Instructional Lab Tech

University of Southern California; United States; On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Southern California is seeking an Instructional Laboratory Technician to support the Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science in its instructional laboratories. The role prepares equipment, chemicals, and materials, and provides practical assistance to faculty, lecturers, TAs, and students in a fully onsite setting.

Reporting to the Instructional Laboratory Manager, you will follow established procedures and safety protocols, maintain records, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, chemistry, materials science, or related field.
• Two years of instructional laboratory experience.
• Experience with chemical handling and safety protocols.
• Experience maintaining inventory and records.
• Ability to guide students and instructional personnel.
• Familiarity with lab safety practices and hazardous‑waste procedures.
• Ability to organize and prioritize laboratory activities.

Responsibilities

• Prepare solutions, reagents, equipment, and materials for scheduled lab experiments.
• Set up, test, and break down lab workstations and provide routine support.
• Pre-test experiments, setups, and equipment to verify functionality.
• Operate, clean, maintain, and troubleshoot lab equipment and instrumentation.
• Provide guidance on procedures and safe use of equipment to users.
• Perform routine inspection, calibration, preventive maintenance, and service of equipment according to procedures.
• Maintain clean, organized labs and assist with cleanup and reset for sessions.
• Ensure labs are secured and restored to safe, operational condition after activities.
• Follow chemical handling, labeling, storage, waste disposal, and PPE procedures.
• Monitor supplies and chemicals; assist with ordering and inventory records.
• Maintain routine lab preparation, equipment, inventory, safety, and activity records.
• Manage laboratory waste per USC EH&S policies, incl. disposal coordination.
• Review references and procedures to support planning of experiments.
• Prioritize instructional responsibilities and perform related duties as assigned.

Skills

Lab safety

Inventory management

Equipment troubleshooting

Student guidance

Recordkeeping

Education

Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, chemistry, materials science, or related field

Tools

Data‑acquisition systems

Laboratory equipment maintenance

Job description

The Instructional Laboratory Technician provides technical and operational support for instructional laboratories in the Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science within the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. This fully onsite position prepares laboratory equipment, chemicals, reagents, materials, and workspaces for scheduled experiments, exercises, and demonstrations and provides routine technical assistance to faculty, lecturers, teaching assistants, and students.

Reporting to the Instructional Laboratory Manager, the Instructional Laboratory Technician performs work within established laboratory procedures and safety protocols, maintains accurate records and inventories, and helps ensure that instructional laboratories remain safe, orderly, and ready for use. The position exercises judgment in resolving routine technical and operational issues and escalates non-routine equipment, safety, or experimental concerns to the manager or appropriate instructional personnel. The position may provide task guidance to student workers or others performing similar work but does not have formal personnel-management responsibility.

CORE DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Prepare solutions, reagents, equipment, and other materials for scheduled laboratory experiments, exercises, and demonstrations.
• Set up, test, and break down laboratory workstations and provide routine technical support before, during, and after instructional laboratory sessions.
• Pre-test laboratory experiments, setups, and equipment to verify functionality, identify potential problems, and ensure materials and workstations are ready for instruction.
• Operate, clean, maintain, and perform routine troubleshooting of laboratory equipment and instrumentation. Assist with minor repairs or equipment modifications as directed.
• Provide students, faculty, lecturers, and other laboratory users with guidance on established procedures and the safe use of equipment.
• Perform or coordinate routine inspection, calibration, preventive maintenance, and service of laboratory equipment and instrumentation in accordance with established procedures and manufacturer recommendations.
• Maintain clean, organized, and safe laboratories by assisting with cleanup and equipment reset for lab sessions.
• Ensure instructional laboratories are properly secured, organized, and restored to a safe and operational condition following laboratory activities.
• Provide students, faculty, lecturers, and other laboratory users with guidance on established procedures and the safe use of equipment.
• Follow laboratory health and safety requirements, including procedures for chemical handling, labeling, storage, waste disposal, and use of personal protective equipment. Promptly report hazards, incidents, and equipment concerns.
• Monitor laboratory supplies and chemicals; assist with ordering, receiving, cataloging, and maintaining inventory records. Support completion of annual chemical and equipment inventories.
• Maintain routine laboratory preparation, equipment, inventory, safety, and activity records and prepare reports as requested.
• Manage laboratory waste in accordance USC environmental, health, and safety policies, including segregation, labeling, storage, and coordination of disposal.
• Review technical references and established procedures to support the preparation and planning of instructional experiments.
• Prioritize instructional laboratory responsibilities and perform other related duties as assigned.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, chemistry, materials science, or a related science or engineering field.
• Two years of experience working in an instructional, academic, research, or comparable laboratory environment.
• Education, training, or work experience related to chemical engineering, materials science, chemistry, or another field relevant to the instructional laboratories.
• Experience preparing chemical solutions, reagents, and other laboratory materials using established procedures and safety protocols.
• Experience operating and performing routine maintenance or troubleshooting of laboratory equipment and data‑acquisition systems.
• Familiarity with laboratory safety practices, chemical handling, hazardous‑waste procedures, inventory management, and computerized recordkeeping.
• Ability to organize and prioritize laboratory activities, communicate effectively with students and instructional personnel, and provide guidance on established laboratory procedures and equipment use.

WORK MODALITY

This full-time position is designated as 100% onsite and is expected to report onsite five days per week. The essential functions of the position require a continuous physical presence to prepare and maintain instructional laboratories; handle chemicals, materials, and waste; operate and troubleshoot equipment and instrumentation; support faculty and students during scheduled laboratory sessions; manage inventori