Instrumentation Specialist

POSITION OBJECTIVE

Working under occasional supervision, the Instrumentation Specialist will oversee the operation and support of the Department of Chemistry Instrumentation Facility for Academic Researchers and the department of chemistry analytical, physical, and chemical biology undergraduate teaching labs. Perform advanced level analytical operations, measurements, and interpretation of data. Perform instrument updating, trouble-shooting, repair and maintenance for complex and expensive equipment such as LC/MS, GC/MS, high resolution MS, atomic absorption spectrometers, Raman, UV/Vis, FTIR, fluorescence spectrophotometers, GC, and HPLC.

Essential Functions

Responsible for the daily operation of the Chemistry Instrumentation Facility which includes maintenance and repair for the Maldi-TOF, the orbitrap mass spectrometer the LC/MS, GC/MS, high resolution MS, atomic absorption spectrometers, Raman, UV/Vis, FTIR, fluorescence spectrophotometers, GC and new HPLC. Oversee the operations, maintenance and training of personnel on the Maldi-TOF. Develop and write protocols/instrument operating procedures for use by experienced users in a research setting and train graduate students, graduate teaching assistants, instructors, postdoctoral scholars, and undergraduate students in the operation of all other instruments in the various facilities. Establish scheduling priorities and sign-up mechanisms. Develop and implement fee mechanism. Manage billing and accounting for users. Process samples and interpret LC/MS and HRMS results for non-standard and standard samples. Diagnose, maintain and repair general and highly specialized instruments. Develop and write maintenance procedures for use by the department’s technical staff. Schedule experiments in undergraduate labs in concert with the laboratory instructors. Develop and oversee the implementation of mass spectrometry experiments. Ensure safety protocols established by the Department of Occupational and Environmental Safety are communicated and followed. Maintain safe, clean and professional work environment. Maintain knowledge of developments in the analytical field in order to advise in the upgrading or selection of new instruments. Assist in proposal writing to acquire new instruments. (70%) Prepare and set up analytical instruments used in the undergraduate laboratory. Assist with the acquisition and interpretation of data from the analytical instruments (including Raman, UV/Vis, FTIR, and fluorescence spectrophotometers, GC, GC/MS, HPLC, LC/MS, and AA) located in the undergraduate labs. Assist stockroom technician with preparation of standards and reagents for calibration of instruments. Assist stockroom technician with distribution and collection of laboratory supplies and equipment necessary for laboratory courses and experiments according to specifications. Develop and write instrument operational procedures in collaboration with instructors and graduate teaching assistants. Maintain contact with manufacturers in order to ensure prompt and reasonably inexpensive repairs, when needed. (25%)

Nonessential Functions

Maintain a database for general inventory control for undergraduate labs. Assist faculty, staff and students as needed with job duties as assigned. (5%)

CONTACTS

Department: Daily contact with the laboratory manager and departmental technical staff. Extensive contact with faculty in both teaching and research related matters.

University: Interact with faculty, research associates and graduate students from other departments concerning training, data acquisition and data interpretation on the instruments under my care. Contact with chemical stores and procurement personnel on an as needed basis.

External: Routine contact with vendors and engineers in regard to procurement and repair of equipment. Contact with industrial users concerning training, data acquisition and data interpretation on the instruments. Regular contact with manufacturers to ensure prompt and reasonably inexpensive repairs.

Students: Daily contact with undergraduate students in the teaching labs. Daily contact with graduate student teaching assistants in the teaching labs. Daily contact with graduate students in research labs concerning the acquisition and interpretation of data.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

None

Qualifications

Experience: 3 years of experience with chemistry analytical instrumentation.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in chemistry required; Master’s degree in chemistry strongly desired.

Required Skills

Ability to operate and service a wide variety of analytical instrumentation, including Raman, UV/Vis, FTIR, and fluorescence spectrophotometers, GC, GC/MS, HPLC, LC/MS, and AA. Ability to interpret the results of the data from the above instruments.Must have writing skills.Must be familiar with high vacuum technology, high voltage, and use of computers, digital electronics, and cryogenics.Must have knowledge of the potential safety hazards associated with electronic equipment and ability to take necessary precautions.Ability to meet consistent attendance.Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors, and customers face to face.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Chemistry lab environment. Potential exposure to hazards.

In employment, as in education, Case Western Reserve University is committed to Equal Opportunity and Diversity. Women, veterans, members of underrepresented minority groups, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Case Western Reserve University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the Office of Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation. Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicant will be made on a case-by-case basis.