Physics Laboratory Technical Support and Instruction Assistant II

Rochester Institute of Technology; City of Rochester (NY); On-site; USD 2,893,000 - 4,766,000; Full time

Job summary

Rochester Institute of Technology seeks a Physics Laboratory Technical Support and Instruction Assistant II to support teaching and research laboratories within the School of Physics and Astronomy.

You will troubleshoot and repair equipment, assist with student projects, maintain safety standards, and contribute to lab documentation and inventory management. The role requires independence, collaboration, and strong organizational skills.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of laboratory practices, procedures, and safety
• Ability to set up, calibrate, and troubleshoot lab equipment
• Experience supporting teaching and research laboratories

Responsibilities

• Coordinate equipment preparation and maintenance for teaching and research labs
• Support faculty instructional and research needs and assist with student projects
• Assist with equipment design, prototyping, and testing of materials and devices
• Provide training and support to students on laboratory techniques and safety
• Maintain laboratory documentation and inventory records
• Ensure compliance with university safety requirements and policies
• Perform administrative duties related to scheduling and resource management

Skills

Laboratory practices

Time management

Detail-oriented

Collaboration

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Job description

Physics Laboratory Technical Support and Instruction Assistant II

Position Highlights

This position will provide direct support of educational, teaching and research laboratories within the School of Physics and Astronomy. Successful candidates will provide broad operational, technical, and instructional support across both undergraduate teaching laboratories and faculty research laboratories. Working closely with faculty, staff, and students, the successful candidate will be responsible for maintaining, troubleshooting, repairing, and developing laboratory equipment and instrumentation; supporting workshop-style physics courses serving approximately 3,500 students annually; assisting with student research and capstone projects; and helping ensure the effective operation of the school's instructional and research infrastructure. This role is central to the successful delivery of the school's educational and research missions.

The position combines hands-on technical expertise with laboratory operations management and requires a high degree of independence, problem-solving, and collaboration.

Key responsibilities include: Coordinating laboratory equipment preparation and maintenance, supporting faculty instructional and research needs, managing inventories and procurement activities, assisting with equipment design and prototyping projects, providing training and support to students, maintaining laboratory documentation, and ensuring compliance with university safety requirements. The successful candidate will contribute to strategic planning related to laboratory facilities, equipment, and infrastructure while serving as a responsive resource for faculty, staff, and students across the school.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Provides technical guidance and support to students, faculty, and researchers in the design, planning, and execution of research activities
• Aids in the fabrication, proto-typing, and testing of experimental materials, models, and devices
• Sets up, calibrates, maintains, and performs minor repairs of laboratory equipment, instruments, and tools for use in demonstrations, experiments, and analyses
• Prepares and standardizes chemical and biological samples or other materials for experiments
• Monitors laboratory operations and procedures to promote a safe working environment and ensure adherence to safety protocols. Enforces the proper handling, storage, and disposal of laboratory materials, chemicals, and waste
• Performs administrative duties related to lab scheduling, resource management, inventory tracking, and record-keeping for research and teaching activities
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Knowledge of laboratory practices, procedures, and operations
• Knowledge of the standards, regulations, and protocols related to the proper handling, storage, and disposal of laboratory materials, chemicals, and waste
• Ability to set up, calibrate, trouble shoot, or instruct the use of laboratory equipment and instruments
• Skill in time management, organization, and multi-tasking in high volume environments
• Skill in maintaining detailed records of research activities, ensuring documentation is thorough and easily accessible

Minimum Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in related field
• 5 years of relevant experience
• Equivalent combination of experience and education may be considered

Job Level Overview

Operations, Administrative, Service, or Technical Support Level 2 - An intermediate level role with working foundational knowledge and skills to perform routine and occasionally non-routine tasks. Tasks may require interpretation or deviation from standard procedures. May provide assistance to entry level staff.

FLSA Category

Non-Exempt

Work Location

On Campus

Compensation

$21.65 - $34.60 Hourly

Application Materials

When you are ready to complete an application for this position please be prepared to submit the below requested information. This will be required to ensure your application is processed in a timely manner.

Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae or Resume

Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.

Additional Details

In compliance with NYS's Pay Transparency Act, the salary range for this position is listed above. Rochester Institute of Technology considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The hiring process for this position may require a criminal background check and/or motor vehicle records check. Any verbal or written offer made is contingent on satisfactory results, as determined by Human Resources. RIT provides equal opportunity to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in its hiring, admissions, educational programs and activities. RIT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New York Human Rights Law, or similar applicable law.

If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Human Resources office at 585-475-2424 or email your request to [e-mail]. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.