Spaceflight Laboratory Operations Manager

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical & dental benefits

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Tuition assistance

ECO Pass for local transit

Job summary

BioServe Space Technologies, a center within the Ann and HJ Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences department at CU Boulder, seeks a Laboratory Operations Manager to oversee laboratory operations and support biomedical experiments for ISS missions.

You will collaborate with scientists, engineers, and students to develop and execute spaceflight research missions, manage lab workflows, and ensure EH&S and biosafety compliance across projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biology, biomedical sciences, bioengineering, engineering, or related 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, laboratory equipment operation, 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 both ground-based and spaceflight investigations
• Literature reviews supporting experimental design and protocol development
• Support for payload implementation activities, including documentation of experiment requirements, identification of flight and ground hardware, and coordination of ground testing activities such as feasibility testing and EVT
• Develop and follow engineering and laboratory procedures utilizing BioServe's procedure process

Skills

Microscopy systems

Laboratory management

Project coordination

Written and verbal communication

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in biology/biomedical sciences/bioengineering/engineering

Tools

Biological laboratory equipment

Microscopy equipment handling

Job description

BioServe Space Technologies, a center within the Ann and HJ Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences department at CU Boulder, seeks a Laboratory Operations Manager to oversee laboratory operations and support biomedical experiments for ISS missions.

You will collaborate with scientists, engineers, and students to develop and execute spaceflight research missions, manage lab workflows, and ensure EH&S and biosafety compliance across projects.