Laboratory Manager

We are seeking a Laboratory Manager to support experimental facilities and activities within the Department of Civil and Systems Engineering (CaSE) in the Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU). The Lab Manager will oversee laboratory operations, including training and safety, equipment operation, procurement, and maintenance, while providing broad support to experimental facilities in CaSE. The ideal candidate is curious about advancements in manufacturing, actuators and sensors, controls, and mechanical, structural, and electrical testing. They should be enthusiastic about training students, collaborating with faculty, and engaging with professionals and other facilities across the university, in support of CaSE’s research and educational mission.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

Laboratory Management and Technical Responsibilities

• Maintain and enhance the capabilities of CaSE facilities in collaboration with faculty.
• Provide technical expertise for use of CaSE equipment and facilities, including installation, design, operation, training, and maintenance.
• Manage the design, procurement, assembly, installation, and implementation of new equipment and instrumentation.
• Manage the development, implementation, and maintenance of computational programs for equipment operation and data acquisition, including the management of IT licenses required for lab operations.
• Oversee the receipt and handling of laboratory supplies and equipment deliveries, including picking up, storing, and distributing items as needed.
• Coordinate the scheduling and access to experimental resources and manage laboratory inventory.
• Actively participate in and assist students with experimental testing using a variety of equipment.
• Stay informed on testing standards and protocols relevant to CaSE activities and provide trusted subject matter expertise.
• Serve as a technical resource for staff and researchers at the university, fostering collaboration and integrating input from other parts of university facilities into CaSE laboratories.
• Manage facility maintenance and coordinate renovations as needed.
• Ensure the proper disposal of trash and chemical waste, fostering a clean, sustainable, and compliant laboratory environment.

Budgetary

• Purchase equipment and supplies directly from vendors as needed, including inquiring about technical specifications and prices, obtaining quotes, and identifying suitable equipment and suppliers.
• Monitor inventory of consumables for laboratory use and order supplies as necessary.
• Maintain accurate and detailed records of purchases and other laboratory expenditures.
• Assist faculty in developing budgets and proposals for research equipment facilities, including cost estimates for supplies, materials, and equipment.

Laboratory Safety

• Develop, implement, and maintain laboratory safety protocols.
• Train researchers and students on safety procedures, proper equipment use, and incident response.
• Promote and enforce safe practices, ensuring compliance with all laboratory safety rules and regulations.
• Serve as the primary CaSE contact for the various safety groups on campus, including the Whiting School Safety Office, JHU Safety Office, JHU Security, and the JHU Department of Health, Safety and Environment.

Education Contribution

• Maintain up-to-date training materials and usage documentation for laboratory instruments.
• Train students and researchers on the proper use of equipment in CaSE facilities
• Facilitate access to and utilization of campus-wide facilities by CaSE students and researchers, promoting awareness of available resources in other laboratories.
• Collaborate with faculty to develop and refine educational laboratory exercises; recommend and implement modifications or additions as approved.
• Provide technical and logistical support for teaching laboratories in areas including, but not limited to, statics, mechanics of materials, dynamics, soil mechanics, and fluid dynamics.
• Supervise and assist undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral researchers as needed with laboratory tasks and projects conducted in CaSE facilities.

CaSE Experimental Facilities Include

• Undergraduate Teaching Laboratory.
• Geotechnical Engineering Teaching Laboratory.
• Structural Testing Laboratories.
• Additive Manufacturing Laboratory.
• Wet Lab for Materials Synthesis.
• Other laboratories and facilities currently in operation or under development in collaboration with CaSE faculty.

CaSE Critical Equipment Includes

• Mechanical uni