Technical Assistant/Biology Lab Technician at Schenectady County Community College in Schenectady, New York

Job Description:

Category:: Professional

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Department:: Division of Math, Science, Technology and Health

Locations:: Schenectady, NY

Posted:: Mar 26, 2025

Closes:: Open Until Filled

Type:: Full-time

Position ID:: 186765

About SUNY Schenectady County Community College:

SUNY Schenectady County Community College (SUNY Schenectady) is one of the State University of New York's finest two-year colleges located in upstate New York's vibrant and growing Capital Region, with easy access to Boston, NYC, the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains, Montreal and scenic Hudson Valley, all of which are just a few hours away. SUNY Schenectady is a premier college that provides quality, comprehensive education for transfer, career, training and workforce development to a diverse population in a student centered environment. The College offers more than 50 transfer and career programs in science, aviation, culinary, music, and liberal arts, and serves more than 5,000 students. We take pride in being an urban campus with a small town feel.

SUNY Schenectady is dedicated to cultivating an environment that celebrates diversity, prioritizes inclusion, and insists on equitable access. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to our vision and mission; we know that to foster a sense of belonging and preserve connectedness, we must create and maintain working and learning spaces that welcome, respect, and appreciate difference. SUNY Schenectady provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic disposition, neurodiversity, disability, veteran status or any other protected category under federal, state and local law. We encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented groups, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities.

Job Description:

SUNY Schenectady County Community College is seeking a full-time Technical Assistant/Biology Lab Technician for our Division of Math, Science, Technology and Health. Reporting to the Dean, the Laboratory Technician is responsible for the set-up and break down of laboratories for all Biology classes as well as the preparation of solutions, culture and media. The Technician supports the faculty and the instruction of students enrolled in any Biology course, oversees and trains part-time laboratory technicians and is also responsible for the general cleanliness of the laboratories.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Laboratory Technician will perform the following duties:

• Work with faculty to assure that lab exercises are prepared for lab sessions according to the published schedule.


• Assist faculty in the set-up of laboratory practical exams.


• Set-up and break down laboratories for all Biology classes and review that those supplies are replenished for upcoming sessions of the same laboratory course, on a daily basis.


• Preparation of all specimens, solutions, culture, and media.


• Supports the faculty and the instruction of students enrolled in any Biology laboratory course and is available to readily assist during laboratory sessions.


• Help to facilitate student clean up at the end of the laboratory session.


• Ensure that the laboratory is left clean and organized with glassware washed and put away once air dried.


• Ensure that laboratories are well-maintained and running smoothly.


• Work with students during exam review week in terms of being available to allow lab space and time; make exam review material available; and for Bio II students, spend time organizing their research materials and methods extending over a semester.


• Maintaining inventory of chemicals, materials, glassware, and MSDS sheets.


• Perform inventory checks on a regular basis and keep lab well stocked for smooth operation.


• Order material, generate purchase orders and oversee payment for all the above listed Biology and Biotechnology labs, including all research related material for Biology II, Biotechnology, and prepare for lab associated with any newly created course at any given semester.


• Maintain availability to support courses as needed on evenings and Saturdays.


• Cataloging waste


• Ensure that all equipment is in working order and to notify the Dean whenever equipment repair or maintenance is required.


• Ensure that all safety regulations and hazardous material handling regulations are followed in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations.


• Prepare and train all part-time technicians to assist the full-time technician as deemed necessary. The full-time technician is responsible for overseeing all part-time Biology lab technicians in the following capacity:
  
  
  • Train, teach, and assign them to prepare course specific labs. This involves setting up labs for every lab, taking down labs on a regular day to day basis, and also setting up review items for each course before each lab exam (2 reviews per course per semester).
  
  
  • Teach them how to prepare laboratory solutions and reagents and be familiar with equipment and general techniques, which includes maintaining supplies and trouble shooting.
  
  
  • Train them to set up course specific lab practical exams (2 per course per semester), assembling, dismantling, storing, and re-assembling exams as needed every shift for each section of each course.
  
  
  • Develop their work schedule to support the teaching schedule within the staff's assigned work time.
  
  
  • Monitor for accuracy all worksheets for time put in, actual work performed, and signing off on their time sheets on a biweekly basis.
  
  
  
  


• Collaborate with Division Dean to oversee the laboratory budget.

Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Biology or an Associate's degree in Biology with 2 years of experience in preparation of laboratory activities, including but not limited to preparation of reagents and media


• Basic Computer skills


• Possesses good time management skills and ability to multi-task


• Well-organized and detail-oriented


• Forward thinking and must be able to create a plan ahead


• Possess good communication skills


• Must be available to work some evenings and Saturdays

Preferred Qualifications:

• 2 years of experience in preparation of laboratory activities, including but not limited to preparation of reagents and media

Special Information:

• VISA sponsorship is not available for this position


• Offers of employment will be conditional based on the successful completion of a background check and verification of official college transcripts

Additional Information:

Salary: $43,927

At SUNY Schenectady, salary is only one aspect of your compensation package.

Benefits and perks:

As a full-time team member here, you'll enjoy:

• Comprehensive health care coverage


• Dental and vision coverage


• A choice of retirement systems


• A deferred compensation program


• Professional development opportunities


• Two on-site childcare providers (dependent on availability)


• Discounted YMCA health club membership


• Plus additional savings programs and perks!

Application Instructions:

Applications Due By: Applications accepted until position is filled.

If you need a disability-related accommodation to apply to this position, please contact the Human Resources Office at (518) 381-1218 or humanresources@sunysccc.edu.

Applicants must submit the following documents to be considered for this position:

• Cover letter


• Resume


• Completed SUNY Schenectady Employment Application


• References: Please provide three professional references which include name, title, and contact information

CAMPUS SAFETY REPORT

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, mandates that all Title IV institutions, without exception, prepare, publish and distribute an Annual Security Report. This report consists of two basic parts: disclosure of the College's crime statistics for the past three years; and the availability regarding the College's current campus security policies. SUNY Schenectady County Community College's Annual Security Report is available here.

SUNY Schenectady is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United Stated and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

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