Lab Technician AS7231

Lab Technician AS7231 Oklahoma State University 494641 Campus OSU-Stillwater Contact Name & Email Connie Budd, Lab Coordinator, [email protected]{target="_blank"} Work Schedule Monday through Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm with occasional evenings and weekends. Appointment Length Regular continuous until further notice Hiring Range $15.50 - $20.50 Hourly Priority Application Date While applications will be accepted until a successful candidate has been hired, interested parties are encouraged to submit their materials by July 21, 2026, to ensure full consideration. Special Instructions to Applicants For full consideration, please include a resume, cover letter and contact information for three professional references. About this Position The Department of Microbiology seeks a dedicated, detail-oriented, and collaborative professional who is passionate about student success in a dynamic laboratory environment. This position reports to and supports the Teaching Laboratory Coordinator and is essential to the operation of undergraduate microbiology teaching laboratories serving approximately 800 students annually. The Laboratory Technician is primarily responsible for preparing and managing culture media, reagents, and bacterial cultures for courses such as Introduction to Microbiology Laboratory, Pathogenic Microbiology Laboratory, and other laboratory courses as needed. Responsibilities include troubleshooting media and culture issues, maintaining active and long-term culture collections with appropriate purity checks, and operating and maintaining laboratory equipment such as autoclaves, automated media preparators, glassware washers, cold rooms, and sterilization systems. The technician ensures prep labs are clean, organized, and fully functional, oversees biohazard waste and contaminated materials processing, and coordinates purchasing and inventory of supplies. This role also involves maintaining SOPs and safety documentation and supporting the continuity of lab operations by assuming the duties of the Teaching Lab Coordinator when necessary. In addition, the Laboratory Technician assists with monitoring and standardizing teaching methods and course materials - particularly for Introduction to Microbiology Laboratory - working with the Teaching Lab Coordinator to promote consistency and effectiveness across lab sections. The technician provides training, supervision, and mentorship to undergraduate assistants and Graduate Teaching Assistants, and supports student learning through direct interaction when needed. The technician will collaborate with the Teaching Laboratory Coordinator to ensure that appropriate graduate and undergraduate student training on how to operate autoclaves is provided and recorded on a regular basis. The role also contributes to departmental initiatives such as equipment inventories, chemical inventories, and space utilization surveys. The position requires strong technical microbiology skills, attention to detail, and excellent communication skills to work effectively with a diverse population. Standard working hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with occasional evening or weekend work based on course schedules. The role involves working with live microbial organisms and chemicals, exposure to high-temperature equipment (up to 250°F), and working in environments reaching 95-98°F for up to two-hour intervals. Candidates must be able to lift at least 35 pounds, climb ladders, and stand or sit for extended periods. Required Qualifications