Re: Science Lab Staff

[Sam Sampere <sampere@suhep.phy.syr.edu>]

This sounds like a job description for a grunt, especially the last item:
16. Perform other duties as assigned by the Physics & Astronomy Lead
Faculty. The only item on the list that this person is completely
accountable for is the repair of equipment (I'm not counting the ordering
of supplies).  Otherwise, you are looking for somebody to assist faculty, 
a technical secretary perhaps?!

Dean Hudek ran this crackerbarrel session on the gripes of "us kind of
guys" and the AAPT meeting last summer, and is doing so this summer.  At
the time last summer, I thought a few of "us guys" were getting a little
too outrageous with some of their concerns, what to call "us guys",
dealing with faculty, etc.  When I read this job description, I begin to
understand why that session was planned, and why it's running again this
year!  You probably did not intend to belittle anyone, but you just
described us as 'helpers'.  That ain't how I want to be remembered, "Boy,
that Sam sure was a good little helper". Independent and creative people
want more than this in a job. 

You should make this person responsible for designing and developing new
labs and lecture demos. Give the person some intellectual freedom and
responsibility.  The faculty can assist should they want to!  I really
don't think you want to hire the kind of person that would read you ad and
think that was a great job!


Dean, see you at that crackerbarrel session!

TTFN,

Sam

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Sam Sampere
Syracuse University
Department of Physics
Syracuse (Where all the snow is NOT..), NY 13244



On Wed, 8 Jul 1998, Alex Azima wrote:

> > What are the responsibilities of the staff and its director?
>
> We recently wrote the following job description for our physics technician.
>
> 1. Set up and take down equipment in the Physics Laboratory for weekly labs
> and for lecture demonstrations.
> 2. Troubleshoot, repair, and maintain electronic and physics laboratory
> equipment.
> 3. Maintain the computers and associated software in the Physics Laboratory.
> 4. Take regular inventory of equipment and supplies and organize and
> maintain an equipment stockroom.
> 5. Maintain laboratory manuals, instruction booklets, and lab setup
> procedure notebooks.
> 6. Order from vendors, or purchase locally, any needed supplies.
> 7. Ensure that student handouts are prepared and photocopied by the office
> as needed.
> 8. Ensure that laboratory and shop facilities are clean and safe.
> 9. Assist the faculty in the development of new physics and astronomy
> demonstrations and laboratory exercises.
> 10. Assist the faculty in the evaluation of software used in the Physics
> Laboratory.
> 11. Assist the Physics Program in its community outreach efforts.
> 12. Assist the faculty with the instruction in the Physics Laboratory and
> with physics and astronomy demonstrations.
> 13. Work collaboratively with faculty and other laboratory technicians,
> particularly regarding scheduling of equipment usage.
> 14. Train other lab technicians and lab aides as needed.
> 15. Attend meetings Physics & Astronomy Committee, when requested to do so
> by the Physics & Astronomy Lead Faculty.
> 16. Perform other duties as assigned by the Physics & Astronomy Lead Faculty.