Spaceflight Biomedical Lab Operations Lead

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

BioServe Space Technologies, a center within the CU Boulder aerospace engineering sciences department, seeks a Laboratory Operations Manager to oversee laboratory operations and provide project support for biomedical research experiments aboard the ISS.

You will work with a multidisciplinary team to develop and execute spaceflight research missions, ensuring safety, compliance, and efficient lab workflows in a demanding, spaceflight–oriented environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, biomedical sciences, bioengineering, engineering, or a related scientific field.
• Experience operating microscopy systems and standard biological laboratory equipment.
• Demonstrated organizational, project coordination, and laboratory management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Liquid nitrogen storage management.
• Laboratory operations, organization, and workflow.
• Inventory management for laboratory supplies, chemicals, and flight hardware.
• Procurement of laboratory supplies, equipment, and general-use consumables.
• Receiving and processing laboratory shipments.
• Maintenance of chemical inventories and laboratory records.
• Scheduling and tracking calibration and preventive maintenance of laboratory equipment.
• Weekly laboratory safety inspections and corrective actions.
• Support of EH&S and IBC compliance and documentation.
• Training staff and students in laboratory procedures, sterile technique, cell culture, and flight hardware preparation.
• Mammalian and stem cell culture support.
• Microscopy operation and image acquisition.
• Basic cell culture analyses and documentation.
• Material compatibility testing with biological samples.
• Preparation, sterile assembly, and testing of BioServe spaceflight hardware.
• Development and execution of laboratory and experimental protocols for ground-based and spaceflight investigations.
• Literature reviews supporting experimental design and protocol development.
• Support for payload implementation activities, including documentation of experiment requirements and coordination of ground testing activities.

Skills

Microscopy operation

Lab management

Project coordination

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in biology or related field

Job description

BioServe Space Technologies, a center within the CU Boulder aerospace engineering sciences department, seeks a Laboratory Operations Manager to oversee laboratory operations and provide project support for biomedical research experiments aboard the ISS.

You will work with a multidisciplinary team to develop and execute spaceflight research missions, ensuring safety, compliance, and efficient lab workflows in a demanding, spaceflight–oriented environment.