Lab Manager: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology - UTK

The Laboratory manager will be primarily responsible for laboratory and field research (including data collection, analysis, and report writing) associated with projects assessing the evolutionary and ecological role of disturbance and global change in plant-soil interactions and feedbacks.  The successful candidate will also conduct plant and soil research associated with a wide array of manuscripts, as well as be responsible for the management of the laboratory under the direction of the Department Head.  The Laboratory Manager will coordinate and perform complex technical and skilled work involved in research areas for Principal Investigators, post-docs, graduate students, and undergraduate researches, including field work in remote locations.  This position will facilitate laboratory logistics, purchasing, and auditing. Additionally, the Laboratory Manager will provide training, create work assignments, and review the work of designated personnel while maintaining compliance with proper safety protocols and record-keeping requirements. 

RESEARCH 

This position will collect, analyze, manage and communicate a wide variety of short and long-term ecological and evolutionary data.  This role will plan, organize and manage the logistics of month-long field campaigns to collect data at remote field sites.  The Laboratory Manager will also manage undergraduate researcher time allocation and oversee project performance.  They will also assist Principal Investigators and graduate students with field and greenhouse work by managing and maintaining the large greenhouse project, which will include plant care and liaising with the UT Greenhouse Manager.  The management will also include a range of plant, soil, microbial procedures; including DNA extraction.  The scientific results gathered and analyzed will be communicated via reports and manuscripts.

OPERATIONS 

The role will oversee laboratory logistics and organization, including: purchasing, auditing, shipment processing, work order requests, and general laboratory maintenance.  The Laboratory Manager will need to utilize efficient and clear communication among lab members as well as collaborate with the Principal Investigators and students on project logistics.  This position will work with the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology department as well as UT Facilities (OIT, Biology Service Facility, etc.) staff to ensure ideal conditions to achieve logistical goals. 

PERSONNEL AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT 

This position will require pursuit of increasing applicable knowledge of necessary skills and areas of interest to further promote the further development of performance of responsibilities. This Manager will be responsible for hiring, training, and supervising new and current members of the laboratory staff.  This role will be instructing and training members on the safe and proper use of specialized scientific equipment and materials as well as developing standard operating procedures and safety protocols.  The Laboratory Manager will also ensure compliance with proper safety procedures, protocols and record-keeping as well as ensuring proper disposal of laboratory materials and hazardous waste.

EQUIPMENT AND INFORMATION MAINTENANCE 

To ensure optimal operations, the Laboratory Manager will curate chemical and equipment inventories by utilizing best practices.  This role will manage the acquisition, repair and maintenance of highly specialized equipment.  Responsibilities will also include organizing and formatting large databases.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (or related field)

• Experience: At least 2 years of experience in a scientific laboratory setting and with knowledge of scientific research methods

• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

  • Knowledge of ecological and evolutionary principles, techniques, procedures, equipment and terminology

  • Knowledge of laboratory operations and safety procedures

  • Knowledge of planting, growing, measuring experimental plants in the greenhouse

  • Working knowledge of computers and software (Microsoft Office Suite, Excel) required for data management, maintenance of protocols and ordering

  • Strong data management, organizational skills

  • Strong communication (written and oral) and time management skills

  • Ability to predict potential problems encountered during experiments and quickly, and accurately correct issues/errors

  • Knowledge of basic analytical chemistry and good laboratory etiquette

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience: 

  • Field experience, plant identification

  • Experience managing experiments

  • Collecting and recording data, image analysis/graph making, statistical analyses in R

  • Manuscript Preparation

  • Collaboration and/or Management experience

     

 

Work Location 

• Location: Knoxville, TN

• Onsite

 

Compensation and Benefits 

• UT market range: MR08

   

• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here

• Find more information on UT Benefits here

 

Application Instructions 

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. 

• Resume

• Cover Letter

   

 

About The Department

EEB is in the top 10% of ecology programs in North America based on research impact (Keville et al., 2017), ahead of peer institutions such as UCLA and UC San Diego. Our faculty and students come from around the globe. Our faculty is a mix of internationally known senior researchers and an energetic group of junior faculty at the cutting edges of their fields. We train graduate and undergraduate students with research interests in ecology, evolutionary biology, animal behavior, conservation biology, behavioral and population genetics, computational biology, development of theory for evolution and ecology, ecosystem and community ecology, global change biology, diverse areas of organismal biology, and biology education.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service. 
UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 
The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.  
UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone. 
The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.  
Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!