate PPE for students during lab experiments.
• Maintain cleanliness of laboratory rooms and prep rooms after experiments, including washing glassware and disposing of chemical waste safely.
• Regularly inventory chemicals and equipment.
• Act as a member of the school's Health & Safety committee.
• Store chemicals properly in designated cabinets and update SDS.
• Do risk assessments for handling hazardous substances.
• Handle and dispose of chemicals properly when preparing solutions.
• Assist IB students doing their IA by preparing equipment, chemicals and materials they need.
• Assist students in individual laboratory investigations as necessary.
• Keep records of safety data sheets, risk assessments, hazardous substance register, manuals, waste disposals, etc.
• Other duties as needed by department.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Attention to detail

Organised

Team player

Job description

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the work of the Science teachers by managing the science laboratories and ensuring that the right equipment, tools, chemicals and other materials are adequately stocked and kept in working conditions.
• Help maintain compliance with Health and Safety in the science laboratories.
• Setting up experiments and practical demonstrations that includes preparation of required solutions, instruments, and materials.
• Monitor stock levels and support the ordering and receiving of chemicals, equipment, and consumables
• Preparation of chemicals and solutions of required concentrations.
• Ensure that there is adequate number of personal protective equipment (PPE) for students for lab experiments.
• Maintain the cleanliness of the laboratory rooms and prep rooms after lab experiments that include cleaning of glasswares and safe disposal of chemical waste.
• Do a regular inventory of chemicals and equipment.
• Act as a member of school's Health & Safety committee.
• Ensure that chemicals are stored properly in their designated storage cabinets and safety data sheets (SDS) are updated.
• Do a risk assessment for handling and preparation involving hazardous substances.
• Ensure proper handling and disposal of chemicals when preparing solutions.
• Assist IB students doing their IA by preparing the equipment, chemicals and other materials they need.
• Assist students in individual laboratory investigations as necessary.
• Keep records of documents pertinent to the running of the science lab such as safety data sheets, risk assessments, hazardous substance register, instruction manuals, waste disposals, etc.
• Other duties as needed by department.

Skills

Good interpersonal skills, able to work effectively with staff and students. Attention to detail, organised and a team player.

Minimum of one year’s experience in a similar position/environment.