Job Description
Provides services for lower-level School of Physics and Astronomy (SPA) courses, including laboratory and lecture demonstration services. Maintains and manages the laboratory and lecture demonstration facility resources to ensure continuity and quality of service. Performs routine maintenance and improvements to laboratory and demo apparatus on a continuing basis, as the equipment is used. Tests and develops apparatus to replace defunct equipment and improve functionality as necessary. Develops and supports SPAâ™s laboratory course sites, currently maintained within the Canvas learning platform.  The role also serves as the Departmental Safety Officer and performs annual safety inspections, verifying the required lab-specific safety training is completed and verifies required annual training records for all research groups and other laboratory listed entities.  Provides expert services to CSE outreach through Physics Force and outreach programs such as MRSEC.       

35% The SPA Lab Services Coordinator
Prioritizes and leads the School of Physics and Astronomy educational programs and technology improvements through to successful execution, including managing budgets.
● Plans and implements educational programs for the School of Physics and Astronomy.
● Provide support to active classes and plan resources for upcoming semesters.
● Develops and tests educational materials, experiments and simulations for introductory Physics lab courses.
● Develops course content within the Canvas classroom management system.
● Admin for the 1000-level Canvas course sites.
● Oversee the content and pedagogy used in the SPA introductory curriculum.
● Develop training and instructor information for the SPA introductory curriculum.
● Collaborate with the School of Physics and Astronomy faculty to develop curriculum and online learning activities and tools.
● Develop segments of the School of Physics and Astronomy instructional labs based on sound instructional design principles that foster students and learning.
● Provide lab training to new faculty and graduate students.
● Provide expertise in the repair, modification and design of lab resources.
● Keep current with developments in the Physics education field and provide consultation about new pedagogical concepts and educational laboratory improvements.

40% Oversight on SPA Demo Services
● Develops strategy for continuous demonstration services.
● Plan technology improvements for the demonstration services through to successful execution, including managing budgets.
● Ensures resource availability for demonstration facilities.
● Keeps current with developments in the Physics education field and provides consultation about lecture demonstrations and other interactive learning ideas.
● Repairs and modifies electronic and mechanical equipment used to facilitate lecture demonstrations.
● Assist with providing demonstration services.

10% SPA Departmental Safety
As Research Safety Officer (RSO) for the School of Physics and Astronomy, ensures that the 150+ experimental faculty, staff and students (both graduate and undergraduate) carry out their
research in a safe and responsible manner.
● Serves as a liaison between the School of Physics and Astronomy and the Department of Environmental Health and Safety (DEHS).
● Answers general questions concerning the storage and removal of chemicals and chemical waste.
● Answers policy questions related to safety issues.
● Answers general safety questions.
● Coordinates with DEHS experts to formalize safety response to issues.
● Inspects research labs on a yearly basis to determine if they are compliant with current safety guidelines.
● Provide safety training to new faculty, graduate students, summer undergraduate researchers, and (on an annual basis) experimental researchers in general.
● Ensures that online safety training is completed.
● Tracks online training progress through the MyU system.
● Develops safety training workshops, modules and opportunities for implementation of an improved safety culture for the School of Physics and Astronomy.
● Facilitate and develop a culture of safety within SPA.

10% Supervision
Supervise Education Program Associate 2
● Train and inform Education Program Associate 2 on lecture demonstrations that are complex or problematic to set up. Inform on unfamiliar mechanical equipment, electronics or procedures.
● Oversee the day-to-day demonstration requests to ensure availability and evaluate demonstration usage.
● Consult Education Program Associate 2 on university procedures and policy.
● Assist Education Program Associate 2 to hire, train, oversee and retain student workers for demonstration services.

5% SPA Other responsibilities
Initiates special projects for outreach and classroom activities in consultation with the SPA faculty and CSE partners
● Mentors and orient TAs, students and volunteers for various outreach events.
● Plans and implements educational programs for the greater community through outreach events.
● Ensures resource availability for outreach events.
● Prioritizes and leads the School of Physics and Astronomy technology improvements through to successful execution, including managing budgets.
● Assist with departmental functions and programs.
● Generate content for outreach or fundraising for external entities.

Other duties of a similar scope as assigned.

Required:
- Advanced degree in relevant field with at least 4 years of experience or a BA/BS degree with at least 6 years of relevant post-degree experience.
- Demonstrated experience in STEM education or laboratory support; including computing, classroom management, LMS, instructor support, and procurement budgeting.     
- Familiarity with physical apparatus and demonstrated competence with basic electronics and ability to repair a wide range of mechanical systems.
     

Preferred:
- Knowledge to diagnose and repair electrical devices and appliances.
- Knowledge of various computing data acquisition systems and methods.
- Knowledge of Learning Management Systems - Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard.
- Knowledge of programing/computing such as Python, Matlab, Mathematica, and/or LabView
- Knowledge and/or experience with Research Safety or other regulatory systems.

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

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