The Pathology Department is seeking a Laboratory Technician who will provide clerical and technical support to the laboratory manager and staff. Under supervision this person is taught to perform and understand the principles for: routine specimen handling, accessioning and laboratory preparation following established procedures. The technician will perform routine maintenance, organization of worksheets and be expected to gain an understanding of laboratory operation to assist investigators as needed. 

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Work closely with the laboratory technical staff, following laboratory procedures and policies.
• Provide routine technical support, handling/processing specimens.
• Perform routine and preventative maintenance on laboratory equipment.
• Prepare standard media, reagents, and chemical solutions used for testing purposes, and the physical processing of specimens prior to testing.
• Work on accessioning of specimens, etching of slides and cassettes.
• Operate laboratory instruments, and small laboratory tools such as pipettes, cutting instruments, glass tubes, dishes, and/or slides

• Embed specimens.
  
• Coordinate transportation of diagnostic material between laboratories.
• Complete required documentation of logs and supporting documents.
• Responsible for archival of slides and blocks.
• Refer to and comply with procedure manuals, follow proper laboratory protocols and safety policy/procedures, and be familiar with material data safety sheets in assigned work areas.
• Read and understand all Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) guidelines applicable to assigned work area.

Additional Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Work requires precision and attention to detail.
• Strong written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to read and interpret direction, both oral and written, organize and prioritize work and follow through on assignments.
• Able to work successfully as part of a team in a high volume, dynamic laboratory.

Specific Physical Requirements

• Able to remain in a stationary position (sitting or standing).
• Occasionally required to traverse throughout the laboratory or to retrieve equipment, supplies, or specimens from other locations on campus.
• Constantly repositions self to perform duties at laboratory workstations, gathering specimens, and loading equipment.
• Prolonged vision requirements including viewing computer screen, paper reports/documents, charts and results.
• Visual acuity to distinguish fine gradation of color or structure and closely examine specimens (including via a microscope).
• Exposure to toxins and infectious agents exist, but potential for personal injury or harm is minimized if established safety and health precautions are followed.
• Working in laboratory where there may be discomforts due to odors, noise, temperature fluctuations, and working around lab equipment.
• Research areas may include animal, human, human products, DNA, and radiation protocols.
• Use of personal protective equipment when advised or required.
• Ability to transport equipment and supplies usually less than 40 pounds from one area to another (in the laboratory or on campus (specify)).
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds with proper training, or precautions/lifting aides (example: supply boxes or Formalin cubes). 

• High School Diploma or graduation equivalent with some science coursework.

• Work experience in a laboratory environment.
• Training Certificate from Technical Institute.
• Flexibility to occasionally be assigned weekend work or holiday assignment, and possibly overtime when authorized/needed to meet business and patient needs.

Classified Title: Laboratory Technician 
Role/Level/Range: ACRO40/E/02/CB  
Starting Salary Range: $15.40 - $23.25 HRLY ($38,262 targeted; Commensurate with experience) 
Employee group: Full Time 
Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm 
Exempt Status: Non-Exempt 
Location: School of Medicine Campus 
Department name: ​​​​​​​SOM Pat Histology Lab 
Personnel area: School of Medicine