This position has a variety of responsibilities to ensure the success of the Chemistry teaching labs. The Lab Manager will teach, develop coursework, and implement the overall Academic Goals of the Department and University. The Teaching Lab Manager supports the Course Coordinator to maintain a consistent level of education across all lab sections of each of the three Chemistry Laboratory courses offered including Analytical, Organic, and General Chemistry. Reporting functionally to the Analytical Course Coordinator, The Teaching Lab Manager interacts directly with Undergraduate students, Graduate students, Departmental Faculty, and may have interactions outside of the Department with other schools within Vanderbilt University, and abroad to other institutions on a daily basis. 

 

The Teaching Lab Manager will be responsible for implementing the directives of the Course Coordinator for Analytical Lab courses. The Teaching Lab Manager will teach multiple sections within the Teaching Laboratory and prepares all of the chemical reagents and laboratory equipment needed for any given experiment. Additionally, the Teaching Lab Manager is responsible for responding to student and TA inquiries both inside and outside of the laboratory and offering guidance to Graduate Teaching Assistants. 

 

The Teaching Lab Manager will oversee two other team members in a progressive, communal, and professional atmosphere that encourages innovation and progress while consistently maintaining a high standard to keep the Chemistry Laboratory courses operating at a high level of educational outreach for the development of undergraduates. 

 

About the Work Unit: 

Chemistry is the intellectual home to over 250 students, post-docs, and faculty members working in a wide range of specializations, as well as the interdisciplinary fields of chemical biology, structural biology, molecular toxicology, materials chemistry, and nanotechnology. Close collaboration with the School of Medicine, School of Engineering and other departments within the College of Arts and Science-particularly the departments of biological sciences and physics—provides valuable opportunities to not only excel in the traditional disciplines of chemistry but also investigate the many ways that chemistry intersects with other fields.

Duties and Responsibilities:

 

Lab Operations: Work with the Course Coordinator to design and implement laboratory activities that will emphasize key learning objectives for the courses taught. Work with personnel within the Department of Chemistry office on a regular basis to coordinate laboratory purchases and other special requests.  Serve as a Procurement Requester within Oracle and order supplies necessary for teaching laboratories.  Keep a detailed record of purchases and Departmental monies spent on supplies for these teaching laboratories.  Use iLab to order interdepartmental supplies.  Serve as student point of contact with iLab purchases. Work with Course Coordinator and other Lab Teaching Assistants to oversee information management (grades, creation and maintenance of content, quizzes, and tests in Brightspace/TopHat course learning platforms).  Lab Safety and Maintenance: Serve as the Safety Coordinator for assigned Chemistry Lab courses. Responsible for ensuring that all lab personnel are up to date on laboratory safety training, and for ensuring proper reagent handling and waste management. Oversees disposal practices to remove hazardous chemicals. Make necessary chemical and biological reagents for laboratory experiments using sterile and safe laboratory practices.  Supervise staff to maintain a well-organized inventory of laboratory equipment and chemicals used in the Teaching Laboratories.  Routinely clean and repair equipment within the laboratory to maintain optimal performance. Clean and sterilize laboratory equipment and hard surfaces on a regular basis.  Personnel Coordinator: Trains and supervises Lab TA staff in all facets of Chemistry lab operations (chemical solution creation, teaching, Safety standards, operation of equipment, Brightspace, and other duties). Oversees recruitment of Lab TA staff. Oversee Undergraduate Student Worker schedule across the Analytical, Organic, and General Chemistry Teaching Labs.  Outreach: Work with personnel within the Department of Chemistry to coordinate shared laboratory space. Serves as the point of contact for Chemistry Labs during the annual Space Survey. Communicate and work with personnel from other areas of the University (such as Next Steps Program) to ensure safe and proper temporary use of laboratory environments.

 

Supervisory Relationships: 

This position does have supervisory responsibilities; this position supervises two Lab Teaching Assistants. This position reports functionally to the Analytical lab Sr. Lecturer/Course Coordinator and administratively to the Administrative Manager. 

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree is necessary. Master’s degree is preferred. Able to manage time and plan what needs to be done. Able to accurately follow written or verbal instructions. Flexible and able to work cooperatively with others. Experience measuring with basic laboratory equipment.  Able to perform calculations necessary for mixing solutions. Computer skills including Microsoft Office and web-based tools for collaboration and communication.