Lab Technician
Job Title: Lab Technician
Classification: T4
Department: CLAS
Updated: December 2025
Job Summary
This position provides technical support for the laboratory equipment of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. This role assists with coordinating equipment service and supplies, maintaining service records and budgets, and supervising student staff.
Essential Functions
- Diagnose laboratory support equipment as issues arise. Monitor for trends and develop efficient repair strategies to reduce cost and downtime.
- Support repairable small to medium equipment that supports the teaching curriculum within the six general science departments. Including, but not limited to: microscopes, balances, thermometers, pH meters, hotplate/stirrers, pipettors.
- Primary management of equipment in shared CLAS support spaces designated by the Laboratory Director. KHS Microscopy Suite, KHS Technician’s Suite. Backup for the KHS and Padnos Loading Dock, and Padnos Shop.
- Confirm the calibration of teaching laboratory equipment, such as balances, pipettes, spectrophotometers, and thermometers.
- Test and calibrate parts and equipment. Perform checks to verify safe and accurate operation. Notify Laboratory Supervisors and the Director of Laboratory Services of issues found.
- Order supplies for equipment repair. Communicate with vendors and instrument support technicians to specify parts.
- Reconcile expense reports.
- Help maintain the technician budget and allocate funds accordingly.
- Inspect, disassemble/assemble, and/or test laboratory equipment. Provide feedback on obsolete and unsafe equipment.
- Review resources for equipment and/or techniques to assist or improve the science departments’ facilities.
- Read and interpret specifications, schematics, and service manuals for equipment serviced.
- Utilize the database to record service history.
- Supervise student employees.
- Order Gas supplies, including cryogenics, from Purity Gas cylinders for KHS, and move cylinders to the appropriate locations. Filling cryogens in our cold storage units in KHS.
- Preventive Maintenance on specified cold storage units.
- Other related duties as assigned by leadership.
Non-Essential Functions
- Fabricate parts as needed for equipment repair whenever possible.
- Assist maintenance personnel in identifying broken or hazardous equipment or fixtures.
- Be aware of building safety and notify appropriate people when problems are spotted.
Required Qualifications
- (High school graduate supplemented by a certificate from a two year technical program and/or relevant experience.
- Minimum of three years experience repairing or maintaining laboratory instruments (including computers).
- Demonstrated experience to successfully work under pressure and meet deadlines.
- Demonstrated experience to successfully maintain positive interpersonal relationships.
- Demonstrated experience to successfully operate office equipment including standard wood and metal shop equipment.
- Demonstrated experience to successfully provide quality customer service.
- Demonstrated experience to successfully maintain satisfactory work performance and attendance records.
- Possess strong verbal and written communications skills.
- Demonstrated experience to successfully work independently, organize own work and coordinate work activities of others.
- Demonstrated experience to successfully use various computer software applications.
- This position requires periodic heavy lifting.
- Demonstrated experience to successfully navigate challenging situations in the workplace, while using good judgement.
- Demonstrated experience to successfully work under pressure and meet deadlines.
- Demonstrated experience to successfully maintain satisfactory work performance and attendance records.
- Ability to successfully maintain positive intercultural and interpersonal relationships.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree
- Supervisory experience.
- Knowledge of basic safety procedures dealing with shop tools and electrical instruments and with the sciences.
Supervision Received
Receives minimal supervision from a designated supervisor. Much of the work is self-initiated. Person is expected to function with considerable independence and apply appropriate policies and procedures within the assigned area of responsibility.
Supervision Exercised
Hire, train, schedule and coordinate the work of student employees and may act as lead worker to PSS staff members within the department/unit/division.
Physical Demands
- To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Must have the physical stamina to work long hours and/or more than 5 days per week. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.
For questions regarding employment, email Human Resources. TDD Callers: Call Michigan Relay Center 1-800-649-3777.