Sr. Laboratory Coordinator

The Synthetic Biomolecular Machines Laboratory in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering is seeking a Sr. Laboratory Coordinator to manage equipment, facilities and inventory in a biotechnology research group. This position will involve interaction with a range of students, postdocs, and JHU personnel and work under the direct supervision of the faculty investigator. Positive interpersonal skills, independence, and reliability are essential. The work involves the operation of automated fluorescence microscopes, fluorescence spectrometers, incubators, cell culture, nucleic acid biochemistry, PCR, and related techniques and microfluidics. Familiarity with or experience in these areas or the willingness to develop these skills efficiently is required.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Daily maintenance of the equipment and proper use. Monitor laboratory supplies and order supplies when needed.
• Training users in standard equipment operation and routine lab techniques and procedures create standard training protocols.
• Conducts preventive maintenance and troubleshooting of equipment, making routine repairs and notifying service personnel when more complex problems occur.
• Establishment of up-to-date written laboratory protocols to support instrumentation and general laboratory procedures.
• Oversee the receipt of lab orders and delivery. Troubleshoot and solve problems relating to the placement and receipt of those orders, including billing.
• Serve as the liaison between the laboratory, JHU lab safety, and JHU facilities to ensure consistently safe and reliable lab operation and lab office access and usability.
• Track, coordinate, and facilitate the resolution of facility and other infrastructure challenges specific to the laboratory or work environment, including the development of infrastructure changes in coordination with WSE and JHU facilities and coordination with insurance.
• Coordinate the progression and completion of necessary lab repairs and maintenance.
• Monitor biohazard/biological safety standards and proper handling of potentially hazardous chemicals and biological agents in the workplace and ensure document compliance with safety guidelines.
• Maintain safety records and laboratory certifications.
• Oversee inventory management for tools and materials in the research group.
• Monitor inventory levels and proper storage of materials and supplies in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Validate laboratory reagents and provide troubleshooting assistance.
• Follow established procedures or protocols to perform laboratory tests and/or experiments that may include basic biochemistry, surface chemistry, tissue & cell culture, fluorescence and optical microscopy.
• Prepare reagents and microscope slides as part of general assistance in the completion of protocols.
• Operate standard and specialized equipment dedicated to laboratory services, including but not limited to centrifuges, pH meters, analytical balance, pipettes, spectrophotometers, fluorometers, optical and fluorescence microscopes, qPCR instruments, and DNA thermal cyclers.
• Organize digital materials and maintain filing systems in accordance with other responsibilities.

Special Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Biological/wet laboratory management.
• Ability to accurately and efficiently perform basic biochemical wet lab techniques including sample preparation, mixing, centrifugation, fluorescence microscopy, electrophoresis.
• Comfortable operating and maintaining all lab equipment and robotics, associated computers, multiple database instances and interfaces.
• Display a high level of organization, attention to detail, accuracy, interpersonal and communication skills, and sensitivity to the needs of the internal research team and external partners.
• Ability to coordinate projects and make independent decisions related to facilities changes, laboratory layout, or building infrastructure updates between lab personnel and JHU.
• Ability to follow protocols, policies, and procedures and respond appropriately when presented with novel situations.
• Demonstrated excellent record of attendance and punctuality.
• Ability to work independently, as a team member, and under direct supervision.
• Familiarity with Google Calendar, OneDrive and proficiency with basic productivity tasks and electronic communication.
• Initiative to meet deadlines and manage multiple tasks independently, strong time management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple and competing priorities.
• Legible handwriting, including the ability to write neatly on small labels or the ability to produce such labels efficiently.
• Strong work ethic and excellent work habits.

Physical Requirements

• This position requires in-person daily attendance in the laboratory.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may remain in a stationary position (sitting or standing) up to 70% of the time.
• Occasionally required to traverse throughout the laboratory or to retrieve equipment, supplies, or specimens from other locations on campus.
• The employee must operate computer keyboard, laboratory instruments, and small laboratory tools such as pipettes, cutting instruments, glass tubes, dishes, and/or slides.
• Constantly repositions self to perform duties at laboratory workstations, gathering specimens, and loading equipment.
• Hand strength is necessary for lab maintenance duties such as tightening gas cylinder connections tightly.
• Prolonged vision requirements, including viewing computer screens, paper reports/documents, charts, and results.
• Visual acuity is required to distinguish fine gradation of color or structure and closely examine specimens (including via a microscope).

Laboratory Environment.

• The possibility of exposure to toxins and infectious agents exists, but the potential for personal injury or harm is minimized if established safety and health precautions are followed.
• Must refer to and are expected to comply with procedure manuals, follow proper laboratory protocols and safety policy/procedures, and be familiar with material data safety sheets in assigned work areas
• . Able to read and understand all Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) guidelines applicable to assigned work area.
• Working in the laboratory where there may be discomfort due to odors, noise, temperature fluctuations, and working around lab equipment.
• Research areas may include animal or human cells, DNA, and other bio-hazardous materials. Use of personal protective equipment may be advised or required.
• May transport equipment and supplies, usually less than 40 pounds from one area to another in the laboratory or on campus.
• Comfortable using a step stool and reaching above shoulder height.
• Staff may be required to complete an annual competency review, and must ensure compliance with Johns Hopkins Policy, Laboratory Policy & Procedure, Health, Safety & Environment regulations, and all applicable privacy & confidentiality laws/practices.
• Periodically it may be necessary to come in evenings or weekends if facilities or equipment requires it.

• Bachelor's Degree in Biology, Chemistry, Bioengineering, Chemical Bioengineering or related field.
• Three years related experience.
• Master's Degree, with related graduate research, may substitute for experience to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

• Experience in one or more of the following technical areas, DNA or RNA biochemistry, materials, chemistry, nanotechnology, microscopy, device development, mammalian cell culture, microfluidic device fabrication.

Classified Title: Sr. Laboratory Coordinator 
Role/Level/Range: ACRP/03/MB  
Starting Salary Range: $41,300 - $72,300 Annually (Commensurate w/exp.) 
Employee group: Full Time 
Schedule: Monday – Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm 
FLSA Status: Exempt 
Location: Homewood Campus 
Department name: ​​​​​​​Dept of Chemical and Biomolecular Engrg  
Personnel area: Whiting School of Engineering