PEREC Research Technician & Laboratory Operations Specialist

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Department: College of Science

Classification: Research Staff 12-month

Job Category: Research Staff

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Woodbridge, VA

Workplace Type: On Site Required

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Restricted: Yes

Criminal Background Check: Yes

Motor Vehicle Records Check: Yes

Important Eligibility Requirement

Employees in this position are required to operate university vehicles in accordance with George Mason University Vehicle Use Policy 1411. Applicants must possess and maintain an active, valid driver's license that satisfies university requirements. Final candidates are subject to a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) review, and successful completion of the review is a condition of employment.

Minor or major driving violations may affect eligibility for employment. Applicants with prior driving infractions need to review the Eligibility & MVR Review Information (English / Spanish) before applying.

About the Department:

The Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center (PEREC), at the Potomac Science Center (PSC), is part of the Environmental Science & Policy Department in the College of Science (COS). PEREC serves as a hub for environmental research, education, and community engagement at George Mason University. Located within the PSC, the Center supports interdisciplinary research on freshwater and estuarine ecosystems, environmental change, biodiversity, water quality, and conservation. Through research collaborations, student training, field-based education, and partnerships with external organizations, PEREC connects scientific discovery with real-world environmental challenges facing the Potomac River, Chesapeake Bay, and surrounding region.

About the Position:

The PEREC Research Technician & Laboratory Operations Specialist provides advanced technical, operational, and research support for the Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center (PEREC) and associated College of Science faculty. This position ensures the effective operation, maintenance, and utilization of shared research infrastructure, field equipment, laboratories, vehicles, and boats. The position supports field and laboratory research activities, enhances instructional laboratory delivery, and promotes laboratory safety and compliance. This role serves as a central resource for faculty, staff, and students by improving equipment readiness, increasing research efficiency, supporting grant-funded activities, and expanding training opportunities across PEREC.

Responsibilities:

Research and Grant Support-Field, Laboratory, and Data:

• Support faculty-led and grant-funded research projects through application of established scientific and technical methods and procedures;
• Conduct and assist with field sampling, laboratory processing, sample preparation, organization, and data collection under the direction of project investigators;
• Collect water, sediment, benthic, plankton, hydrographic, and other environmental samples and measurements;
• Deploy, operate, retrieve, and maintain scientific field instrumentation and sampling equipment;
• Process, preserve, document, and prepare research samples for storage, analysis, and shipment, including maintaining appropriate chain-of-custody procedures;
• Perform routine laboratory procedures and analyses using established protocols and quality-control procedures;
• Enter, organize, manage, and conduct quality-control checks on research data and assist with basic data summaries and analyses as directed by project investigators;
• Assist with preparation of research reports, technical documents, figures, tables, protocols, and other project deliverables for review by project leaders;
• Assist faculty with research project logistics, scheduling, and coordination among project personnel, collaborators, and external partners;
• Contribute technical and logistical information to the development of research proposals, project plans, and budgets as requested by project investigators;
• Maintain, calibrate, troubleshoot, and perform routine repairs on shared scientific instrumentation and laboratory equipment used in research activities, with limited faculty oversight;
• Maintain research equipment in operational condition and ensure readiness for field and laboratory use;
• Support operation and maintenance of equipment including, but not limited to, Milli-Q water systems and filters, YSIs, fluorometers, pH meters, spectrophotometers, LC-MS, IRMS, particle size analyzer, TOC analyzer, and FlowCam;
• Diagnose routine equipment problems and coordinate technical service, preventive maintenance, and vendor repairs when issues exceed the scope of in-house maintenance;
• Coordinate service contracts and equipment maintenance activities, including REMI-covered equipment;
• Maintain equipment records, calibration documentation, maintenance logs, operating procedures, and related technical documentation;
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures and other technical guidance for shared research equipment;
• Train and provide technical guidance to faculty, staff, students, and project personnel in the appropriate operation, care, and routine troubleshooting of research instrumentation; and
• Manage equipment reservations, checkout, and loan systems to support efficient access to shared research resources.

Field Operations, Vehicle, and Boat Support:

• Operate and maintain field vehicles, trailers, and boats;
• Safely transport personnel and equipment to field sites;
• Serve as boat operator/captain during field missions;
• Monitor vehicle and trailer condition, including maintenance scheduling and safety checks; and
• Maintain readiness for emergency troubleshooting during field operations.

Laboratory Operations and Safety Compliance:

• Support safe and effective operation of research laboratories and shared facilities at PEREC/PSC;
• Maintain chemical and research-material inventories and associated safety documentation;
• Support appropriate storage, handling, transportation, and disposal of chemicals, biological materials, and hazardous waste in accordance with university and applicable regulatory requirements;
• Maintain research laboratory equipment, workspaces, and shared facilities in an organized and operational condition;
• Monitor availability of laboratory supplies and consumables necessary for research activities and communicate purchasing needs to appropriate personnel; and
• Support compliance with applicable university, state, and federal laboratory and research safety requirements.

