Physics - Assistant Equipment Manager

Oregon State University; Corvallis (OR); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Oregon State University seeks a student to assist in the College of Science, supporting teaching laboratories. Responsibilities include preparing, staging and tearing down lab equipment, maintaining storage areas, and assisting with demonstrations and outreach across physics classes.

The role involves ensuring equipment is clean and ready for instruction, keeping demo spaces organized, and performing light repairs and prep work for the new academic term.

Qualifications

• Required: Physics major at OSU.
• Preferred: Completion of the Introductory Physics sequence, or completion by the end of the term.
• Ability to work independently and reliability.

Responsibilities

• Lab equipment handling.
• Prepare and stage equipment for upcoming lab sections.
• Set up and tear down lab equipment.
• Maintain and organize the lab storage areas.
• Cleaning and organization.
• Reset lab rooms each week.
• Clean and care for equipment (glassware, optics, instrument surfaces).
• Keep storage rooms, shelving, and cabinets orderly and labeled.
• Demonstrations and familiarity with the demonstration collection.
• Set up demonstrations for classes as needed.
• Maintain demonstration equipment and demo room organization.
• Repair demonstration equipment where practical.
• Prepare documentation for demonstrations.
• Maintenance and department support.
• Light repairs and general upkeep around the department (e.g., hanging posters).
• Monitor supply levels and assist with equipment and supply purchases.
• Help faculty locate equipment for outreach events, demonstrations, and other courses.
• Prep work prior to the beginning of the academic year.

Skills

Physics major

Independent work

Reliability

Education

Enrollment in high school/college/university

Job description

Department:

College of Science

Job Description:

• Lab equipment


• Prepare and stage equipment for upcoming lab sections


• Set up and tear down lab equipment


• Maintain and organize the lab storage areas


• Cleaning and organization


• Reset lab rooms each week


• Clean and care for equipment, including but not limited to glassware, optics, and instrument surfaces, using the appropriate method for each


• Keep storage rooms, shelving, and cabinets orderly and correctly labeled


• Demonstrations


• Become familiar with the demonstration collection


• Set up demonstrations for classes as needed


• Maintain the demonstration equipment and keep the demo room organized


• Repair demonstration equipment where practical


• Prepare documentation for demonstrations


• Maintenance and department support


• Light repairs and general upkeep around the department, including tasks such as hanging posters


• Monitor supply levels and assist with equipment and supply purchases


• Help faculty locate equipment for outreach events, demonstrations, and other courses


• This is not the entire list of duties and special projects. Duties will also include prep work prior to the beginning of the academic year.

Qualifications:

• Required: Physics major at OSU.


• Preferred: Completion of the Introductory Physics sequence, or completion by the end of the term; a bility to work independently; r eliability


• Full Employment Eligibility Requirements can be found here: https://hr.oregonstate.edu/student-employment-manual/500-employment-eligibility-requirements


• Must be academically enrolled in a high school, community college, or university and pursuing a program or course of study


• Must meet Academic Standing Requirements; students on academic suspension are not eligible for employment


• Must meet the applicable minimal enrollment standard


• High School student: Regularly enrolled in a high school or participating in a home-schooling program


• Undergraduate and post-baccalaureate student: 6 credit hours per term


• Undergraduate international student: 12 credit hours per term*


• Graduate student officially admitted to Graduate School: 5 credit hours per term


• Graduate international student officially admitted to Graduate School: 9 credit hours per term*

*International students may be allowed to carry fewer hours than specified above and still be considered \"full-time\" by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services ( USCIS ). A reduced course load is approved by the Office of International Services ( OIS ), and must be provided to the Student Employment Center.

Working Conditions/Schedule:

Assistance is required by the dept. to help prepare, maintain, and organize the teaching equipment that every introductory physics student uses.

Salary Range:

15.55 - 21.50

Anticipated Start Date:

2026-08-26