Lab Services Assistant D (Facilities)

Trustees of University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Pennsylvania is hiring a Lab Services Assistant D (Facilities) to provide general laboratory support within the Institute for Immunology and Immune Health (I3H). The role includes waste handling, glassware washing, gas monitoring, inventory, and occasional lab reconfigurations.

The position requires an Associate of Science and 2–3 years of lab operations experience, with the ability to lift up to 50 lbs and perform on-call duties in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Requires an Associate of Science and 2–3 years of experience in lab operations or facilities management.
• Knowledge of laboratory equipment, infrastructure, and safety requirements.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and move heavy gas cylinders; strong organizational and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lab Operations Support: Inspect floors twice weekly, transport biohazard waste, wash and return glassware, monitor gases, respond to RF helpdesk tickets.
• Freezer Monitoring and Preventative Maintenance: Monitor Aegis system, perform defrosts and filter cleanings, assist during emergencies, participate in 24/7 on-call rotation.
• Space Planning and Equipment Management: Support space allocation, lab expansions/contractions, setup for new faculty recruits, relocate large equipment, maintain shared equipment.
• Shared Lab Consumables Management: Periodic inventory of washrooms, place orders, stock consumables.

Skills

Laboratory equipment knowledge

Safety requirements awareness

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Education

Associate of Science

Job description

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Lab Services Assistant D (Facilities)

Job Profile Title

Laboratory Services Assistant D

Job Description Summary

PReporting to the Research Facilities Operations Manager, the Lab Services Assistant D provides general laboratory support to research labs within the Institute for Immunology and Immune Health (I3H). Daily responsibilities include biohazard waste collection and disposal, laboratory glassware washing, and autoclave/sterilization processing. The Lab Services Assistant D will also assist with the management and inventory of critical research gases (CO2 and LN2), as well as shared lab consumables, including requisitioning, receiving, unpacking, and restocking supplies as needed. Additionally, the Lab Services Assistant D provides environmental and freezer monitoring using the Aegis system and supports the upkeep of laboratory cold storage units through periodic defrosting and filter cleaning. The Lab Services Assistant D will occasionally assist with laboratory reconfigurations, large equipment relocations, and general laboratory maintenance. In addition to routine duties, this position requires participation in an on-call rotation to provide emergency response during after-hours and weekend incidents. The I3H Facilities provides essential support services to the I3H labs and therefore this position is designated as essential and is expected to work when normal campus operations are suspended unexpectedly, or during planned

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

Lab Operations Support

• Perform twice-weekly floor inspections and submit reports to the Operations Manager and Assistant Facilities Manager.
• Transport biohazard waste to collection point for vendor pickup.
• Collect, wash, sterilize and return lab glassware.
• Monitor levels of critical research gases and replace cylinders as needed.
• Respond to RF helpdesk tickets in a timed manner.

Freezer Monitoring, Preventative Maintenance, and Emergency Response

• Monitor Aegis system and respond to freezer outages following established procedures and protocols.
• Perform periodic freezer defrosts, filter cleanings, and other preventative maintenance on cold units and ice machines.
• Assist with emergency response during work hours under the direction of the Ops Manager and/or Assistant Facilities manager.
• Participate in 24/7 on-call rotation for emergency response to freezer failures and other urgent equipment issues

Space Planning and Equipment Management

• Support space allocation and planning activities.
• Assist with lab expansions, contractions, and relocations.
• Help coordinate lab setup for new faculty recruits.
• Assist in the relocation of existing large lab equipment.
• Perform routine preventative maintenance on centrifuges, shakers, incubators and other shared equipment managed by the service center.

Shared Lab Consumables Management

• Perform periodic inventory on consumable and other support material in washrooms.
• Place orders for supplies and materials using the BENS financial system.
• Stock lab consumables in washrooms as needed.

Position is contingent upon funding

Qualifications

Required

Associate of Science and 2 to 3 years of experience in experience in lab operations, facilities management or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

• - Knowledge of laboratory equipment, infrastructure, and safety requirements.
• - Must be able to occasionally lift up to 50lbs as well as push, pull, and maneuver heavy items such as compressed gas cylinders and self-pressurizing gas dewars.
• - Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.