Lab Services Assistant D (Facilities)

University of Pennsylvania; United (PA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Tuition benefits

Retirement plans

Flexible work hours

Job summary

The University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine is seeking a Lab Services Assistant D (Facilities) to provide essential lab support across multiple labs. Duties include waste management, glassware washing, autoclave sterilization, and inventory of gases and consumables.

You will help maintain cold storage, support space planning, and participate in a 24/7 on-call rotation for emergency response, with on-site work in Philadelphia, PA.

Qualifications

• Associate of Science with 2–3 years in lab operations or facilities management.
• Knowledge of laboratory equipment, infrastructure, and safety requirements.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and move heavy cylinders.

Responsibilities

• Perform floor inspections and report to Operations Manager.
• Transport and manage biohazard waste and lab glassware washing.
• Monitor critical gases and respond to RF helpdesk tickets.
• Support space planning and relocations for labs.

Skills

Lab operations

Facilities management

Communication skills

Emergency response

Regulatory knowledge

Physical stamina

Education

Associate of Science

Tools

BENS financial system

Job description

Lab Services Assistant D (Facilities)

Posted Job Title

Lab Services Assistant D (Facilities)

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer inPhiladelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research,and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranksamong the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & WorldReport survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provideopportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education,all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach toscholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been rankednationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbeswho named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city ofPhiladelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urbancampus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, andrecreational activities. With its historical significance andlandmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety ofatmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home forwork and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includesexcellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and theirfamilies, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety ofprofessional development opportunities, supportive work and familybenefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources,and much more.

Job Description Summary

PReporting to the Research Facilities Operations Manager, the LabServices Assistant D provides general laboratory support toresearch labs within the Institute for Immunology and Immune Health(I3H). Daily responsibilities include biohazard waste collectionand disposal, laboratory glassware washing, andautoclave/sterilization processing. The Lab Services Assistant D will also assist with the managementand inventory of critical research gases (CO2 and LN2), as well asshared lab consumables, including requisitioning, receiving,unpacking, and restocking supplies as needed. Additionally, the Lab Services Assistant D provides environmental and freezer monitoringusing the Aegis system and supports the upkeep of laboratory coldstorage units through periodic defrosting and filtercleaning. The Lab Services Assistant D will occasionally assist withlaboratory reconfigurations, large equipment relocations, andgeneral laboratory maintenance. In addition to routine duties, thisposition requires participation in an on-call rotation to provideemergency response during after-hours and weekend incidents. TheI3H Facilities provides essential support services to the I3H labsand therefore this position is designated as essential and isexpected to work when normal campus operations are suspendedunexpectedly, or during planned

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

Lab Operations Support

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

Freezer Monitoring, Preventative Maintenance, and EmergencyResponse

• Monitor Aegis system and respond to freezer outages followingestablished procedures and protocols.
• Perform periodic freezer defrosts, filter cleanings, and otherpreventative maintenance on cold units and ice machines.
• Assist with emergency response during work hours under thedirection of the Ops Manager and/or Assistant Facilitiesmanager.
• Participate in 24/7 on-call rotation for emergency response tofreezer 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 theservice center.

Shared Lab Consumables Management

• Perform periodic inventory on consumable and other supportmaterial in washrooms.
• Place orders for supplies and materials using the BENSfinancial 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 experiencein lab operations, facilities management or equivalent combinationof education and experience is required.
• Knowledge of laboratory equipment, infrastructure, and safetyrequirements.
• Must be able to occasionally lift up to 50lbs as well as push,pull, and maneuver heavy items such as compressed gas cylinders andself-pressurizing gas dewars.
• Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and communicationskills.
• Ability to respond to emergencies and work outside normalbusiness hours through participation in the on-call rotation.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements for researchlaboratories.

Preferred

• Experience in an academic research environment.
• Experience with lab relocations and space planning.
• Familiarity with maintenance and repair of scientificequipment.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Perelman School of Medicine

Pay Range

$21.76 - $24.00 Hourly Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications,experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to therequirements of the position, and in alignment with salary rangesbased on external market data for the job's level. Internalorganization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer.Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race,color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin(including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenshipstatus, age, disability, veteran status or any class protectedunder applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements

Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer ismade. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to therequirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Pennoffers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health,dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and yourfamily's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spendingaccounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent careexpenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuitionbenefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can gettuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are alsoeligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans tohelp you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, andSupplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on apre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investmentoptions through TIAA and Vanguard.
• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with asubstantial amount of time away from work during the course of theyear. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personalaffairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time withfamily-whatever your personal needs may be.
• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with GenworthFinancial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible familymembers) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of thecosts of long-term care services received at home, in the communityor in a nursing facility. If you apply when you're newly hired, youwon't have to provide proof of good health or be subject tounderwriting requirements. Eligible family members must alwaysprovide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed tosupporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competingdemands of work and personal life. That's why we offer a widevariety of programs and resources to help you care for your health,your family, and your work-life balance.
• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides anarray of resources to help you advance yourself personally andprofessionally.
• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community,you have access to a wide range of University resources as well ascultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of theUniversity's libraries and athletic facilities, or visit ourarboretum and art galleries. There's always something going on atPenn, whether it's a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latestmusic or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the PennRelays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a memberof the Penn community, you're right in the middle of theexcitement-and you and your family can enjoy many of theseactivities for free.
• Discounts and Special Services: From arts andentertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find greatdeals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts andcultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admissionand memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoysubstantial savings on other goods and services such as new carsfrom Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movietickets, and admission to theme parks.
• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offercreative approaches for completing work while promoting balancebetween work and personal commitments. These approaches involve useof non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or jobstructures.
• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivableloan for eligible employees interested in buying a home orcurrently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used forclosing costs or home improvements.
• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligibleemployees on qualified expenses in connection with the legaladoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for upto two adoptions in your household.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay