Manager, Shared Instrumentation Facility

Position Overview
The Manager of the Shared Instrumentation Facility (SIF) coordinates the day-to-day operations of the facility and reports to the Executive Vice Provost in the Office of the Provost. Still under development, the SIF will provide essential resources for executing key faculty research in cell culture and metabolism, analytical chemistry, and molecular biology. The facility may be available to partners outside the College. This position will work with the Principal Investigator of the MitoCure Lab, and the Chairs of the Department of Biology and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry to establish operating protocols. The SIF Manager will ensure daily operation, maintenance, and calibration of equipment in the facility and assist faculty, students, and external users with training and daily operation.

Essential Functions:

• Perform advanced research techniques and procedures specific to SIF science; work with external partners/customers to ensure best service for their research requirements.
• Schedule times for trained users on each instrument.
• Generate and/or update SOPs for each instrument.
• Provide operational management of the instrumentation, including new customer acquisitions (internal and external), ensuring customer satisfaction with products/service, and working with customers on the best use of the facility in their research.
• Manage day-to-day maintenance of the instrumentation in the SIF.
• Make recommendations for new SIF instrument purchases to the Office of the Provost.
• Work with the Office of the Provost to develop fee-for-service schedules.
• Assist with service analysis of samples submitted by members of the College community and from external users. Use good judgment in selecting an instrument and method most likely to achieve the best result. Disseminate data to internal users. Prepare analysis reports for external users. Assist faculty, students, and outside users with data analysis and interpretation.
• Participate in research by training students and faculty in instrument operation. Be available as necessary during normal business hours to supervise and assist instrument operation by trained users.
• Maintain a safe laboratory operating environment in accordance with environmental health and safety directives. Ensure chemical hazardous waste is correctly stored and collected. Track regular testing of emergency equipment and regular inspection of hazardous waste streams. Keep chemical inventory updated and ensure correct storage of chemicals.
• Assist with running training courses for students and external users, including preparing training materials, teaching small group classes and demonstrating instrument operations.
• Monitor new developments and improvements in technology to remain competitive.
• Attend meetings with the SIF advisory committee as needed.

Other Functions:

• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Potentially supervise 1-3 technicians or students.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Analytical Chemistry, or related field with 0-3 years of laboratory experience. Or, M.S. in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Analytical Chemistry, or related field with 3-5 years of laboratory experience. Or, B.S. in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Analytical Chemistry, or related field with 7-10 years of laboratory experience.
• Proven ability to maintain productive relationships with faculty, researchers, students, and external collaborators is expected.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience conducting research in an academic environment is preferred. Must understand scientific methods and research requirements.
• Experience in biophysical instrumentation and analysis preferred.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

Ability to work in a laboratory environment.

Application Materials Should Include:

• Resume
• Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position, citing experience relevant to the qualifications and including experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission, our values, and our desire to be a more diverse, equitable and inclusive institution of higher learning.

This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.

Vaccinations and Remote Work 

This is an on-campus position as employees are essential in order to provide a fully on-campus, residential college experience for our students and the community.

The COVID-19 vaccine and booster for which an individual may be eligible are highly recommended for students, faculty and staff. Merrimack College does not require proof of COVID vaccination for enrollment, employment or to be a guest on our campus. 

Statement on Our Mission

Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building a culturally and racially diverse community. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue.

Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to Merrimack’s Catholic and Augustinian mission and values and advance our work in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups. All candidates should describe in their application previous experience related to equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as how they will engage in fostering a culture that supports our Catholic and Augustinian mission and our values of diversity, equity and inclusion.

About Merrimack College

The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than 4,000 undergraduate and some 1,400 graduate students from 32 states and 37 countries. The College features more than 100 career-focused undergraduate, professional and graduate programs, all taught by exceptional faculty who are passionate about their subject and student success. The College comprises five schools: liberal arts, science and engineering, nursing and health sciences, the Winston school of education and social policy, and the Girard school of business. The College’s suburban 240-acre campus is approximately 25 miles north of Boston in the towns of North Andover and Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master’s Colleges and Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up in the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Best Colleges, coming in 34th out of 175 schools ranked in the Regional Universities North category in 2022. Merrimack also ranked 3rd in the Most Innovative Schools category. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution.

Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.