Microbiology Instructional Staff / Laboratory Preparation Specialist

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Position Details

The Department of Biology in the College of Natural and Health Sciences at The University of Tampa invites applications for a full-time, 12-month Instructional Staff position beginning July 1, 2026.

This position will provide technical and instructional support for microbiology courses by preparing all microbiology-specific reagents, media, plates, cultures, and lab supplies; maintaining and calibrating equipment; ordering and managing supplies; and ensuring labs are safe, organized, and ready for instructional sessions. The position also includes 15 contact hours of instruction over the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters, primarily in microbiology laboratories and/or other biology courses as needed.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Prepare, sterilize, and maintain laboratory reagents, media, culture plates, buffers, stains, solutions, and microbial culture stocks in support of microbiology courses.

• Aseptically pour and label agar plates; prepare microbial cultures for student laboratory exercises and stock maintenance.

• Set up, test, calibrate, and perform routine maintenance on microbiology equipment such as autoclaves, incubators, microscopes, balances, centrifuges, and spectrophotometers.

• Clean, decontaminate, sterilize, and dispose of biohazardous waste, reagents, and used materials per safety protocols.

• Maintain organization and cleanliness of preparation rooms, glassware storage, and equipment storage areas.

• Track inventory: anticipate supply needs, order media, reagents, consumables, and microbial culture supplies; receive, inspect, catalog, and store supplies properly.

• Coordinate with faculty on upcoming laboratory schedules to identify and procure required materials and ensure equipment is ready for each session.

• Assist in developing, updating, and documenting laboratory protocols, safety procedures, and standard operating procedures for microbiology labs.

• Train and supervise student assistants or other staff in media preparation, equipment maintenance, lab clean-up, and safe practices.

• Perform administrative tasks associated with the laboratory: record keeping (logbooks, inventory), ordering, budget tracking for lab supplies, ensuring compliance with institutional, health & safety, and biohazard regulations.

• Other duties as needed to support faculty and microbiology curriculum.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Microbiology, Biology, or related life sciences field required.

• Knowledge of aseptic techniques, microbial culture maintenance, sterilization, handling of biohazardous materials, and safe laboratory practices.

• Experience in preparing media and reagents, handling microbial cultures, and performing equipment calibration/maintenance.

• Excellent organizational skills and ability to work smoothly with a diverse group of faculty, staff, and students.

• Proficiency in handling laboratory equipment and chemicals.

• Good verbal and written communication skills; ability to follow detailed protocols and train others.

• Commitment to quality undergraduate teaching and service to the Department and University.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior teaching, clerical, and laboratory experience.

• Experience supervising student assistants or staff.

• Familiarity with institutional safety and biohazard regulations.

• Experience with microbiology course scheduling and coordination.

Working Conditions

• Work primarily in laboratory and prep room settings with exposure to biohazardous materials, chemicals, autoclave/sterilization equipment, incubators, etc.

• Physical demands include frequent standing, bending, lifting of supplies (up to 25–50 lbs), working with hot media, a