Apply now Job no:533056
Work type:Faculty - Career
Location:Eugene, OR
Categories:Healthcare/Nursing, Research/Scientific/Grants, Environmental Studies
Department: Safety and Risk Services - Environmental Health & Safety
Rank: Research Assistant (Type C)
Annual Basis: 12 Month
Salary: $60,000 - 65,000 per year
Review of Applications Begins
January 15, 2024; position open until filled
Special Instructions to Applicants
To be considered for this position, please upload the following with your online application:
• Your current resume;
• A cover letter stating how your skills and experience meet the Minimum Requirements and Preferred Qualifications for this position.
We are interested in finding the best candidate for the position. We encourage you to apply, even if you don’t think you meet every one of our preferred qualifications - use your application to let us know what is meaningful to you about the role and what transferable skills or other qualities you would bring.
Department Summary
Safety and Risk Services’ (SRS) mission is to collaborate with all campus constituents (students, staff, faculty and visitors) and the surrounding community, to safeguard life and health and mitigate threats to the university’s core mission of academic excellence, research, and public service. Safety and Risk Services comprises Emergency Management and Fire Prevention, Environmental Health and Safety, Location Innovation Lab, Risk Management and the University of Oregon Police Department. SRS fulfills its mission by providing a variety of professional services, technical assistance, trainings, and regulatory oversight.
Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) promotes compliance and responsible behaviors as exemplified and required by health, safety, and environmental standards, codes, regulations, and university programs. The department provides educational, monitoring, problem-solving, and support service functions to the entire university community.
SRS is a unit within the Finance and Administration portfolio. Finance and Administration is a vibrant and varied portfolio serving all aspects of campus life. Our employees perform a wide range of functions including offering essential financial tools and support to the university’s many departments, providing key resources to employees, and keeping campus safe, clean, accessible and beautiful.
Position Summary
The EHS Laboratory Safety Research Assistant (LSRA) will be responsible for planning, organizing, and conducting independent work and research under general supervision of the EHS Research Safety team leadership. The purpose of the position is to design, test, and evaluate methods for supporting safe work within university teaching and research laboratories. The person in this position will research methods and best practices for laboratory safety and evaluate, instruct, advise and monitor university laboratory professionals in means and methods of achieving safe laboratory techniques and laboratory business practices compliant with applicable regulations. This position may publish research findings within professional journals, present research at conferences, and contribute to the field of laboratory safety. Interactions and contacts occur daily with the campus community in the course of performing work and responding to emergencies.
The LSRA works as a member of a team while frequently performing tasks independently. They will research, document, and analyze existing laboratory processes and management systems for compliance with applicable regulations and application of best practices. Decisions may be made about the best method and materials necessary to perform a particular task. Research results will be shared with Laboratory staff and EHS Research Safety staff. The Research Assistant will work with laboratories to improve methods, processes, and systems through instruction, monitoring, and oversight to address the safe handling of biological, radioactive, or other hazardous materials, processes or equipment and on environmental, health and safety related compliance topics and best practices
The LSRA will continuously review new products, methods, and equipment, assessing relative feasibility, quality, and benefits for safer research processes and share findings with campus researchers, laboratory personnel, and faculty. They will also consult with laboratory personnel, faculty, and literature to remain current on risks and risk management strategies for a wide and complex variety of research programs. This position will work with campus partners to design and advice on the implementation of updated health & safety procedures within research protocol.
This position will act with a high level of independence and decision making. This position will have frequent meetings with and will report to the Laboratory Safety Manager. This position may also be asked to train research lab staff.
This position requires the ability to travel to parts of Oregon that are not easily accessible by public transit
Minimum Requirements
• Master’s degree in a physical, health, or environmental science with two years related professional experience in physical, health, or environmental safety
Professional Competencies
• Ability to work professionally and collaboratively with faculty, staff, and graduate students from diverse backgrounds.
• Effective organizational skills.
• Effective communication skills.
• Capacity for innovative problem-solving.
• Perform duties in a way that advances and supports the mission of the department and university.
• Work effectively in a diverse team environment and create effective relationships for problem solving and positive interactions.
• Maintain a safe and safety-conscious workplace.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience working in higher education basic or applied science research environment.
• Experience with the use and maintenance of MS Office programs, Outlook and various database systems.
• Experience using Federal and State regulations or guidelines as they apply to occupational safety in research and teaching labs.
• Experience instructing research laboratory staff in operational and safety protocols and procedures.
The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefits package to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement plans and paid time off. For more information about benefits, visit http://hr.uoregon.edu/careers/about-benefits .
The University of Oregon is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the ADA. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply, and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status. The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation in connection with the application process, please contact us at [email protected] or 541-346-5112.
UO prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by UO policy. Questions may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, Office of Civil Rights Compliance, or to the Office for Civil Rights. Contact information, related policies, and complaint procedures are listed on the statement of non-discrimination .
In compliance with federal law, the University of Oregon prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and services. The Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://clery.uoregon.edu/annual-campus-security-and-fire-safety-report .