Research, Instructional, and Operational Logistics Support:

• Coordinate and support logistical activities associated with research projects, field operations, and instructional activities conducted at PEREC/PSC;
• Receive, organize, and distribute research and instructional materials, including time-sensitive, temperature-sensitive, and appropriately regulated shipments;
• Coordinate outgoing shipments of research samples, equipment, and supplies in accordance with applicable shipping and handling requirements;
• Assist faculty and project personnel with ordering research supplies, equipment, and consumables and communicate purchasing and inventory needs;
• Maintain inventories of research and instructional supplies, equipment, and consumables;
• Prepare, organize, transport, set-up, and return equipment and materials for research and instructional field and laboratory activities;
• Support COS faculty with laboratory and field courses conducted at PEREC/PSC, including preparation of materials and specialized laboratory equipment and limited technical or field support during course activities;
• Operate, maintain, and provide user support for shared poster-printing and related technical resources, including scheduling, supplies, routine maintenance, and user training; and
• Coordinate routine logistics among faculty, students, staff, project personnel, and external collaborators to facilitate research and instructional activities.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or significant related experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree;
• Minimum three years of progressively responsible experience supporting scientific research activities in laboratory, field, or technical research environments, including operation of specialized instrumentation, research data collection and management, and application of established research methodologies;
• Knowledge of laboratory safety protocols, chemical hygiene procedures, hazardous waste handling, and regulatory compliance requirements in research laboratories;
• Knowledge of basic scientific instrumentation used in environmental, aquatic, biological, or analytical laboratories, including calibration and routine maintenance;
• Knowledge of standard field sampling methodologies for aquatic or environmental research, including sample collection, preservation, and chain-of-custody procedures;
• Knowledge of inventory management and preventative maintenance procedures for shared equipment and laboratory resources;
• Skill in operating, calibrating, and performing routine troubleshooting of laboratory and field equipment;
• Skill in collecting and processing environmental field samples using standardized scientific protocols;
• Skill in organization, logistics coordination, inventory management, and supply tracking across multiple laboratories or projects;
• Skill in written and verbal communication for technical documentation, procedural instructions, and coordination with faculty, staff, and students;
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while managing multiple concurrent priorities;
• Ability to diagnose routine equipment issues and identify appropriate corrective actions or repair needs;
• Ability to safely perform physically demanding fieldwork, including lifting equipment, working outdoors in variable weather, and boarding small vessels;
• Ability to maintain accurate records related to equipment maintenance, safety compliance, inventory, and research support;
• Ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, students, staff, and external vendors;
• Reliability, professionalism, and accountability in managing shared institutional resources;
• Attention to detail and commitment to maintaining safe and organized laboratory spaces;
• Service-oriented mindset and commitment to supporting faculty and student success;
• Flexibility and responsiveness in a dynamic research environment;
• Ability to obtain or possess Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources boating certification; and
• Must currently possess an appropriate, active, valid motor vehicle operator's license that meets all of GMU's requirements for operating state vehicles and equipment under Mason's Vehicle Use Policy 1411 https://universitypolicy.gmu.edu/policies/vehicle-use/. The Office of Risk Management reserves the right to review the driver's licenses and Motor Vehicle Reports (MVRs) of all candidates selected with employment contingent upon a favorable review.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in a related field;
• Minimum of five years of relevant laboratory, field, or technical research support experience;
• Experience supporting grant-funded research;
• Experience with analytical instrumentation;
• Knowledge of advanced analytical instrumentation, including mass spectrometry, TOC analyzers, particle size analyzers, fluorometers, and automated imaging systems;
• Knowledge of data management, quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC), and basic scientific data analysis methods;
• Knowledge of vendor service coordination, maintenance contracts, and repair scheduling for specialized research equipment;
• Skill in troubleshooting and repairing advanced scientific instrumentation with minimal supervision;
• Skill in operating boats, trailers, and field vehicles for aquatic field research;
• Skill in training students, staff, and faculty in laboratory methods, instrumentation use, and field techniques;
• Skill in basic data analysis, reporting, and preparation of technical summaries for grant-funded research projects;
• Ability to operate and troubleshoot boats, trailers, and field vehicles during routine and emergency field operations;
• Ability to adapt work schedules to accommodate early morning fieldwork, late deliveries, urgent repairs, and time-sensitive research needs;
• Ability to support grant-funded research through data collection, sample processing, and technical reporting;
• Initiative and proactive problem-solving in identifying operational inefficiencies and implementing improvements;
• Enthusiasm for mentoring and training students in research and technical skills; and
• Commitment to continuous learning and remaining current with evolving laboratory technologies and best practices.

Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the PEREC Research Technician & Laboratory Operations Specialist at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter and CV for review.

Posting Open Date: October 22, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by: November 5, 2026

Open Until Filled: Yes