Laboratory & Research Specialist – Research Instrumentation

William & Mary; Williamsburg, Northern (VA, KY); Hybrid; USD 25,000 - 33,000; Part time

Job summary

William & Mary’s Applied Research Center seeks a part-time Laboratory & Research Specialist to operate and support advanced scientific instrumentation used in multidisciplinary research and teaching. You will train users, assist with setup, calibration, and routine maintenance.

The technician will collaborate with ARC staff, faculty, students, and researchers to troubleshoot equipment, optimize measurements, and document procedures to ensure reliable operation and high-quality data.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience operating, supporting, maintaining, or troubleshooting scientific instrumentation.
• Willingness to learn multiple analytical techniques and instrumentation platforms.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with laboratory users.
• Relevant experience may be acquired through employment, military or government service, technical or vocational training, education, or other practical experience.
• Preferred: experience with SEM/EDS, AFM, FTIR/Raman spectroscopy, XRD, or mass spectrometry.

Responsibilities

• Operate and support scientific instrumentation used for research, teaching, and analytical services.
• Train and assist faculty, students, researchers, and other users in proper instrument operation.
• Assist with instrument setup, optimization, calibration, troubleshooting, and preventive maintenance.
• Perform or assist with sample preparation, data collection, and routine analysis.
• Help maintain instrument performance, laboratory procedures, training materials, and technical documentation.
• Coordinate with equipment manufacturers, vendors, and service personnel as needed.

Skills

Instrument operation

Analytical techniques

Problem solving

Education

Technical or vocational training

Tools

SEM/FESEM

EDS

AFM

XRD

ToF-SIMS

Job description

**Job Description Summary:**The Applied Research Center (ARC) at William & Mary seeks a part-time Laboratory & Research Specialist to support advanced scientific instrumentation used in multidisciplinary research and teaching. The position assists with instrument operation, user training, sample analysis, instrument optimization, routine maintenance, and troubleshooting. The specialist will work with ARC staff, faculty, students, researchers, and other users to support reliable instrument operation and high-quality scientific measurements. The successful candidate will have experience with scientific or technical instrumentation, strong practical problem-solving skills, and an interest in helping researchers and students use sophisticated laboratory equipment effectively.**Job Description:****Required Qualifications:*** Demonstrated experience operating, supporting, maintaining, or troubleshooting scientific, analytical, imaging, or other complex technical instrumentation.* Ability and willingness to learn multiple analytical techniques and instrumentation platforms.* Ability to work independently and collaboratively with laboratory users.* Effective communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.Relevant experience may be acquired through employment, military or government service, technical or vocational training, education, or other comparable practical experience.**Preferred Qualifications:**Experience with one or more scientific instrumentation or materials-characterization techniques. Examples include:* Optical microscopy* Scanning electron microscopy (SEM/FESEM) and EDS* Optical or stylus profilometry* Atomic force microscopy (AFM)* FTIR or Raman spectroscopy* X-ray diffraction (XRD)* Mass spectrometry or surface analysis, including ToF-SIMS* Vacuum-based analytical instrumentation* Scientific imaging, data collection, or analysis software**Conditions of Employment:*** This is a non-exempt position, which may be eligible to receive overtime in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act.* All hourly employees are subject to the limitations of the Virginia Manpower Control Program and total hours worked may not exceed, on average, 29 hours per week, over the course of a twelve-month period beginning May 1 each year.* Ability to work safely in laboratory and research environments and comply with applicable university and laboratory safety procedures.* Ability to perform hands-on work with scientific and laboratory equipment, including work that may require standing, bending, reaching, lifting or moving equipment and components, and using hand tools.* Ability to work in laboratory environments involving mechanical equipment, electrical systems, vacuum systems, compressed gases, pumps, and related research infrastructure.* Must be able to complete required university and laboratory safety training.* Work schedule will be coordinated with ARC operational needs and may occasionally require flexibility to support equipment installation, maintenance, repair, or vendor/service activities.* Compensation: $21.00 per hr.**Job Duties:*** Operate and support scientific instrumentation used for research, teaching, and analytical services.* Train and assist faculty, students, researchers, and other users in the proper operation of laboratory instrumentation.* Assist with instrument setup, optimization, calibration, troubleshooting, and preventive maintenance.* Perform or assist with sample preparation, data collection, and routine analysis.* Help maintain instrument performance, laboratory procedures, training materials, and technical documentation.* Coordinate and interact with equipment manufacturers, vendors, and service personnel as needed.* Assist with laboratory organization, consumables, and general operation of shared instrumentation facilities.* Support research projects and other technical activities consistent with the mission of the ARC.