Physics Education Lab Manager

🔍 School of Humanities and Sciences, Stanford, California, United States

📁: Research

📅   : Feb 29, 2024 Post Date

📅   : 102412 Requisition #

The School of Humanities and Sciences (H&S) is the foundation of a liberal arts education at Stanford. The school encompasses 23 departments and 25 interdisciplinary programs. H&S is home to fundamental and applied research, where free, open, and critical inquiry is pursued across disciplines. As the university’s largest school, H&S serves as the foundation of a Stanford undergraduate education no matter which discipline students pursue as a major. Graduate students work alongside world-renowned faculty to pursue and shape foundational research that leads to breakthroughs and discoveries that shed new light on the past, influence the present, and shape the future. Together, faculty and students in H&S engage in inspirational teaching, learning, and research every day.

Stanford's Physics Department is a teaching and research department in the School of Humanities and Sciences. For undergraduates, we offer Physics majors and minors with a variety of pathways. For graduate students, we offer a Physics Ph.D. program. The department has approximately 50 faculty members, over 200 graduate students, over 70 undergraduate students, and approximately 30 staff members. Website: https://physics.stanford.edu/

The Department of Physics is seeking an Education Lab Manager to support multiple aspects of the Department’s educational mission, under the general supervision of the Associate Chair of Physics for Undergraduate Education. Primary responsibilities will include management and curation of apparatus for advanced teaching labs in consultation with course instructors, as well as some of the following, depending on the successful candidate’s skills and interests: advising and education of undergraduate students, training of graduate teaching assistants, assisting with the undergraduate summer research program, management and development of lecture demonstration experiments, and directing work of other staff. Specific duties may evolve over time as the educational needs of the Department change, so flexibility is essential and interest in ongoing learning is welcomed. We are looking for a person with physics knowledge, at least equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in Physics, and experience and enthusiasm for working hands-on with experimental hardware. Candidates should ideally be skilled with at least one of the following categories of instrumentation commonly found in physics experiments and specifically in our instructional labs: electronics, optics, vacuum systems, and low temperature (cryogenic) systems. This position will involve education of both undergraduate students and graduate teaching assistants, and close coordination with instructors, so good communication and pedagogical experience are important.

This is a 100% FTE, continuing, exempt position. This position will be based on the Stanford campus.

If you believe that this opportunity is a match for your knowledge, skills and abilities, we encourage you to apply. A resume and cover letter are required. Thank you for considering employment opportunities with the School of Humanities and Sciences.

CORE DUTIES:

Oversee operation, maintenance, and evolution of teaching lab facilities.
Collaborate with faculty and department leadership to: (i) Allocate lab space for current teaching needs, and (ii) Create strategic plans for future teaching lab needs.
Plan and determine equipment needs, authorize purchase of equipment including capital improvements, and manage installation of equipment and instruments, in collaboration with facilities services staff. Maintain existing equipment and plan equipment upgrade/replacement/repair options, based on latest technological advances and current and future needs. Negotiate, select, and monitor complex equipment service contracts and warranties with vendors.
Design and implement plans for renovation of equipment and/or facilities; manage complex laboratory moves in collaboration with facilities services staff.
Develop and administer health and safety training, and ensure safety compliance, for the teaching lab facilities; coordinate with school and/or university health and safety office as appropriate.
Manage and develop lecture demonstration experiment

*Other duties will likely also be assigned, possibly including

Participate in advising and education of undergraduate students, including classroom teaching in a laboratory context
Assist in training of graduate teaching assistants
Assist in managing the summer undergraduate research program
Direct work of other staff

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor's degree in Physics or a related discipline, and five years of relevant experience, or combination of education and relevant experience. Advanced degree in Physics or relevant discipline preferred but not required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Experience with, and enthusiasm for, working hands-on with hardware, ideally including at least one of electronics, optics, vacuum systems, or cryogenic systems.
Knowledge of fundamentals of physics (particularly electricity and magnetism, quantum mechanics, and thermodynamics/statistical mechanics) at undergraduate level or beyond, and interest in learning more about how to apply these in the context of topics relevant in our advanced and in some cases open-ended lab courses: optics, materials, electronics, and cryogenics.
Experience in managing facilities, operations, and equipment (including maintenance) in a research, teaching, or manufacturing setting.
Excellent communication and customer service skills.
Ability to coordinate and manage multiple projects in a complex and technical environment.
Appreciation of the importance of careful working practices to maintain safety for staff and students working in lab spaces, and to comply with health and safety regulations.

In addition, preferred requirements include:

Interest in keeping informed on developments in experimental physics instruction, through engagement with counterparts at peer universities and through active participation in broader communities focused on physics instruction such as the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) and the Advanced Laboratory Physics Association (ALPhA).
Experience working with experimental physics apparatus, including experience with measurement, and ability to explain and apply concepts of noise and uncertainty.
Interfacing experimental systems with computers
Teaching or other pedagogical experience
Experience as a supervisor and managing budgets

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Will at times be required to work with or be in areas where hazardous materials are present, with proper safety procedures in place. Specific hazards include, but are not limited to, lasers, high voltages and currents, electromagnets, acids, bases, solvents, lead-based solder, inert gases, and cryogenic fluids.
Must perform tasks that require the use of personal protective equipment such as safety glasses and shoes, protective clothing and gloves, etc.
May work extended or unusual work hours due to research or project requirements and peak work cycles. After hours on-call availability is occasionally required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Frequently stand/walk, sitting, grasp lightly/fine manipulation, perform desk-based computer tasks
lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh up to 40 pounds
sort/file paperwork or parts, lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh >40 pounds
Write by hand, occasionally use a telephone
ability to use voice to present information/communicate with others
on-campus mobility

The expected pay range for this position is $97,000 to $128,000 per annum.

Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website (https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process

Why Stanford is for You

Imagine a world without search engines or social platforms. Consider lives saved through first-ever organ transplants and research to cure illnesses. Stanford University has revolutionized the way we live and enrich the world. Supporting this mission is our diverse and dedicated 17,000 staff. We seek talent driven to impact the future of our legacy. Our culture and unique perks empower you with:

Freedom to grow. We offer career development programs, tuition reimbursement, or audit a course. Join a TedTalk, film screening, or listen to a renowned author or global leader speak.
A caring culture. We provide superb retirement plans, generous time-off, and family care resources.
A healthier you. Climb our rock wall, or choose from hundreds of health or fitness classes at our world-class exercise facilities. We also provide excellent health care benefits.
Discovery and fun. Stroll through historic sculptures, trails, and museums.
Enviable resources. Enjoy free commuter programs, ridesharing incentives, discounts and more

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classifications and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants

requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact Stanford University Human Resources at stanfordelr@stanford.edu. For all other inquiries, please submit a contact form.

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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