To use this Section effectively, use "Find" under the "Edit" Menu above for the type of Expertise in which you are interested. Let us know if you have a suggestion for making this Section more valuable to users.

PLEASE NOTE: The use of this equipment is by RESERVATION ONLY!
Please familiarize yourself with its operation prior to use. The manuals for the equipment are located either near the instrument or in a labeled file cabinet in NC1-140. The contact person is only responsible for contacting the service provider for repairs and not for individual training; however they may be able to help you locate the manuals or find someone else who is a frequent users of that specific piece of equipment. It is your responsibility to bring all of the consumables with you and to clean up after yourself.

Promotion Process, Job Descriptions, and Promotion Guidelines for LRI Techs

The LRI has five levels of technical support. These are Technician, Technologist, Senior Technologist, Lead Technologist and Principal Technologist. The job description and promotion criteria for each position are listed below after a brief description of the promotion process. In addition to the criteria listed below, candidates for promotion must also meet Human Resource's minimal requirements of education and relevant work experience for the new position.

Promotion Process

The LRI Tech Promotions Committee considers promotions requests once a year, usually in late fall or early winter. A month before the deadline, the LRI Division Office will send an email to department administrators, asking them to inform the Staff and Techs that it is time to submit promotion requests. Prior to submitting a request, the tech, the P.I., and the administrator need to determine whether the applicant meets the minimal degree and experience requirements of Human Resources for the requested position. To request a promotion, the applicant needs to submit to their department administrator:

• A strong letter of support from their P.I. This letter should describe the applicant's qualifications, experience, skills, and lab responsibilities. The P.I. should address the rationale for the promotion and discuss how the applicant meets the criteria for promotion to the new position.
• A full curriculum vitae, which includes publications, abstracts, presentations at local and national meetings, departmental responsibilities.
• A memo of support from the Department Chair.

The department administrator will submit these documents to the LRI Division Office, who will then ask Human Resources to confirm that the applicant meets their minimal requirements of education and relevant work experience for the new position. Approved requests will then be reviewed by the LRI Tech Promotions Committee. Candidates for Lead Technologist and Principal Technologist will also be scheduled for a 20 to 30 minute informal interview with the committee. The reason for the interview is to provide the applicant with an opportunity to discuss their qualifications, their specific research project and their laboratory responsibilities with the committee.

The decision to promote an applicant is based on merit, not length of service. The LRI Tech Promotions Committee does not deny promotion requests because of budgetary constraints. If a promotion is denied, a letter will be sent to the Tech and the P.I. explaining the reason for the Committee's decision and suggesting whether the applicant could be put forth for promotion in the future.

LRI Tech Job Responsibilities and Promotion Guidelines

The LRI Tech Promotion Committee uses the following job descriptions and promotion criteria when considering a request for promotion.

Technician

Technicians are entry level personnel who are recent college graduates or have less than 1 year of relevant work experience.

• learn basic techniques (e.g., assays, tissue culture)
• learn equipment operation
• carry out experiments under supervision
• perform general laboratory duties

Technologist

Technologists are involved in basic research and contribute to laboratory administration. They assist scientific staff, often taking responsibility for parts of research projects. They may be adept at a range of particular techniques and provide that expertise to several projects. After a period they would be expected to work without direct supervision but would not be independent. They would be responsible for some aspects of laboratory administration including ordering supplies, keeping up stock solutions, monitoring equipment, etc.

• assist scientific staff on project work
• work with general supervision
• report results and suggest new experiments to Principal Investigator
• introduce and develop new techniques
• act as a laboratory reference for particular techniques
• order supplies and maintain laboratory equipment

Senior Technologist

Senior Technologists should be able to work with minimum guidance. They should work independently on a research project, design experiments and have innovative input into projects, as evidenced by authorship on research papers. They may be involved in administering budgets and looking after the purchase and maintenance of equipment and common equipment rooms. They may make administrative decisions when the Principal Investigator is away.

• carry out project work
• do background reading and have innovative input into their research project
• be innovative in designing and developing techniques
• give talks at laboratory meetings
• train other employees in techniques
• be responsible for laboratory management
• be first author or co-author on peer-reviewed scientific papers

Lead Technologist

Lead Technologist is the first positions in which the technologist makes independent decisions, either scientific or administrative.

• have considerable research experience
• run a project independently
• have innovative input as evidenced by first authorship on papers OR makes
• substantial scientific contributions to the lab as evidenced by 2 or more of the
• following: (a) co-authors papers; (b) plays a critical role in preparing grant
• applications or in training and supervising lab personnel on a regular basis; or (c)
• has significant administrative responsibilities which substantially and clearly
• exceed standard compliance, purchasing, and fiscal responsibilities
• have an in-depth knowledge of a wide range of techniques
• act for the Principal Investigator when absent

Principal Technologist

Principal Technologists are self-motivated and capable of carrying out independent research at the level of a postdoctoral fellow. They would have a high degree of innovative input and would be expected to achieve a regular output of refereed research papers. They would contribute to the total research effort of the laboratory, by taking on high-risk projects, supervising other staff, and being involved in the selection of support staff. They would assist the Principal Investigator with the construction and submission of grant proposals.

• carry out independent research achieving a regular authorship of refereed papers
• have in-depth research experience and knowledge of a wide range of techniques and train all levels of research personnel
• be responsible with Principal Investigator for constructing and submitting grant proposals
• attend scientific meetings and present talks or posters