Lead Laboratory Coordinator, Tree Ring Laboratory

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 59,404 - 74,254; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits

Job summary

The University of Arizona's Tree Ring Laboratory invites you to apply to the role of Lead Laboratory Coordinator (Laboratory Coordinator III). You will provide leadership and operational oversight for the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research by coordinating laboratory activities and overseeing laboratory safety, inventory, and equipment.

You will supervise and mentor students while welcoming and assisting visitors to the laboratory, collaborate with faculty on research initiatives, and support

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; 5 years of relevant work experience or equivalent.
• Experience in a research laboratory or similar environment.
• Master's degree or PhD preferred in Earth Science, Geosciences, Geography, Forestry, Environmental Science or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead oversight of the adendrochronology laboratory, mentoring and supervising students, staff, and visitors.
• Manage daily lab operations, including inventory control, safety compliance, and resource coordination.
• Support faculty research by developing, testing, and implementing innovative analytical, computational, and image acquisition methods.
• Assist in grant development, outreach, and educational initiatives to disseminate dendrochronological research.

Skills

Organizational skills

Written and verbal communication

Independent and collaborative work

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree or PhD preferred

Tools

R

Python

Job description

Lead Laboratory Coordinator, Tree Ring Laboratory

Lead Laboratory Coordinator, Tree Ring Laboratory

Posting Number req26662

Department Tree Ring Laboratory

Department Website Link https://ltrr.arizona.edu/

Location Tucson Campus

Address Tucson, AZ USA

Position Highlights

The University of Arizona's Tree Ring Laboratory invites you to apply to the role of Lead Laboratory Coordinator (Laboratory Coordinator III).

Under the guidance of the Director, you will provide leadership and operational oversight for the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research by coordinating laboratory activities and overseeing laboratory safety, inventory, and equipment. In this role, you will supervise and mentor students while welcoming and assisting visitors to the laboratory. You will also collaborate with faculty on research initiatives, contribute to the development and testing of innovative research methods, and support grant-related and outreach activities.

The Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research (LTRR) is a hub of interdisciplinary research, teaching, and outreach at the University of Arizona. Established in 1937, LTRR formalized the scientific study of tree rings in America and has since become a global leader in dendrochronology. Using the information preserved in the annual rings of trees, LTRR researchers work to better understand and quantify the complex interactions among Earth’s climate, ecosystems, and societies. The laboratory is dedicated to developing and advancing novel approaches to address scientific questions of societal relevance while sharing these discoveries and their impacts with researchers, students populations, the general public, resource managers, and policymakers alike. If you are passionate about contributing to meaningful research and outreach in a collaborative and impactful environment, we invite you to join our team.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs.

Duties & Responsibilities

In this role, you will:

• Lead the oversight of adendrochronology laboratory in collaboration with the Director, including the mentoring, training, and supervising of students, staff, and visitors.
• Support the daily operations of the lab, including being the lead in charge of inventory control, safety compliance, and resource coordination.
• Support faculty research through the development, testing, and implementation of innovative analytical, computational, and image acquisition methodologies.
• Contribute to research advancement through assisting faculty in grant development and proposal writing while supporting laboratory curation, outreach, and educational initiatives that promote the dissemination and application of dendrochronological research.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong organizational skills, especially in assisting in managing operations, inventory, ordering, and maintenance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a research environment.

Physical Requirements:

• Occasionally lifts/moves archival samples, boxes, and/or materials weighing up to 20 pounds.

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Experience in a research laboratory or similar environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Earth Science, Geosciences, Geography, Forestry, Environmental Science, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
• Demonstrated experience in successfully supervising, training, and mentoring students, visiting researchers, and/or lab staff in laboratory methods, procedures, and safety.
• Experience and proficiency in R or Python.
• Previous experience with applications of computer vision, machine learning/AI, and/or high-resolution image acquisition.
• Previous hands-on experience in dendrochronology, including sample collection, preparation, and crossdating.

FLSA Exempt

Full Time/Part Time Full Time

Number of Hours Worked per Week 40

Job FTE 1.0

Work Calendar Fiscal

Job Category Research

Benefits Eligible Yes - Full Benefits

Rate of Pay $59,404 - $74,254

Compensation Type salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE)

Grade 8

Compensation Guidance The Rate of Pay Field represents the University of Arizona’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. The University considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, and internal equity. The Grade Range represents a full range of career compensation growth over time. The university offers compensation growth opportunities within its career architecture. To learn more about compensation, please review our Applicant Compensation Guide and our Total Rewards Calculator .

Career Stream and Level PC3

Job Family Research & Lab

Job Function Research

Type of criminal background check required: Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive)

Number of Vacancies 1

Target Hire Date 9/14/2026

Expected End Date

Contact Information for Candidates Bryan Black, Ph.D.
Associate Director, Tree Ring Laboratory
Professor, Dendrochronology
[e-mail]

Open Date 7/30/2026

Open Until Filled Yes

Documents Needed to Apply Resume and Cover Letter

Special Instructions to Applicant In your cover letter, please describe how your background and experience align with the minimum and preferred qualifications for this position.

Notice of Availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act), each year the University of Arizona releases an Annual Security Report (ASR) for each of the University’s campuses.Thesereports disclose information including Clery crime statistics for the previous three calendar years and policies, procedures, and programs the University uses to keep students and employees safe, including how to report crimes or other emergencies and resources for crime victims. As a campus with residential housing facilities, the Main Campus ASR also includes a combined Annual Fire Safety report with information on fire statistics and fire safety systems, policies, and procedures. Paper copies of the Reports can be obtained by contacting the University Compliance Office at [e-mail].