Teaching Laboratory Support

University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Chicago is seeking a Teaching Laboratory Support to prepare and develop undergraduate biology labs and neuroscience labs. You will follow lab protocols, stock organisms, order supplies, and set up equipment for daily activities.

The role involves maintaining cell cultures, assisting in new exercise development, and training lab staff. Candidates should have a biology-related degree and 2–5 years of lab experience with organisms and techniques.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences or chemistry.
• 2–5 years of work experience in a related lab or academic setting.
• Experience maintaining stocks of model organisms (e.g., C. elegans, D. melanogaster, E. coli).
• Familiarity with molecular and cellular biology techniques and microscopy.

Responsibilities

• Prepare materials for student labs.
• Set up and maintain laboratory spaces for daily/weekly exercises.
• Maintain inventories of equipment and supplies.
• Maintain cell culture lines and living organisms used in courses.
• Assist in developing new lab exercises across biology and neuroscience.

Skills

Attention to detail

Multitasking

Teamwork

Safety awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in biological science or chemistry

Tools

MS Word

Excel

Outlook

Mac/PC environments

Job description

Department

College Biological Sciences Collegiate Division

About the Department

The Biological Sciences Collegiate Division (BSCD) is the home to the biological sciences and neuroscience curriculum for undergraduates at the University of Chicago. The BSCD offers a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences or Neuroscience and several courses that comprise a general education program for non-majors. Our courses are taught by faculty from 22 basic science and clinical departments in the Biological Sciences Division, and by dedicated BSCD instructional professors.

Job Summary

The Teaching Laboratory Support reports to the Senior Instructional Professors and assists in preparing and developing laboratory exercises for undergraduate biology courses associated with the general education (Core biology) curriculum and neurosciences courses for the major. Throughout each quarter, the Teaching Laboratory Support follows various lab protocols, maintains stocks of model organisms used for experiments, orders supplies for planned laboratory exercises, prepares materials for labs, sets up equipment daily/weekly for use in laboratory exercises, and provides assistance to the team of Teaching Laboratory Support staff as needed in courses other than those specifically assigned.

Responsibilities

• Prepares materials for student labs.
• Organizes, sets up, and maintains laboratory spaces for daily/weekly laboratory exercises.
• Maintains inventories of equipment and supplies. Works with other teaching lab support personnel to keep common prep spaces organized and neat.
• Maintain cell culture lines and living organisms, for example, bacteria, D. melanogaster, C. elegans, Hydra, depending on the course needs.
• Assists lab director in the development of new exercises for student labs in biodiversity, cell biology, genetics, neuroscience, and developmental biology.
• Trains and supervises undergraduate lab support.
• Recommends improvements on existing demonstrations. Assists with creating manuals, syllabi, and other instructional materials. Maintains and documents the use of demonstration equipment or materials.
• Instructs students, staff, and faculty in the operation of laboratory or classroom equipment. Promotes safety in handling equipment and/or materials.
• Performs other related work needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

—

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in a biological science or chemistry.

Experience:

• Two years of prior work experience in a biological science lab or academic environment, such as course with lab components, teaching assistantships, internships, and/or any related lab-based activity.
• Background handling and maintaining stocks of model organisms, such as C. elegans, D. melanogaster, E. coli, or others.
• Familiar with molecular and cellular biological techniques and microscopy.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Proficiency in Mac and PC environments.

Preferred Competencies

• Work well with faculty, staff, and students.
• Handle multiple concurrent tasks in a competent and professional manner while also meeting deadlines.
• Work effectively with supervision and as a part of a team, individually or while taking directions from others.
• Handle stressful situations.
• Multitask.
• Critical thinking skills.
• Problem-solving skills.
• Work independently.
• Attention to detail.

Working Conditions

• Office environment.
• Fast-paced environment.
• Lift up to 30 lbs.
• Push carts with up to 50 lbs. of material.
• Sit at a computer for 2-4 hours.
• Periodic walking to other campus locations.
• Climbing up to 5 flights of stairs.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV, explicitly mentioning what molecular and cellular biological techniques the candidate has experience running (required)
• Cover Letter, which is to include your interest in this position (required)
• References Contact Information (required)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

Job Family

Academic Affairs

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

Pay Range

$22.45 - $26.41

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago’s Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.