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Undergraduate Laboratory Assistant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

University of Kansas

Laboratory Manager

Lawrence, KS

... * Assist faculty in developing multimedia and technology resources for undergraduate laboratory courses and demonstration experiments, such as but not limited to the collection of data from remotely ...

The Pennsylvania State University

The Eberly College of Science, Department of Statistics, is looking to hire Undergraduate Lab Assistants to support STAT courses overseen by teaching faculty during the 2024-25 academic year. The lab ...

Northeastern University

Lab Manager

Boston, MA · On-site

Support undergraduate laboratory classes by: Preparing samples and lab setups Solving technical and equipment-related problems Training and supervising teaching assistants * Assist faculty in the ...

NorthEastern

Lab Manager

Boston, MA

Support undergraduate laboratory classes by: Preparing samples and lab setups Solving technical and equipment-related problems Training and supervising teaching assistants * Assist faculty in the ...

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How much do undergraduate laboratory assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of May 28, 2026, the average hourly pay for undergraduate laboratory assistant in the United States is $20.25, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.59 and $23.08 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Undergraduate Laboratory Assistant, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Undergraduate Laboratory Assistant, you need a basic understanding of laboratory techniques, safety protocols, and relevant coursework in the scientific field. Familiarity with lab equipment, data entry software, and safety certification (such as OSHA training) is often required. Attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and effective communication help you work efficiently and collaboratively in a lab environment. These skills are crucial for maintaining accurate results, ensuring safety, and supporting smooth laboratory operations.

What are some common responsibilities and challenges faced by an Undergraduate Laboratory Assistant?

Undergraduate Laboratory Assistants typically support research or teaching laboratories by preparing materials, maintaining equipment, and assisting with experiments. One common challenge is balancing precise task execution with learning new lab techniques, all while managing academic coursework. Assistants often collaborate with graduate students and faculty, so clear communication and attention to detail are essential. This role offers valuable hands-on experience, which can help students develop technical skills and prepare for advanced study or future laboratory positions.

What are undergraduate laboratory assistants?

Undergraduate laboratory assistants are students who support laboratory operations in academic or research settings. Their responsibilities typically include preparing materials, setting up equipment, assisting with experiments, maintaining cleanliness, and sometimes collecting or analyzing data. They work under the supervision of faculty, researchers, or lab managers and gain hands-on experience that complements their coursework. This role is often part-time and provides valuable insight into scientific research practices.

What is the difference between Undergraduate Laboratory Assistant vs Laboratory Technician?

AspectUndergraduate Laboratory AssistantLaboratory Technician
Required CredentialsEnrolled undergraduate student, some coursework in sciencePost-secondary diploma or associate degree in laboratory sciences
Work EnvironmentAcademic labs, research projects, university settingsClinical, industrial, or research laboratories in various industries
Employer & Industry UsagePrimarily educational institutions and research labsHospitals, biotech companies, research facilities
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding entry-level roles for undergraduatesClarifying professional laboratory roles and responsibilities

While both roles involve laboratory work, Undergraduate Laboratory Assistants are typically students gaining experience in academic settings, whereas Laboratory Technicians are trained professionals working in more specialized or industrial labs. The main differences lie in qualifications, work environment, and career progression.

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Undergraduate Laboratory Assistant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Undergraduate Laboratory Assistant job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $42,113 per year, or $20.2 per hour.
Learning & Teaching Stockroom and Laboratory Support Specialist: Department of Chemistry - UTK

Learning & Teaching Stockroom and Laboratory Support Specialist: Department of Chemistry - UTK

The University of Tennessee

Knoxville, TN • On-site

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago

Job description

Job Description
The Chemistry Learning & Teaching Stockroom Personnel leads a team that prepares chemicals and other materials for assigned undergraduate Chemistry laboratories conducted in Strong Hall. The position requires skills in chemical safety protocols, wet chemistry, and hazardous waste training. The responsibilities include planning, sourcing, making, and delivering chemicals in the proper form, place, time and utility to deliver academic services. Interpersonal skills, organizational skills and record keeping are required in the execution of many primary functions of this position.
This is a flex-time position. The time-range for the 8-hour shifts will change according to the class schedules in the time-table. 1/3-1/2 of all Knoxville campus undergraduates enroll in undergraduate Chemistry classes; most of these are non-Chemistry majors. For AY26-27, UTK is expecting ~3,000 enrolled undergraduate students.
Responsibilities
Day-to-day activities of teaching laboratories, chemical preparation room, and stockrooms:
  • Timeliness is of extreme importance for the success of the lab for preparing chemicals and other materials for teaching laboratories and chemical preparation room, set-up and disassembles experimental supplies and apparatus.
  • Provides training and direct support for 7 undergraduate courses during all academic semester periods (Fall, Spring, Summer). These teaching laboratories support: CHEM 103, 113, 123, 133, 269, 359, and 389.
  • Tests, verifies, and validates technological/scientific procedures or processes related to course delivery.
  • Supervises 10-15 undergraduate laboratory assistants.
  • Schedules undergraduate laboratory assistant shifts.
  • Serves 50+ graduate teaching assistants, 5-10 faculty, and 3,000 undergraduates.
  • Due to work shifts, will only come into contact with 30 graduate students and 4-5 faculty daily, plus the undergraduate students enrolled in classes.

