Lab Specialist II - Department of Biological Sciences

Clemson University; Clemson (SC); On-site; USD 40,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

Clemson University in Clemson, SC is seeking a Lab Specialist II to provide technical direction for teaching laboratories in the Department of Biological Sciences. You will support greenhouse operations, assist with new experiments, and ensure safe, accurate lab setups for thousands of students each semester.

The role involves training student workers, maintaining chemical inventories, and helping faculty develop and implement lab procedures with proper safety practices.

Qualifications

• High school diploma and journey-level technical experience in a related laboratory setting.
• Ability to independently prepare teaching lab materials and maintain equipment.
• Familiarity with safety and waste disposal procedures in a teaching lab.

Responsibilities

• Greenhouse and plant teaching support including propagation, maintenance and environmental controls.
• Training and supervising temporary staff and student workers in the lab.
• Prepare and maintain equipment, materials, and supplies for teaching labs supporting thousands of students.
• Independently prepare and break down multiple teaching labs, including solutions, media and gels.

Skills

Technical lab experience

Supervisory experience (studentWorkers

Safety procedures

Laboratory equipment operation

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Spectrophotometry

Nucleic acid manipulations

Microscopy

Electrophoresis gels

Job description

Lab Specialist II - Department of Biological Sciences

Full Time

JR-10816

JOB SUMMARY:

Provides technical direction for teaching laboratories in the Department of Biological Sciences. Performs other duties as assigned.

JOB DUTIES:

• 25% - Greenhouse and plant teaching support: Provides routine greenhouse and plant-production support for teaching laboratories. Propagates, maintains, and monitors plant materials needed for instruction, including watering, irrigation, ventilation, lighting, temperature, and other environmental controls. Coordinates with instructors to collect, purchase, transport, and prepare plant materials for laboratory use and assists with proper disposal. Maintains greenhouse procedures and supplies, provides basic user training, and assists the Building Manager with greenhouse SOPs, safety, and access requirements.
• 15% - Training and Inventory: Maintains and updates detailed written laboratory preparation protocols for teaching laboratory experiments. Assists in training and supervising temporary employees and student workers in the laboratory. Assists faculty in developing, improving and implementing new laboratory experiments. Assists in implementing and enforcing proper safety and waste disposal procedures, attends workshops and training sessions for updated safety regulations. Assists with maintaining and updating yearly chemical inventory.
• 20% - Laboratory testing and equipment maintenance: Prepares and maintains equipment, materials, and supplies for laboratory experiments and data analysis in support of teaching labs that accommodate thousands of students per semester, including, but not limited to various forms of chemical analysis and media preparation, assays, microscopy, spectrophotometry, nucleic acid manipulations, and maintains a diverse microbial culture collection. Develops protocol for laboratory procedures and assists faculty in instructing teaching assistants on the procedures. Maintain and calibrates complex departmental laboratory equipment.
• 40% - Teaching lab preparation: Independently responsible for the preparation of aspects of multiple teaching labs, including physical setup and break down of weekly assigned laboratory experiments. Prepares chemical solutions, stains, media, and agar plate, electrophoresis gels, bacterial, protozoan, and all other pre-made materials and provides all necessary instrumentation and supplies. Replenishes supplies and solutions as necessary. Ensures appropriate analysis of experimental results. Provides technical support.

JOB CODE:

ED25

EMPLOYEE TYPE:

Regular FTE Staff

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A high school diploma and journey-level technical experience in a related laboratory setting.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

JOB KNOWLEDGE

Firm working knowledge of concepts, practices and procedures and ability to use in varied situations.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Supervises Student workers only

BUDGETARY RESPONSIBILITIES

No fiscal responsibility for the department's budget.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Walk or move about: 20% Recognize or inspect visually: 45%

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Mechanical hazards: 5% Chemical hazards: 10%

WORK SCHEDULE:

Standard Hours:

37.5

COMPENSATION INFORMATION:

Expected Salary Range

40000 - 43000

Salary is dependent upon several factors including, but not limited to, a candidate's previous experience, knowledge, skills and performance in accordance with Clemson's compensation guidelines.

ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL LEVEL:

Normal Operations - Required to follow emergency facility closure and modified operations directives, and not normally expected to work on-site during emergency situations.

JOB LOCATION:

Clemson, SC

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

September 29, 2026

MILITARY AND VETERAN:

Military Equivalency

Clemson University is proud to allow educational equivalency for military technical certifications and trainings that directly relate to the job duties.

Veteran Preference:

South Carolina provides employment preference to eligible veterans for qualifying full-time permanent positions. To be considered, applicants must meet the minimum qualifications, have been discharged under honorable conditions, and indicate their veteran status in the application by uploading a DD-214 for confidential review. A request for Veteran Preference can be made via the application process. Please contact [e-mail] with any questions or issues.

CLOSING STATEMENT:

Clemson University is an EEO/AA employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to characteristics protected by applicable law including disability and protected veteran status.