Lab Operations Associate – Innovation Labs

Job Posting Title:

Lab Operations Associate – Innovation Labs

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Hiring Department:

Discovery to Impact

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

To Be Determined at Offer

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Earliest Start Date:

Ongoing

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

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Job Details:

General Notes

Mission of Discovery to Impact:

Discovery to Impact stands at the heart of transforming academic research into real-world solutions, serving as the pivotal bridge between campus innovators and the industry. Our mission is to harness the power of over 130 campus programs dedicated to entrepreneurship and intellectual property, guiding groundbreaking research from concept to commercial success. Through fostering strategic partnerships with corporations, investors, and entrepreneurs, we ensure that the University's innovations transition from labs and studios into services, solutions, and products that profoundly benefit society. Join us in our quest to change the world, one innovation at a time.

Purpose

UT Discovery to Impact Innovation Labs is a brand-new, state-of-the-art 10,000-square-foot bio-science incubator designed to be a launchpad for innovative startup companies. Our role is to support companies as they discover, create, and build technologies to improve the human experience through solving real-world problems. The Lab Operations Associate will support the Innovation Labs Manager in the daily operations, maintenance, and development of this program. This hands-on role is essential in ensuring the smooth functioning of a shared laboratory facility, assisting with equipment and facility management, safety compliance, training, and support for company members.

Responsibilities

• Operational Support: Assist in the day-to-day operations of the facilities, including people-first client support, equipment and facility management, safety, quality assurance,and inventory management. Serve as a point of contact for lab and building issues.
• Equipment: Assist with installing, calibrating, maintaining, and troubleshooting laboratory equipment and instruments. Perform routine checks of equipment and keep maintenance logs up to date. Sterilize and clean glassware. Coordinate with vendors for equipment maintenance and repair. Provide training and ensure proper use of equipment by company members and staff. Support implementation and maintenance of equipment scheduling systems.
• Safety & Compliance: Assist in implementing and maintaining all UT EHS and lab safety programs, including use of PPE, proper chemical hygiene, chemical inventory tracking and hazardous waste disposal.
• Quality Assurance: Assist in creating and updating standard operating procedures for equipment use, maintenance, training, and safety protocols.
• Facilities: Ensure all spaces and infrastructure are clean, sanitary, and in good repair. Assist in coordinating with UT Facilities, building management, and custodial staff to address maintenance, installation, repair, and construction needs. Prepare space for new companies to join and ensure proper move out procedures are followed.
• Inventory & Purchasing: Organize, track, and manage inventory of lab consumables and break-room provisions. Assist with purchasing and receiving. Optimize resource use.
• Training: Provide hands-on training for equipment use, safety programs, security, and emergency preparedness.
• Client Support: Assist in on- and off-boarding company members. Coordinate with Human Resources and Environmental Health and Safety to ensure appropriate processes are followed. Provide daily support to company members to optimize research productivity.
• Community Engagement: Support tours, events, and marketing efforts to promote the Innovation Labs and engage with the startup and research community. Contribute to a vibrant and growing culture of innovative bio-science startups.
• Other duties as needed

Required Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in a scientific discipline (e.g., biology, chemistry, bioengineering) OR High school diploma with two years of equivalent experience.
• Training in a scientific discipline (e.g., biology, chemistry, bio-engineering) or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience in an academic or commercial laboratory including operation and maintenance of laboratory equipment.
• Working towards a bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline (e.g., biology, chemistry, bioengineering) 
• Familiarity with laboratory safety programs and hazardous waste procedures.
• People-first focus with an optimistic attitude.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Detail-oriented with a commitment to excellence.
• Must be able to lift over 50 pounds and be able to stand for multiple hours at a time.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, interdisciplinary environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.

Preferred Qualifications (candidates need not have all of these qualifications to apply)

• Familiarity with bio-science laboratory settings, including experience with cellular, molecular, and microbiology techniques.
• Experience with quality systems and inventory management.
• Knowledge of UT systems and procedures (EHS, BFS).
• Experience supporting startup or incubator companies.

Hourly Rate

$25/hr

Work Schedule

Part-time: 20-40 hrs/week; Mon-Fri. Fixed term position for 1 year.

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• Cover Letter
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume in the first step of the online job application process. Then, any additional Required Materials will be uploaded in the My Experience section; you can multi-select the additional files or click the Upload button for each file. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find Jobs. Before you apply though, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will need to click the Upload button multiple times in order to attach your Resume, References and any additional Required Materials noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Please make sure you meet all the required qualifications and you can perform all of the essential functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

Students in this position may choose to enroll in the UTSaver voluntary retirement programs.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.