Lab Assistant 2

At the University of California, Berkeley , we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff, who are among the most talented and accomplished anywhere, including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and MacArthur Fellows. Since our founding in 1868, we have been an engine for innovation - driving intellectual, economic, and social progress that benefits California, the U.S., and beyond. Together, we change the world.

At Berkeley, the best careers are built on a foundation of continuous learning and growth . We actively support professional development by providing all full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours of paid time per year and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups.

We invite applicants who are inspired by our Principles of Community and who are eager to be part of our exciting Strategic Plan , which charts Berkeley's next era of excellence.

Learn more about some of our accomplishments at Points of Pride .

Departmental Overview

UC Berkeley, in partnership with QB3 operates Bakar Labs, the flagship life science incubator on the UC Berkeley campus. Bakar Labs is a vibrant and well-equipped incubator providing lab and office space that hosts a thriving community of as many as 50 startup companies developing products in therapeutics, diagnostics, research tools, agriculture and new foods.

The incubator spans more than 40,000 square feet of lab and office spaces within the fully renovated Woo Hon Fai Hall. Bakar Labs also supports the growth of its community of entrepreneurs by integrating UC Berkeley capabilities, leveraging QB3 expertise, and providing beneficial connections to other life science ecosystem resources.

Bakar Labs is part of the Bakar BioEnginuity Hub, which was created to stimulate entrepreneurship that harnesses innovations in biology, engineering, physical sciences and computer science and that improve human health and sustainability.

Position Summary

The Lab Assistant 2, under the supervision of the Laboratory Operations Manager, supports a variety of capabilities and services provided to tenant companies. In this fast-paced, customer service-oriented role, this position supports a diverse tenant community of life science companies working in therapeutics, diagnostics, research tools, agriculture and foodtech focusing on innovations that have the potential to significantly improve human health and nutrition.

At the direction of the Lab Operations Manager and senior Lab Operations personnel, the Lab Assistant 2's daily responsibilities help to maintain overall orderliness and cleanliness of lab spaces, monitor and maintain various lab equipment and lab supplies, and perform other duties as directed.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: July 31, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.

Responsibilities

Lab/Facility Support - 50%

• Performs basic operations and routine maintenance for a variety of lab equipment including biosafety cabinets, incubators, chemical fume hoods, cold storage, centrifuges, and sterilizers according to schedule or direction.
• Create and manage schedules for quarterly, monthly, weekly, and daily laboratory maintenance tasks.
• Conducts monthly audits of tenant cold storage, hazardous materials storage, and similar inventories with high accuracy for billing purposes. Communicates issues to management.
• Leads dishwashing and autoclave service for tenants, communicating and keeping track of tenant needs. Conducts routine checks with chemical and biological indicators to track sterilization efficacy.
• Conducts clearance of data from shared computers and instruments according to schedule.
• Alerts supervisors to equipment malfunctions.
• Monitors and resupplies essential lab supplies as needed.
• Complies with all laboratory safety protocols, including, but not limited to, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), proper laboratory techniques, and disposal of both bio- and chemical hazards.
• Performs general housekeeping, ensuring orderliness, cleanliness, and safety.
• Communicates lab safety and tenant concerns to the manager and senior lab operations personnel.

Tenant Support - 30%

• Provide excellent customer support by being a resource who assists tenants with equipment scheduling, receiving packages, and navigation to shared resources such as supplies or equipment.
• Ensures lab supplies are on hand for tenant use.
• Tracks that occupied tenant space matches the space leased.
• Completes other duties as assigned.

Team Operations Support - 15%

• Updates maintenance logs as directed or needed.
• Assists senior lab operation personnel with critical or time-sensitive issues, e.g. preparing lab areas for new tenants and new equipment, assisting with resolution of safety issues including spill cleanup, or acting as the point-of-contact for service personnel during staff shortages.
• Organizes, labels, assigns, and prepares lab spaces including benches, incubators, biosafety cabinets, and cold storage.
• Monitors and responds to Slack communications, support ticket system, and emails in a timely manner. Escalating messages to supervisors when necessary.
• Attends team meetings as directed.
• May assist with drafting and review of Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) and Work Instruction Documents for processes they own as directed by Lab Ops Manager.
• May assist with cross-training of work study students and other team members for processes they own as directed by Lab Ops Manager.

Other duties as assigned - 5%

• Completes other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Energetic team player with a positive, respectful attitude.
• Detail-oriented, organized, and able to work under both direct and limited supervision.
• Ability to independently support parts of laboratory operations in accordance with their acquired training and demonstrated expertise.
• Ability to read, write, perform basic mathematical calculations, follow oral and written instructions.
• Possess technical knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position, like what might be expected from incumbents at the college lower division level or from incumbents who have acquired equivalent knowledge and skills through experience.
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong computer skills including Google Suite (including GMail and GCal), Slack, and Microsoft Office.
• Possesses strong organizational skills, the ability to appropriately triage multiple tasks and uses good judgement to take initiative.
• Completes assigned tasks promptly and completely.
• Possess excellent interpersonal skills, and a strong customer service orientation
• Comfort with walking/standing for long periods of time.
• Ability to safely lift up to 40-50lbs.

Preferred Qualifications

• 2 or more years of relevant laboratory experience.

Education / Training

• High School Diploma and/or equivalent experience/training.

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $27.53 (Step 1) - $30.00 (Step 3).

• This is a non-exempt, bi-weekly paid position.
• This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for UC benefits.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Other Information

• This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.
• This position is governed by the terms and conditions in the agreement for the Technical Unit (TX) between the University of California and the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE). The current bargaining agreement manual can be found at:

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Mandated Reporter

This position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter required to report the observed or suspected abuse or neglect of children, dependent adults, or elders to designated law enforcement or social service agencies. We reserve the right to make employment contingent upon completion of signed statements acknowledging the responsibilities of a Mandated Reporter.

Misconduct

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

Misconduct means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

UC Anti-Discrimination Policy

Abusive Conduct in the Workplace


Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.