Lab Manager, Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Delaware
Newark, DE
Job posting number: #7117184
Posted: December 2, 2022
Application Deadline: Open Until Filled
Job Description
CONTEXT OF THE JOB:Under limited direction of the Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) Department Chair the Coastal and Environmental Research Lab Manager is assigned to and responsible for managing the Department’s: coastal lab; coastal and environmental field research sampling programs; lab and field sensor purchasing, training and user manual generation, testing, trouble shooting, deploying, retrieval, data offload, data quality control, and initial data analysis and report writing; additional electrical engineering needs including circuit board wiring, soldering, sensor machining, sensor ideation and development, and in-house sensor testing and troubleshooting; and all aspects of CEE laboratory and field safety and equipment.
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is a diverse community comprised of faculty, staff, over 400 undergraduate students, over 100 graduate students, and additional other scholars.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
Oversee the coastal engineering lab and field research programs to include lab and field sensor training and user manual generation, testing, trouble shooting, deploying, retrieval, data offload, data quality control, initial data analysis and report writing.
Electrical engineering needs including circuit board wiring, soldering, sensor machining, sensor ideation and development, and in-house sensor testing and troubleshooting. The specialist will also use experience to assist faculty and graduate students within the Department on analog and digital electronics, instrumentation, technology and electrical engineering needs.
Lead research technician for coastal research functions:
Operation of the CACR wave flume - wave paddle control, voltage signal generation, dam break mechanism forcing, sand and false bottom installation, flume study sensor deployment, data logging system design and control, data offload, data quality control, initial data analysis and report writing.
Operation of recirculating flumes including maintenance, usage, experiment setup, data collection, data offload, data quality control, initial data analysis and report writing.
Procurement, installation, and operation of field equipment including programming, testing, frame and bottom mount design and construction.
Installation and maintenance of marsh, inlet, and beach sensor deployment, data offload, data quality control, initial data analysis and report writing.
L-mooring design and construction, autonomous and crewed boat maintenance and deployment.
Lead research technician for environmental research functions:
Installation and maintenance of water quantity monitoring equipment: water level sensors for groundwater wells, stormwater control flumes, and surface water; water pressure sensors for soil water and groundwater; and water saturation sensors for soil.
Installation and maintenance of water quality monitoring equipment for electrical conductivity, pH, salinity, dissolved nitrogen, turbidity, redox potential, etc.
Procurement, installation, and maintenance of data logging systems for water quantity and water quality sensors.
Maintenance of sensors and associated data logging systems for field measurement of greenhouse gases, e.g., methane and nitrous oxide.
Procurement and maintenance of equipment for collecting water and sediment samples for future analysis in the laboratory.
Communicates and collaborates with UD and external collaborators on sensor design, fabrication, and sensor system integration, data quality control, sensor installation, and laboratory and field deployment of sensing systems.
Leads evaluation, selection, and purchasing of new, specialized coastal and environmental research equipment. Receives and conducts laboratory and field trials of new equipment, develops training modules and user manuals for tested equipment.
Serves as the Chair of the CEE Safety Committee who oversees Department, laboratory, and field safety compliance, orderliness, and cleanliness. Duties include:
Leading the quarterly CEE laboratory and field safety meeting.
Serving as the liaison with UD Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) regarding safety compliance for research and instructional laboratories and field sites, coordinates quarterly lab and field safety inspections, distributes hazard alerts and maintains incident reports.
Coordinates formal and informal hazard reviews of all research and instructional laboratory equipment and procedures.
Plans, trains, and maintains equipment for emergency preparedness. Responds to and resolves laboratory and field safety emergencies.
Develops and delivers for all CEE faculty, researchers, scientists, staff, and student workers general and safety orientation programs. Ensures graduate students and UG researchers have taken all required EHS training needed for the laboratory and field work being conducted.
Develops and implements policies, procedures, and standards for laboratory and field operations to ensure the safety, efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance with federal, state, and University policies, regulations and standards, including maintaining Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all laboratories and field efforts and ITAR regulations for laboratory security.
Responsible for CEE equipment inventory, including capital equipment tags, equipment relocation, and disposal which may include initiating contracts with lab equipment brokers for capital recovery of surplus laboratory equipment and coordinating equipment sales with UD Procurement Department.
Performs other job-related duties as assigned by the Chair.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Master’s degree, PhD preferred, in civil, environmental, coastal, mechanical, or electrical engineering discipline, or a related technical or scientific field, and one year of technical and administrative experience in laboratory and field operations, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Extensive experience in the procurement, evaluation, testing/troubleshooting, use, deployment (including frame and mount design and fabrication), retrieval, data offload, data quality control, initial analysis and report writing of coastal laboratory and coastal and environmental field sensors/equipment.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office, and data analysis packages such as Matlab and/or Python
Experience in the principles of electronics, coastal and environmental sensor design and fabrication, sensor systems, system integration, and analog and digital data acquisition systems such as commercial data loggers, microcontrollers, and the use of I2C and Python.
Experience in research and instructional laboratory and field coordination and extensive knowledge of laboratory and field safety practices on the industrial and/or academic level.
Familiarity with training methods for safe laboratory and field research practices and procedures.
Basic knowledge of standard machine shop equipment and the use of hand tools and mechanical/shop equipment.
Detailed knowledge of coastal processes research equipment (e.g., ADCPS, current meters, pressure sensors, autonomous systems), experiment design, experiment deployment, data analysis and results dissemination preferred.
Prior experience as a manager for safe laboratory and field research practices and procedures preferred.
Field skills including boating operator, and/or drone operator with license, unmanned surface vessels, skid steer, field truck, and trailering preferred.
Demonstrates an understanding and consideration of the differing needs and concerns of individuals with varying identities, cultures and backgrounds.
Committed to fostering a workplace culture of belonging, where diversity is celebrated and equity is a core value.