POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE Microbiology Laboratory Coordinator
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 5930
GRADE 43
CLASSIFICATION Exempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Department Head, Biology
MAJOR ADMINISTRATOR Dean, College of Natural and Applied Science
GENERAL FUNCTION
The Microbiology Laboratory Coordinator teaches laboratory sections of microbiology courses, serves as a liaison between lecture and lab instructors and teaching assistants in undergraduate microbiology laboratories, and provides academic advisement of undergraduate students. The Microbiology Laboratory Coordinator oversees the personnel and equipment resources which support microbiology laboratories and develops schedules which ensure that the appropriate types and quantities of equipment and supplies are available and ready for laboratory sessions. The Microbiology Laboratory Coordinator oversees student worker(s) activities and ensures that they are properly trained.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A Master’s degree in Microbiology or a related biological science discipline is required.
Experience: At least one year of experience is required in either an academic (preferred), industrial, commercial, governmental or other laboratory setting where exposure to the maintenance of a variety of microbial organisms and knowledge of equipment and supplies typically used in a university biology or microbiology laboratory was gained.
Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills are required. Effective interpersonal skills are required. Knowledge of microbial culture maintenance, storage, media/reagent preparation is required. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required. Organizational and leadership skills are preferred.
Effort: Visual acuity sufficient to perform brightfield microscopy is required; the ability to weigh chemicals and media on a digital balance is required.
Other: The scope of the position occasionally requires evening and weekend work to check laboratory specimens.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Teaches laboratory sections of introductory and upper-level microbiology courses under the direction of microbiology faculty to introduce microbiology students to laboratory applications of microbial principals and assures close alignment of laboratory sections with the lecture component of the course.
2. Ensures that microbiology laboratories support academic instruction in the Department of Biology by reviewing each course syllabus and determining the specific laboratory requirements for simultaneously-occurring, yet different, laboratory sessions, developing a schedule which organizes and coordinates personnel and equipment resources to satisfy those identified laboratory requirements, and overseeing student workers who prepare media, set up laboratory equipment and specimens, and take down and clean laboratory equipment after laboratory sessions.
3. Provides the essential student service of academic advisement by being knowledgeable of academic policies and procedures unique to Missouri State University that facilitate the advisement process and assist assigned students in the development of academic schedules appropriate for the stated educational goals of students, guiding students in decision making and learning how to accept responsibility for their decisions, assisting all students (not just advisees) seeking academic information, and directing students to resources within the University that provide assistance in making career and academic major choices.
4. Enables the Department of Biology to provide a comprehensive learning experience for students enrolled in microbiology laboratories by growing and maintaining microbial cultures and ensuring that stock microbial cultures, media, laboratory equipment, and testing instruments are ready and available in sufficient amounts for specific laboratory sessions.
5. Ensures that sufficient quantities and types of equipment and supplies are available for laboratory sessions by being knowledgeable of the equipment and supplies typically used in microbiology and biology laboratories, maintaining an accurate inventory of on-hand quantities and items, preparing appropriate documents to replace shortages, receiving and inventorying for accuracy and completeness the equipment and supplies purchased for the department, and storing and issuing equipment and supplies for specific laboratory sessions.
6. Maintains the operational condition of scientific equipment used in microbiology laboratories by cleaning, calibrating, adjusting, and making minor repairs on equipment such as microscopes, spectrophotometers, autoclaves, and arranging with the on-campus maintenance department or off-campus commercial vendors to repair equipment requiring major repairs.
7. Works with Biology faculty to develop an effective and competent staff of student workers by recruiting and hiring qualified applicants, providing training in departmental policies and procedures, scheduling work assignments, overseeing work activities, and evaluating performance.
8. Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
9. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses required by the Department Head.
10. Contributes to the overall success of the Department of Biology by performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
SUPERVISION
The Microbiology Laboratory Coordinator is supervised by the Department Head of Biology and oversees student workers in microbiology laboratories under the direction of Biology faculty.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
REVISED OCTOBER 2016
