Director, Mass Spectrometry Laboratory

Department
 

PSD Chemistry: Administrative Staff

About the Department
 

The Mass Spectrometry (MS) Facility in the Chemistry Department at the University of Chicago has 4 laboratories located in two research buildings on the campus in Hyde Park, Chicago. The MS Facility supports a high user volume from multiple departments in the Physical Science Division, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, and Biological Science Division. The laboratory supports small and large molecule characterization and quantitation. The MS Facility currently consists of 13 state-of-the-art instruments including a variety of chromatography and mass spectrometry configurations including GC, HPLC, GCMS, LCMS, equipped with EI, ESI, APCI, APPI, MALDI, UV, IR, FID, TCD, single quad, triple quad, ion trap, TOF, Q-TOF, and TOF/TOF.

Job Summary
 

The Department of Chemistry is seeking a Lab Director for the Mass Spectrometry Facility. The individual will oversee daily operations of the open-access facility and serve as a subject matter expert in support of the department’s dynamic research portfolio. The Lab Director is responsible for strategic planning as well as ensuring routine instrument operations including training, maintenance, and repairs. The Director is responsible for maintaining productive interactions with instrument vendors and managing associated service agreements. The Lab Director will establish policies and procedures that ensure a well-trained user base and uninterrupted laboratory operations. Strong technical skills, excellent organizational skills, and familiarity with health and safety requirements, are essential.

Responsibilities

• Manages staff, users, and equipment to ensure efficient and safe operation of the mass spectrometry laboratories.

• Provides expertise to researchers and research support staff. Oversees activities related to data collection and analysis.

• Applies research principles and relevant subject matter knowledge relevant to administer a research project.  Helps develop, design, and conduct research projects according to plan.

• Manage all technical elements of the laboratory, including instrument maintenance, calibration, tuning and computer systems as well as administrative systems such user logs, instrument logs, system logs, and computer system backups.

• Provides users with training and technical support on routine hardware and software issues/questions in the laboratory operations. 

• Establishes and manages Preventive Maintenance (PM) programs in accordance with the vendor manuals, specifications, and facility needs.

• Ensures users are appropriately trained and exercise best laboratory practices e.g., logs keeping, online reservation, housekeeping, proper waste disposals, etc.

• Assures compliance with quality control measures and standards established in the laboratory policies and procedures.

• Performs instrument troubleshooting and addresses service requirements by either direct repair or coordinating vendor support. 

• Manages routine laboratory supplies, such as consumables, PPE, reagents, chemicals, gases, and

• consumable parts to ensure appropriate inventory. Establishes/updates the essential database of the supplies.

• Manages laboratory safety protocols to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations. Manages

• liquid and solid waste and hazard waste pickups, proper storage, and disposal of chemical and hazard waste. Retains regular cleaning to ensure a clean and safe laboratory environment.

• Resolves issues in a timely and professional manner, including but not limited to contacting users, university safety and service centers, building managers, and building engineers, etc.

• Provides expertise to researchers and research support staff. Oversees activities related to data collection and analysis.

• Improves financial, personnel, planning, compliance, and other administrative aspects of research project. Collaborates with other researchers on long-range plans for research projects. Leads, investigates, modifies and applies new procedures, techniques or applications of technology. Establishes goals and operating procedures, practices, and guidelines.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Ph.D. degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, biochemistry, bi