Penn State Job Catalog

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

The Lab Coordinator - Life 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 life 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 and equipment are maintained and operated in compliance with safety regulations; coordinate activities with University 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:

– Advanced Professional

Base Description:

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

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates proficient and comprehensive knowledge of defined skill areas/applications. Applies knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures of a particular field to decision-making and problem–solving. Works under minimum supervision on varied and sometimes difficult work assignments, conferring with supervisor or subject matter experts on unusual matters. May lead others or a team in completion of complex assignments. Interprets and communicates information clearly, accurately, and persuasively. Researches and tries new approaches when solving difficult or novel problems.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Indirect supervisor or mentor 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
– May monitor/track budgets and funding

Problem Solving:

– Encounters generally routine problems with progressively more complex and/or varied problems
– Typically follows recommended course of action and procedures to resolve problems
– May apply specialized knowledge and skills to resolve complex and/or varied problems, with supervisor oversight
– Researches and tries new approaches when solving problems

Independence of Action:

– Works with minimal supervision on more difficult work assignments, conferring with supervisor on unusual matters
– Follows precedents and procedures
– May set priorities and organize work within general guidelines established by supervisor

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates internally and externally within working unit and the University
– May communicate with external audiences for business purposes
– Promotes open communication in a manner that builds relationships among team members
– Applies appropriate strategies for managing conflict; negotiate reasonable compromises; propose and evaluate possible solutions
– Interprets and communicates information, ideas and instructions clearly, accurately and persuasively both verbally and in written materials intended for distribution

• Comp Grade – 7
• Minimum – $46,400.00
• MidPoint – $56,800.00
• Maximum – $67,300.00

• Facilitation
• Inventory management
• Operations management
• Policy implementation
• Procedure development
• Quality Assurance (QA)
• Quality control
• Reporting
• Research methods
• Risk Management
• Teaching
• Vendor management