Lab Manager - Department of Physics and Astronomy

The Department of Physics and Astronomy in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Lab Manager.

About the Opportunity

As a Lab Manager, you will provide guidance and direction to the instructional laboratories and their instructors; to ensure the pedagogical effectiveness of the laboratories in the education of the students enrolled in them.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

Lab Management:

• Oversee the introductory laboratories in PHYS 101/102/105/111/112.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of current research trends in introductory physics laboratory education and work with course instructional personnel to ensure new laboratory experiences are developed as best practice evolves.
• Develop an inventory system for laboratory equipment. Maintain an inventory of all laboratory equipment.
• Purchase disposable supplies such as batteries, wire, magnets, radioactive sources, spectrographic tubes and replacement equipment for introductory lab spaces.
• Monitor equipment such as power supplies, lab interface devices, scientific probes, and advanced lab equipment such as spectroscopes and photoelectric effect devices to ensure all are functioning properly.
• Manage or perform weekly setup and break down of the introductory labs.
• Coordinate with physics and astronomy personnel to create new laboratory material as needed.
• Oversee weekly laboratory meetings including all graduate course TAs for courses without course coordinators.
• Monitor safety standards, including electrical current and voltage limitations, storage of radioactive sources and hazardous gasses and chemicals, and required safety protective equipment, of laboratory spaces and experiments.
• Ensure needed maintenance of laboratory spaces and equipment, including fixed lab equipment and wiring is performed.
• Be available to fix lab equipment problems during business hours.

Teaching Assistant (TA) Management:

• Create TA teaching assignments for all courses each semester.
• Develop and administer a TA training program, including intensive training at the beginning of the semester and regular training throughout, consistent with best practices. Maintain a knowledge of best practices so that the program can be updated as needed.
• Develop and administer a TA evaluation plan including Student Evaluation of Instruction and TA course observations.
• Manage any emergency changes in TA assignments due to student illness or other unexpected events.

Demonstration Management:

• Develop an understanding of current research in the use of demonstrations for classroom instruction and outreach. Update demonstrations and training as needed to be consistent with current best practices.
• Develop and maintain an inventory of the demonstration collection used for all physics and astronomy classes.
• Repair or replace any broken or damaged equipment, managing the processes of procurement and purchasing if needed.
• Develop and maintain instructions and training for effectively and safely using each demonstration. Train faculty members new to the demonstration.
• Manage the delivery and setup of demonstrations in classrooms.
• Develop and maintain an outreach demonstration collection.
• Train volunteers in the use of demonstrations for outreach events.
• Develop new demonstrations as needed for instructional and outreach purposes.

Teaching:

• Teach one class per semester generally in the introductory sequence using research-based methods.
• Develop and maintain an understanding of educational best practices.
• Participate in discussions about physics education research and teaching at WVU and in the broader community.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Master's degree in physics required or a bachelor's degree and two (2) years of experience.
• Experience working in a laboratory setting.
• Experience working with computers and physics laboratory electronics.
• Experience managing laboratory safety.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Organizational skills: planning, budgeting, scheduling, training, inventory maintenance and control.
• The ability to resolve problems/complaints involving students, teaching assistants, faculty, and staff.
• Demonstrated excellent communication and time management skills.
• Content-specific: The candidate is expected to have or develop an understanding of research-based methods in classroom, laboratory, and demonstration education.
  
• Demonstrated ability to effectively teach and train students.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and ability to use a variety of electrical and electronic instruments, (including computers) and mechanical equipment (hand and power tools). Maintain and, to the level of a semi-skilled worker, repair mechanical and electronic instruments. Knowledge of safety in the teaching and use of equipment. Knowledge of applicable regulations and standards.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience training others.
• Physics teaching experience.
• Experience with Physics research education.

Certifications:

• First Aid/CPR certification or ability to be certified as needed within first 6-months.

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and engaging working environment and actively seek candidates who bring diverse ideas, approaches and experiences.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and received an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity. We value diversity among our faculty, staff and students and invite applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.