Planning, Organizing, Coordination of the Stockrooms:
  • Plans, orders, receives and manages inventory for chemicals and equipment required for all General and Organic Chemistry courses.
  • Training includes proper laboratory technique and safety, proper preparation of solutions and other materials, execution of laboratory experiments.
  • Training for software to record breakage fees.
  • Coordinates weekly course calendars with the two stockroom operations schedules.
  • Responsible for organizing and general housekeeping for teaching labs and stockrooms.
  • Records ordering information and produces cost breakdown analysis.

Equipment Management and Equipment Training:
  • Maintains laboratory equipment, Troubleshoots malfunctioning equipment and facilitates/coordinates repairs as needed; not limited to Lab Quest, NMR, and phone conversations.
  • Administers set up procedures for audio visual equipment and computers in labs.
  • Performs and schedules routine maintenance for scientific instruments and laboratory devices.

Curriculum, Development of Staff Skills, and Outreach:
  • Contributes feedback on curriculum expansion.
  • Provides academic consultation and training to staff, teaching assistants and undergraduate students to foster scientific reasoning skills.
  • Delivers ad hoc, supplemental undergraduate laboratory orientations.
  • Outreach - Acts as support for faculty and students on outreach activities in addition to supporting other departmental outreach efforts such as, but not limited to, Olympiad, the Summer Chemistry Camp, Summer Bridge Program, and the Governor's School for the Sciences

Environmental, Health, Safety:
  • Designs, develops, writes, edits, and assesses documents in collaboration with lab directors and subject matter experts to produce critical documents such as chemical hygiene plans and standard laboratory operation procedures and safety policies.
  • Enforces health and safety compliance of students and staff.
  • Coordinates with Environmental Health and Safety to ensure conformity with University, state and federal hazardous materials management requirements such as flammable storage and hazardous waste management.
  • Employee must use gloves and/or safety goggles, as well as, be fit to wear a respirator.
  • Responds, investigates and evaluates safety occurrences to generate incident reports.
  • Contacts emergency responders when necessary.
  • Serves as a daily safety contact for 30+ graduate teaching assistants, 5+ faculty and 3000+ undergraduate students.
  • Trains undergraduate laboratory assistants in accordance with state, university, departmental and laboratory specific guidelines outlined current Chemical Hygiene Plans.
  • Records laboratory accidents and forwards reports to Environmental Health & Safety.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in Chemistry
  • Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
    • Knowledge of chemical compatibilities
    • Knowledge of concepts and topics from general and organic chemistry
    • Ability to manage, coordinate, and deploy stockroom assistants
    • Ability to enforce safety protocols and expectations
    • Knowledge of chemical preparation and synthesis
    • Knowledge of equipment and techniques used in a chemistry laboratory
    • Ability to react quickly and properly to immediate emergencies and issues arising in a laboratory

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Education: Master's degree or higher in Chemistry
  • Experience: 2 years' experience of management in a lab setting
  • Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
    • Knowledge of chemical properties and chemical safety.
    • Knowledge of Lab Quest and NMR

Work Location
  • Location: Knoxville, TN
  • Onsite

Compensation and Benefits
  • UT market range: MR07
  • Anticipated hiring range: $39,998.40 - 52,000.00
  • Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
  • Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions
Please complete the on-line application for full consideration. Applicants should include:
  • A cover letter addressing position requirements
  • Resume

A review of all applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
About The Department
At the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, the Department of Chemistry is its oldest PhD granting Department. We offer a long-standing tradition of excellence in chemical research and education, stretching from 1947, when the department granted the University's first PhD degree, to the present. Our 25 faculty members (and growing) have research interests that both span the traditional areas of chemistry and encompass new interdisciplinary fields such as materials chemistry, chemistry of the life sciences, and environmental chemistry. Our graduate student PhD and MS programs are growing as well; from 121 to 158 this Fall 2022. We have people from diverse cultures providing an international business environment.
About Us
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees-the Volunteers-who uphold the university's tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.
UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee's flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy's largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.
UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.
The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as "Best Employer for New Graduates," "One of America's Best Large Employers," and "Best Workplace for Women," and has been designated as "Best Place for Working Parents" by Forbes Magazine.
Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!

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