Penn State Job Catalog

Additional levels that exist for this job profile can be seen below.

The defined natural career progression within or between job profiles.

Lab Coordinator - Physical Sciences

The Lab Coordinator - Physical Sciences is responsible for coordinating operational activities in a research or instructional laboratory. The Lab Coordinator ensures laboratory security, efficiency, and quality control; serves as safety officer; assists with planning labs, experiments, and research projects; provides instruction and support to students; contributes to research project advancement; ensures equipment and material availability; maintains relationships with agencies, contractors, vendors; complies and reports project funding, sourcing, and research progress data; assists with grants and proposals.

• Coordinate operational activities in physical sciences research or instructional laboratories; provide support services to researchers, faculty, students, and technicians
• Oversee laboratory security, efficiency, and quality control; develop and implement policies, procedures, and protocols
• Serve as laboratory safety officer; ensure laboratories are maintained and operated in compliance with safety regulations; coordinate activities with IACUC, environmental health, and other safety compliance officers; maintain records
• Assist faculty and researchers plan labs and experiments; make equipment, material, and supply recommendations; design/develop equipment specifications; set up and demonstrate equipment technology; calculate and prepare chemical solutions; pilot test experiments
• Provide academic activity support; guide students during lab activities including field opportunities and research projects; review, analyze, and advise on project feasibility; schedule laboratories and facilitate set up/tear down; provide class coverage; proctor exams
• Contribute to research project advancement; collect, compile, and process data
• Compile project funding and sourcing information; develop and maintain source relationships; assist with research and grant proposals
• Coordinate equipment, supply, and labware purchases, ordering, inventory, maintenance, repair, and storage; secure competitive pricing; reconcile invoices and maintain records; establish and maintain vendor and sales representative relationships
• Coordinate use and reporting of research budget and funds
• Report laboratory use and research progress data, including testing activities and technical issues; write reports and maintain logs

Level:

– Senior Professional

Base Description:

– Completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates advanced knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures of a particular field. Works independently on moderately complex work assignments under limited oversight, reviews progress, and evaluates results. Monitors work and projects ensuring timeliness, quality, and efficiency. Identifies and mobilizes resources to achieve outcomes. Trains others and reviews progress with management. Presents ideas, concepts, and instructions in a clear and persuasive manner. Develops new techniques, concepts, and approaches and applies them to moderately complex and strategic and/or operational issues.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Indirect supervisor for other full–time employees
– May serve as direct supervisor for part–time, student, and/or temporary workers, volunteers, or a full–time employee

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– May validate and pay invoices
– Monitors and tracks budgets and funding

Problem Solving:

– Encounters moderately complex problems
– Applies specialized knowledge and skills to resolve problems
– Understands benefits, limitations, and impact of potential solutions

Independence of Action:

– Works independently on moderately complex work assignments, reviews progress, and evaluates results
– May set priorities and organize work within general guidelines established by supervisor
– May review the work of others to verify accuracy and conformance to required procedures and special instructions

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates internally within working unit and the University
– Communicates with external audiences for scheduling/coordination
– May communicate with external audiences for business purposes
– Coaches others in using appropriate strategies for resolving conflict; negotiating reasonable compromises; and proposing and evaluating possible solutions
– Give candid and constructive feedback to others to influence and persuade managers and employees to accept and implement findings and recommendations

• Comp Grade – 8
• Minimum – $51,000.00
• MidPoint – $62,500.00
• Maximum – $74,000.00