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Position Title:Laboratory Assistant II

Job Group:Merit

Required Minimum Qualifications:• Any combination of clerical office experience, undergraduate education, and/or post high school clerical training that is the equivalent to one year of full-time employment.

Special Required QualificationsMust have accurate color recognition

Preferred Qualifications:Experience working in a clinical, research, or diagnostic laboratory setting.

Familiarity with laboratory safety protocols and use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Prior experience with handling specimens.

Degree related to animal science or related field.

Job Description:

Are you someone who enjoys hands-on work, staying organized, and supporting scientific processes behind the scenes? We’re looking for a dependable and detail-focused Lab Assistant II to help keep our laboratory operations running efficiently and safely. If you’re motivated by routine, precision, and teamwork, this role could be a great fit for you.

What You’ll Do:

+ Receive, sort, and accession biopsy specimens using specialized software, ensuring accurate data entry and proper handling with PPE.

+ Distribute departmental mail twice daily, meeting strict delivery times at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM.

+ Maintain lab cleanliness and organization by sanitizing workstations, discarding waste properly, and cleaning small equipment.

+ Support lab staff with basic experiments, reagent preparation, and assembling specimen collection kits for clients.

+ Organize specimen archives and teaching samples, and occasionally answer lab phone calls, relaying messages to the supervisor.

You’ll work closely with laboratory personnel and supervisors, and occasionally assist with client-facing tasks related to specimen kit preparation.

Additional Details:

+ Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

+ This is an on-site position; remote work is not available.

+ PPE and biosafety training will be provided.

About Our Department:

Our laboratory team supports clinical and research efforts through accurate specimen handling and efficient lab operations. We take pride in maintaining a clean, organized, and collaborative environment where every team member plays a vital role in the success of our work.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities

• Codes, tabulates, posts, and enters fiscal, statistical and other data.

• May use credit card machines, bar code systems, computers, or cash registers.

• Assembles standard forms, correspondence, records, and maintains associated files.

• Prepares, proofs, collects, copies, and cross checks routine documents and generates summary reports.

• Matches receipts/tickets to statements and maintains account records and other office records.

• Gathers, collates, processes requests, and classifies information according to established guidelines, requiring independent judgment in the selection of materials and using a variety of communicative sources.

• Greets and assists the public, patients, students, faculty and staff and provides information relative to the area of assignment and according to established guidelines.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of office routines and functions sufficient to relay factual information to visitors and telephone callers and to direct communications.

• Skill in operating office equipment.

• Ability to operate a personal computer and related software.

• Ability to communicate effectively with staff, students, and the public.

• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.

• Ability to perform routine arithmetic computations.

• Ability to collect data, keep accurate records, and prepare reports.

• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple tasks.

Appointment Type:Regular

Number of Months Employed Per Year:12 Month Work Period

Time Type:Full time

Pay Grade:0005a

Application Instructions:

To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:1) Resume/Curriculum Vitae2) Letter of Application/Cover LetterIf you have questions regarding this application process, please email [email protected] or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an on-going basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.

Why Choose ISU?Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as:• Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans• Generous vacation, holiday and sick time and leave plans• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)• Life insurance and long-term disability• Flexible Spending Accounts• Various voluntary benefits and discounts• Employee Assistance Program• Wellbeing program• Iowa State offers WorkFlex options for some positions. WorkFlex offers flexibility on when, where, and how you do your work. For more information, please speak with the Hiring Manager.

Original Posting Date: August 29, 2025

Posting Close Date:September 11, 2025

Job Requisition Number:R17701

By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State University (http://www.iastate.edu/) attracts students and faculty who want to make a difference. With a comprehensive land-grant mission of education, research, extension and outreach, we produce scholars whose ideas change the world. And through Innovate at Iowa State, we provide innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the city of Ames was recently named one of the Top 10 cities in the U.S. for campus life and career opportunities.

Iowa State University is a welcoming community of students, faculty, and staff. Campus community members have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and are committed to engaging with each other respectfully as outlined in the university's Principles of Community (https://www.iastate.edu/principles-community) . Iowa State recognizes that diverse intellectual and philosophical perspectives are vital to innovation, critical thinking skills, and a dynamic academic community that fosters the land-grant ideals of putting science, technology, and human creativity to work.

All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check.

Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email [email protected].

If you have questions about the application process please email [email protected] or call 515-294-4800 or Toll-Free at 1-877-477-7485. Iowa State University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should email [email protected] or call (515) 294-4800 or Toll-Free: (877) 477-7485. TTY users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2942.

General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources (https://www.hr.iastate.edu/careers/compensation) website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.