Job Title: Chemistry Lab Assistant (WS)

Classification: Student Employee (non-exempt)

Name and Address of Employer: St. Olaf College, 1520 St. Olaf Ave, Northfield, MN 55057

Department Name: Chemistry

Unit Number (5 digits): 11130

Length of Position: See Employment Authorization  

Contact Person/Supervisor: Instructor for the class

Wage Range: $11.75-12.75/hour

Description of the Position: (Purpose of the Position): 

As the grader of student lab reports you will generate student scores and likely have access to other scores on websites or in spreadsheets.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

It is the responsibility of lab assistants to do their best to follow grading guidelines, to finish each job in a timely fashion (usually by the next lab session), to ask for clarification when necessary, and to communicate on a regular basis with your faculty member supervisors (lab instructor and/or lab director). The lab director will let you know how/where to record and store the grades.

Lab assistants have additional lab safety responsibilities and should always be alert and watchful in the lab. Please do…

•help to encourage the proper attention to waste collection and documentation on waste manifests

•monitor the proper use of personal protective equipment by the students

•help to ensure that all students present are appropriately attired

•spend your time circulating in the lab looking for unsafe or incorrect work, answering student questions, inviting student questions, etc.

•fill out your online time sheet at the end of your working or grading sessions

Qualifications: (Education/Experience/Skills) 

1. Must have taken and completed the lab 

2. Knowledge, both theoretical and practical, of the material.

3. Good communication skills.

4. Ability to evaluate student questions and answers.

5. Ability to keep good records.

6. Ability to foster the safety guidelines.

Physical and Environmental Factors:

This position requires grasping/handling, pushing/pulling, and lifting and carrying objects up to 20 lbs. to perform the essential functions. It also requires exposure to respiratory factors, chemicals, and proximity hazards, as well as rare exposure to loud noise, to perform the essential functions. Protective equipment is required for some essential functions. Candidates must possess the ability to safely perform the physical work required of all duties with or without reasonable accommodation.

This job description is for general information purposes.  It is not intended to list all duties and responsibilities of the position.  This job description is subject to change at any time by St. Olaf College, with or without prior notice.