Lab Director, Undergraduate Quantum Education Laboratory

Department
 

PME Clerk Lab

About the Department
 

The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) was established in May 2019 and evolved from the Institute for Molecular Engineering, which was founded in 2011. The PME integrates science and engineering to address global challenges from the molecular level up. The PME’s rigorous academic and research programs are made possible through the University of Chicago’s unique partnership with Argonne National Laboratory. The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering is the first new school at the University of Chicago in three decades and the first school in the nation dedicated to molecular engineering. In the next phase of growth as a School, the PME will continue to expand its team of world-class faculty researchers and empower students from diverse backgrounds to collaborate with faculty in cutting-edge facilities. The PME aims to bring solutions for urgent societal problems to the forefront, while training the next generation of scientific leaders and entrepreneurs.

Job Summary
 

The Lab Director, Undergraduate Quantum Education develops and oversees the new undergraduate quantum lab course and provides innovative leadership and effective administrative direction that promotes undergraduate students’ academic success and supports the overall student experience. The Director, working in conjunction with PME Faculty, will design and implement advanced teaching experiments in a variety of quantum platforms, with significant opportunities for customization based on the guidance of the Lab Director and Faculty including the rare opportunity to design a new, innovative educational program from the group up and combine a background in advanced experimental techniques with a passion for quantum education.

Responsibilities

• Develops, constructs, and improves experiments.  Maintains database of experiment equipment lists.
• Oversee day-to-day undergraduate student support activities, creating a framework and culture that ensures students have access to the information and help they need on a timely basis.
• In coordination with PME Finance and Procurement, attends monthly meetings, manages a portion of the financial and budgetary activities, including preparing financial statements, reports, memos, invoices letters, and other documents.
• In coordination with the PME Lab Safety Specialist uses best practices and laboratory knowledge to promote safety in handling hazardous equipment and materials.
• With assistance from student teaching assistants, supervises the daily running of the Quantum instructional labs and lecture demonstrations.
• Sits on Teaching Activities Committee and works with Undergraduate and Graduate Program Chairs to develop departmental policies and requirements related to instructional labs.
• Leads Quantum education research efforts to develop and implement new lab pedagogy, including writing and administering grants. In the instructional laboratory setting teaches undergraduate students Quantum concepts, data acquisition and analysis techniques, and safety procedures.
• Initiates routine and non-routine correspondence and other written materials under own signature or on behalf of the faculty instructor, including writing and editing laboratory manuals used by students.
• Trains and supervises student teaching assistants.
• Provides support for and solves general audio/visual issues. Recommends purchases of computers, software, and technical apparatus and supplies.
• Acts as a resource for and instructs faculty on the proper usage of technical scientific apparatus. Uses best practices and laboratory knowledge to promote safety in handling hazardous equipment and materials.
• Prepares and tests lecture demonstrations to ensure consistency with course content. Works with faculty or staff to determine the suitability of demonstrations for specific lectures. Informs faculty of new demonstration developments and materials.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualificaitons

Experience:

• Experience in teaching or lab instruction.
• Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through five years of work experience in a related job discipline.
• Proven experience in a senior role or other relevant administrative experience.
• Must be result-oriented, have a high standard of excellence, exceptional planning, execution, analytical and judgment skills, strong analytical skills, and an outstanding commitment to and proven ability to advance an organization's priorities.    
• Experience working within an academic unit and/or complex research university environment.
• Experience in advanced experimental techniques relevant to quantum experiments, including optics, cryogenics, ultra-high vacuum, RF electronics, and instrumentation.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Excellent computer skills, including knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Expertise in data management and analysis.
• Expertise in Python programming.

Preferred Competencies

• High level of collegiality in working with faculty, staff, students, departmental, and university administrators.
• Demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills to communicate effectively and cultivate positive working relationships with students, staff, faculty, and the public.
• Demonstrated time-management, proactive approach to problem-solving, organization, and coordination skills to handle multiple, concurrent tasks with deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including outstanding judgment, discretion, a strong ethical approach to decision-making and a demonstrated ability to resolve conflicts fairly and diplomatically, and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to work independently, take direction, and achieve consensus.
• Excellent organizational skills, problem-solving ability, and attention to detail, including the ability to edit, and proofread documents at an advanced level.
• Ability to handle public contacts with courtesy, clarity, and diplomacy.
• Ability to maintain a calm and courteous demeanor and to work productively and efficiently despite heavy workload, competing priorities, constant interruptions, complex problems, and tight deadlines.

Working Conditions

• Occasional extended work hours and some weekend days.

Application Documents

• Cover Letter (required)
• Resume (required)
• Reference Contact List – 3 (preferred)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Academic Affairs

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

40

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Requires Compliance with University Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

Employees must comply with the University’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements. More information about the requirements can be found on the University of Chicago Vaccination GoForward .
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

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