Lab Manager

The University of Rhode Island; Kingston (RI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Part time

Job summary

The University of Rhode Island invites applications for a part-time Lab Manager in the Department of Cell & Molecular Biology on the Kingston campus. The role oversees day-to-day operations of an environmental microbial ecology lab focused on molecular and microscopic identification of protists from marine sediments.

Responsibilities include maintaining notebooks, inventory, equipment, safety, data management, field sampling, training students, and collaborating with the principal investigator

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in microbiology, microbial ecology, marine science, or related field.
• At least two years of lab technician or research staff experience.
• Experience in soil or sedimentary microbiology or marine microeukaryotes.
• Strong communication and organizational abilities.

Responsibilities

• Maintain up-to-date laboratory notebooks and safe protocols.
• Manage supplies inventory and procurement.
• Maintain equipment performance and service.
• Ensure safety and Good Laboratory Practices.
• Standardize lab protocols for sampling and sequencing.
• Collaborate with PI and trainees; train new staff.
• Coordinate field sampling for time-series data.
• Document results for publications and grants.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Oral & written communication

Organizational ability

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in life sciences

Tools

Laboratory information management systems

Bioinformatics basics

Job description

80 Lower College Road, Kingston, RI 02881

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Position Information

Posting Number

Posting Number SF02232

Job Title

Position Number

Position Number PS# 00008221

FTE

FTE 0.57

FLSA

FLSA Exempt

Position Type

Position Type Professional Staff

Union

Union PSA/NEA - Professional Staff Assoc

Pay Grade Range Salary Hiring Range: $55,000 - $65,000 (Salary will be prorated as position is part-time 20-Hours per week work schedule)

Status

Status Calendar Year, Part-time, Limited

Department Information

Department

Department Cell & Molecular Biology

Contact(s)

Contact Phone/Extension

Contact Email

Physical Demands

Campus Location

Campus Location Kingston

Grant Funded

Grant Funded Yes

Position is part-time 20-hours per week, calendar year, limited to 07/22/2027 with anticipated renewal.

Job Description Summary

Search will be open until filled. First consideration will be given to applications received by 11/01/2026. Applications received after 11/012026 may be reviewed depending on search progress and needs but are not guaranteed full consideration.

About URI :

The University of Rhode Island enrolls approximately 17,000 students across its graduate and undergraduate programs and is the State’s flagship public research university, as well as the land grant and sea grant university, for the state of Rhode Island. The main campus is located in the historic village of Kingston, and the Bay Campus is located in Narragansett. Both campuses are near major beaches in a beautiful coastal community. URI is just 30 minutes from Providence, RI and within easy reach of Newport, Boston, and New York City.

Remote work could be possible for some tasks (e.g., documentation & data analysis), but it is unlikely for most of the work responsibilities as the position needs to perform work in the Lab.

POSITION SUMMARY :

The lab manager will oversee day-to-day operations of an environmental microbial ecology laboratory focused on the molecular and microscopic identification of unknown protists, particularly from marine sedimentary environments. The successful candidate will manage daily research activities, lead hands-on training of students, and contribute to the development of laboratory technologies and protocols.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintain detailed up-to-date laboratory notebooks, utilize safe laboratory protocols, and keep the laboratory organized and in high-functioning condition.
• Maintain laboratory supplies inventory; anticipate needed supplies; place and expedite orders for supplies; verify receipt of supplies.
• Maintain laboratory equipment performance; develop operations, quality, and troubleshooting procedures; arrange equipment replacement, service, and repair.
• Maintain quality checks on safety of laboratory, including biohazards, gas tanks, and ensure maintenance of the facilities according to Good Laboratory Practices.
• Standardize and implement laboratory protocols for field sampling, microbial culture maintenance, microscopic imaging, and high-throughput sequencing (both short- and long-read platforms).
• Design and administer guidelines for data entry and data management in consultation with the principal investigator.
• Independently perform day-to-day laboratory work in conjunction with other lab personnel; help with new trainee onboarding by offering technical and safety trainings.
• Coordinate and perform field sampling for the establishment of time-series data.
• Contribute to the development of new lab technologies and to achieve project objectives in creative and effective ways.
• Document and report experimental results and methods for timely publication and grant applications.
• Work closely with the Principal Investigator to provide timely updates and report project progress.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

Perform other duties as assigned.

LICENSES , TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT :

Proficiency with standard office software (e.g., Microsoft Office, Google Workspace), laboratory information management systems, and scientific communication tools. Familiarity with bioinformatics tools and command-line environments is a plus.

Required Qualifications

• 1. Bachelor’s degree or higher in microbiology, microbial ecology, marine science, or a related life science discipline.
• 2. Minimum of two years of experience as a laboratory technician or research staff.
• 3. Demonstrated experience in one or more of the following: soil or sedimentary microbiology, microbiome identification, next-generation sequencing, ecology and physiology of marine microeukaryotes.
• 4. Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills.
• 5. Demonstrated oral and written communication skills.
• 6. Demonstrated ability to organize, coordinate, and supervise research projects.
• 7. Demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups and cross disciplines.

Preferred Qualifications

• 1. Demonstrated experience in preparing high-throughput sequencing libraries with marine sedimentary samples and/or low-input DNA .
• 2. Demonstrated experience in bioinformatics analyses of microbiome data.
• 3. Demonstrated experience in protist genomics/transcriptomics.
• 4. Demonstrated experience in advanced microscopy.

EEO Statement:

URI is unwavering in its commitment to equal opportunity, community, equity, and diversity. In furtherance of its mission to serve and support all learners as the state’s public flagship university, URI continues to expand efforts to recruit and retain a broadly representative workforce as well as to regularly evaluate the effectiveness of those efforts. All employment decisions, including hiring, are made without regard to protected status. Qualified individuals with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation by contacting the URI benefits office at 401-874-2416. For TTY assistance, contact R.I. Relay Services at 711.

Environmental Conditions

The position primarily involves indoor laboratory work. Occasional field sampling in coastal or marine environments may involve exposure to outdoor conditions, including sun, wind, and wet/muddy terrain.

Posting Date

Posting Date 10/14/2026