7/01/89 B

This is the third class in the Laboratory Specialist Series. Positions in this class are responsible for performing scientific ana1yses and procedures of considerable difficulty and/or supervising personnel performing a variety of 1aboratory operations in a teaching, research, clinical, service, or regulatory laboratory. Positions at this 1evel may implement original experimental procedures, design research projects, and operate and maintain highly technical and sophisticated laboratory instruments. Also, positions at this level may plan and prioritize work activity of laboratory personnel and equipment, develop and monitor budgets, and serve as liaison with external contacts. This class is distinguished from the Laboratory Specialist Senior class by its responsibility for performing work with a higher degree of complexity and greater accountability for services provided to administrators, faculty, and other users. This class is distinguished from the Laboratory Manager by the latter class’s responsibility for managing a complex laboratory encompassing various specialties.

Complexity of Work: Performs work of considerable difficulty in conducting non-routine laboratory tests. Typical duties include designing projects, determining research goals, conducting complex experiments, analyzing and interpreting data, writing research papers (as author or co-author), and preparing grant proposals. Positions may be responsible for total functions of laboratory units; may supervise and train laboratory personnel; and/or may teach a laboratory section to college level students. Monitors activities of the laboratory to ensure safety and accurate acquisition of data; writes reports on experimentation, data analysis, and methodology for possible publication or grant applications; orders laboratory supplies; and evaluates new equipment.

Supervision Given: Positions may supervise Laboratory Technicians, Laboratory Specialists, and Laboratory Specialist Seniors.

Supervision Received: Receives general direction from a Laboratory

Manager in a large, complex laboratory or an administrator, professor, principal investigator in a smaller laboratory.

Scope: Performance of duties and accuracy of work affect results of laboratory operations in the quality of support for research, student instruction, and regulatory and clinical services.

Impact of Actions: Work has a significant impact on the outcome and future direction of research, the delivery of academic instruction, the provision of laboratory testing services, and/or the enforcement of health and safety requ1ations through the modification and development of procedures, the analysis and reporting of data, and the teaching of laboratory techniques.

Personal Contacts: Frequent internal contacts with administrators, investigators, students, and laboratory users to discuss policies, procedures and experimental findings. Frequent external contacts with investigators in other institutions to collaborate on research projects; with public and private agencies to receive and provide information regarding grants/contracts administration with regu1atory personnel regarding laboratory safety and quality assurance policy compliance; with representatives of laboratory supply companies regarding major purchases; and with professional organizations regarding the publication/presentation of research findings.

Knowledge: Considerable knowledge of the theory and application of laboratory operations, methods and instrumentation related to the field of assignment. Working knowledge of supervisory principles.

Skills: None identified for this class.

Abilities: Demonstrated ability to independently conduct laboratory experiments; to design and conduct research; and to develop new methodologies/procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS GUIDE*

Licenses or Certification: None.

Education or Training: Graduation from an accredited college or university with course work in chemistry, biochemistry, biology, zoology, microbiology, physics or a related science.

Level and Type of Experience: Scientific laboratory experience in a specialty area with increasing responsibility for independent work, grants administration, and some supervision of personnel.

An equivalent combination of training and experience indicating possession of the preceding knowledge and abilities may be substituted for this education and experience.

This class was established in July 1989 as a result of the Classification Review/Specification Update Program. It replaces the Laboratory Specialist C class.