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:

– Intermediate Professional

Base Description:

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

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates ability to perform intermediate tasks in defined skill areas. Demonstrates intermediate knowledge of internal procedures. Works under general supervision, performing assignments that may be varied and sometimes difficult. Supports team decisions and follows through with team responsibilities. Interprets and communicates information clearly and accurately. Demonstrates intermediate problem–solving skills.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– May serve as direct supervisor for part–time, student, and/or temporary workers or volunteers

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– May validate and pay invoices

Problem Solving:

– Encounters generally routine problems; occasionally faces more complex and/or varied problems
– Typically follows recommended course of action and procedures to resolve problems
– Applies knowledge of larger unit goals, priorities, and related procedures in determining course of action

Independence of Action:

– Work is generally monitored by supervisor
– Detailed instructions and procedures are generally provided
– Uses available guidelines to make appropriate adaptations to routine situations and refers other situations to supervisor

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates internally within working unit and/or the University
– May communicate with external audiences
– Collaborates closely with team members
– Interprets and communicates information, ideas and instructions clearly and accurately both verbally and in written materials intended for distribution

• Comp Grade – 6
• Minimum – $42,100.00
• MidPoint – $51,600.00
• Maximum – $61,000.00