Research Technician

Kent State University; Kent (OH); On-site; USD 19,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

Kent State University is seeking a full-time Research Technician on Kent Campus to manage the Kinsman-Costello Lab in the Biological Sciences Department. The role supports multiple grant-funded and student-led projects in aquatic ecosystem ecology and biogeochemistry, with emphasis on lab, field, and data coordination.

The position provides opportunities to learn and develop diverse research and management skills, in a rich environment that emphasizes safety, organization, and collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelors in Ecology, Environmental Science, Geology, Earth Science, Chemistry or related STEM discipline.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability and motivation to support a safe, supportive work environment.
• Able to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Excellent organization skills.
• Valid U.S. driver's license.

Responsibilities

• The lab manager is responsible for comprehensive operational, logistical, and technical management of an interdisciplinary environmental research laboratory.
• Supports the research mission by ensuring laboratory, field, and data activities are well organized, safe, compliant, and effectively coordinated.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Safety-conscious

Organization

Driver's license

Education

Bachelors in ecology/environmental science/related STEM

Job description

Job Title:

Research Technician

Physical Location:

Kent Campus - Kent, OH

Salary:

$14.28 to $16.80 hourly

Basic Function:

THE KINSMAN-COSTELLO LAB IN THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT AT KENT STATE UNIVERSITY SEEK A FULL TIME RESEARCH TECHNICIAN TO MANAGE THE LABS OF A DYNAMIC, SUPPORTIVE RESEARCH GROUP WITH MULTIPLE ONGOING GRANT-FUNDED AND STUDENT-LED RESEARCH PROJECTS IN AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOCHEMISTRY.

Additional Basic Function – if applicable:

THE POSITION PROVIDES RICH OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN AND DEVELOP DIVERSE RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT SKILLS.

Examples of Duties:

DUTIES/ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS MAY INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING:

THE LAB MANAGER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE OPERATIONAL, LOGISTICAL, AND TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT OF AN INTERDISCIPLINARY ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LABORATORY. THE POSITION SUPPORTS THE RESEARCH MISSION OF THE LABORATORY BY ENSURING THAT LABORATORY, FIELD, AND DATA ACTIVITIES ARE WELL ORGANIZED, SAFE, COMPLIANT, AND EFFECTIVELY COORDINATED. THE LAB MANAGER PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN ENABLING FACULTY, STUDENTS, AND COLLABORATORS TO CONDUCT HIGH QUALITY RESEARCH BY MANAGING LABORATORY INFRASTRUCTURE.

Minimum Qualifications:

MINIMUM ACADEMIC/EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS.

• BACHELORS IN ECOLOGY, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, GEOLOGY, EARTH SCIENCE, CHEMISTRY OR RELATED STEM DISCIPLINE
• STRONG INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS
• ABILITY AND MOTIVATION TO SUPPORT A SUPPORTIVE, SAFE WORK ENVIRONMENT
• EFFECTIVE AT WORKING BOTH INDEPENDENTLY AND AS A MEMBER OF A COLLABORATIVE TEAM
• EXCELLENT ORGANIZATION SKILLS
• VALID U.S. DRIVERS LICENSE

Preferred Qualifications – if applicable:

• DEMONSTRATED HISTORY OF PROJECT COORDINATION, TEAM MANAGEMENT, LAB MANAGEMENT, EMPLOYEE SUPERVISION AND/OR MENTORING.
• EXPERIENCE WITH ONE OR MORE COMMON ECOSYSTEM ECOLOGY TOOLS INCLUDING ANALYTICAL SOIL, SEDIMENT, OR WATER ANALYSES, FIELD SAMPLING AND EXPERIMENTATION, AND SENSOR SYSTEM DEPLOYMENT AND MAINTENANCE.
• COMPETENCY IN DATA MANAGEMENT, SYNTHESIS AND ANALYSIS, USING MICROSOFT EXCEL, R, GITHUB, AND OTHER COMPUTATIONAL TOOLS.
• PHYSICAL ABILITY FOR STRENUOUS FIELD WORK.
• ABILITY TO TRAVEL FOR FIELD WORK AND PROJECT MEETINGS.

Additional Information:

Must pass a security check.

Kent State University is committed to creating a community that is culturally and intellectually diverse and to attracting and retaining a diverse staff. We strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that respect differences, and are inclusive, welcoming, respectful and kind.

We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to non-discrimination to employ and advance qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status. We comply with VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.

For official job descriptions, visit www.kent.edu/hr.

Kent State University is a Smoke-Free, Tobacco-Free University effective July 1, 2017. Smoking and tobacco use are not permitted on any of Kent State’s campuses or other locations and properties that are owned, operated, or leased by Kent State, both domestic and international. For additional details, visit www.kent.edu/smoke-free.

Disclaimer:

The intent of this description is to illustrate the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and should not be interpreted to describe all the specific duties and responsibilities that may be required in any particular position. Directly related experience/education beyond the minimum stated may be substituted where appropriate at the discretion of the Appointing Authority. Kent State University reserves the right to revise or change job duties, job hours, and responsibilities.