Part-Time Lab Associate - Medical Laboratory Science

Position Summary:

Hiring compensation range: $20.11-$27.04 per hour, depending on qualifications, subject to current College salary schedule.

Job Summary:

The Part-Time Medical Laboratory Science Lab Associate supports faculty and students in the Medical Laboratory Science teaching laboratory. The position assists with laboratory preparation and cleanup, student laboratory activities, laboratory organization and maintenance, and designated course-support activities.

During scheduled laboratory sessions, the Lab Associate works alongside Medical Laboratory Science faculty to provide technical assistance to students as they practice previously taught laboratory procedures and develop hands-on laboratory skills. The position supports laboratory activities involving microscopy, clinical laboratory equipment and instrumentation, specimen handling, and procedures across the major medical laboratory science disciplines.

This is a laboratory support position and is not a faculty or instructor-of-record position.

Job Duties:

• Assist faculty with preparation and setup of Medical Laboratory Science laboratory activities.
• Prepare and organize laboratory workstations, microscopes, instrumentation, equipment, reagents, specimens, slides, supplies, and other materials needed for student laboratory exercises.
• Label, organize, and distribute specimens and laboratory materials according to faculty instructions.
• Verify that required supplies, equipment, and materials are available and ready for scheduled laboratory activities.
• Work alongside faculty during laboratory sessions to provide technical assistance to students.
• Assist students with the proper use of microscopes, laboratory equipment, and instrumentation.
• Assist students while performing previously taught laboratory procedures and techniques.
• Help students troubleshoot routine technical problems encountered during laboratory activities.
• Reinforce established laboratory procedures, workflow, laboratory safety practices, and good laboratory technique.
• Answer routine procedural and technical questions and refer questions requiring additional instruction, interpretation, academic judgment, or assessment to faculty.
• Assist with laboratory breakdown and cleanup following student laboratory activities.
• Clean, organize, and maintain laboratory work areas and equipment according to established procedures.
• Return equipment, reagents, specimens, slides, and supplies to appropriate storage locations.
• Assist with appropriate handling and disposal of sharps, biological materials, chemicals, and laboratory waste.
• Assist with routine care and maintenance of microscopes and other laboratory equipment.
• Assist with laboratory inventory and organization of supplies, reagents, specimens, slides, and equipment.
• Monitor supply levels and notify faculty of depleted, expired, damaged, or needed materials.
• Assist faculty with grading designated laboratory worksheets, assignments, laboratory packets, and other coursework using faculty-established answer keys, rubrics, and grading criteria.
• Organize completed student work, practical examination materials, and competency/check-off documentation for faculty review and assessment.
• Maintain accuracy, organization, and confidentiality when handling student coursework and records.
• Assist with organization and maintenance of laboratory records and documentation related to safety, equipment, inventory, quality activities, and program accreditation.
• Follow all College and Medical Laboratory Science program laboratory procedures, safety requirements, infection-control practices, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Complete all required College and Medical Laboratory Science program laboratory, safety, and compliance training.
• Perform other related Medical Laboratory Science laboratory-support duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications :

• Associate degree or higher in Medical Laboratory Technology, Medical Laboratory Science, Clinical Laboratory Science, Medical Technology, or a closely related laboratory science, or an equivalent combination of appropriate education and clinical laboratory experience acceptable to the College.
• Previous clinical laboratory experience in one or more medical laboratory science disciplines.
• Familiarity with routine clinical laboratory procedures, laboratory safety, and appropriate handling of biological specimens.
• Ability to work with clinical laboratory microscopes, equipment, and instrumentation.
• Ability to safely work with human specimens, biological materials, chemicals, sharps, and laboratory equipment while following required precautions.
• Ability to accurately follow established laboratory procedures, faculty instructions, answer keys, rubrics, and grading criteria.
• Ability to organize laboratory materials, specimens, reagents, equipment, supplies, and student materials.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with students and faculty and provide constructive technical assistance in a teaching-laboratory environment.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality when handling student coursework and records.
• Ability and willingness to successfully complete all required College and Medical Laboratory Science program laboratory and safety training.
• Regular availability Monday through Thursday, generally from 12:00 PM-5:00 PM, with some scheduling flexibility between approximately 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM based on program needs.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications :

• Current MLT, MLS, MT, or equivalent nationally recognized clinical laboratory certification.
• Current or previous Florida Clinical Laboratory Personnel license.
• Broad clinical laboratory experience across multiple disciplines.
• Experience with clinical laboratory microscopy and instrumentation.
• Experience in hematology, coagulation, immunohematology/blood banking, clinical chemistry, microbiology, urinalysis, body fluids, or related laboratory disciplines.
• Experience training, mentoring, or assisting students, new employees, or laboratory personnel.
• Previous experience in an MLT, MLS, health sciences, or other educational laboratory.
• Experience with laboratory inventory, reagent preparation, equipment maintenance, or quality-related documentation.

Supplemental Information :

The Medical Laboratory Science program serves approximately 30 students, divided into laboratory sections of approximately 15 students each, with a maximum of approximately 16 students participating in the laboratory at one time.

The position requires work in a medical laboratory teaching environment and may involve prolonged periods of standing or sitting, movement between laboratory workstations, use of microscopes and laboratory instrumentation, handling laboratory supplies and equipment, and handling human specimens, biological materials, chemicals, and sharps while following required safety precautions.

Approximately 20-28 hours per week; not to exceed 29 hours per week.

Monday through Thursday, with regular availability generally required from 12:00 PM-5:00 PM. Additional hours may be scheduled between approximately 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM based on laboratory preparation, cleanup, program needs, and employee availability.

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Hillsborough Community College is an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe that diversity and inclusion among our applicants and employees is critical to our success as a community partner. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical/mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, and military/veteran status. 

Preference will also be given to veterans and spouses who are eligible under the Veterans' Preference Law. At time of application, submittal of Form DD214 is the minimum requirement for veterans' preference claim.  Note:  Please upload your DD214 as an attachment as part of your application at the time of submission.  

The selected candidate identified for this position will be required to successfully complete a Level II criminal background check, which includes fingerprinting.  

Hillsborough Community College participates in the US E-Verify program.

Apply Today to join our team