Stanford University
Sample Preparation Laboratory Manager
Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States, 94305
Overview
Sample Preparation Laboratory Manager – Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford, California. Post Date: Aug 12, 2025. Requisition #: 107057. This position has been deemed critical by the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability Dean’s Office and is exempt from the hiring pause. This position is based on Stanford’s main campus. Telecommuting is not available. Interested candidates must include a resume and cover letter to be considered. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa. About Us The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability strives to create a future when humans and nature thrive in concert and in perpetuity. The school comprises a three-part structure to drive global impact: academic departments and programs, Institutes, and the Sustainability Accelerator. The school aims to create solutions that benefit all people, particularly those most affected by environmental damage and climate change. For more information on the school, click here. The Sample Preparation Laboratory (SPL) provides centralized sample preparation facilities, offering training and guidance for users within the Doerr School of Sustainability and the broader Stanford community. SPL can prepare a variety of sample types, including rocks, minerals, glasses, ceramics, metals, soils, fossils, and plant tissues, and supports techniques such as sample cutting, coring, drilling, crushing, grinding, pulverization, mounting, polishing, and optical imaging. Equipment includes resin mount making and polishing equipment, optical microscopes, rock saws, ball mills, muffle furnace, sieve shaker, rock crushing/pulverizing equipment, density separators, magnetic separators, and heavy liquid density separation facilities. The SPL is currently undergoing a major renovation, and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to test, develop, and implement innovative sample preparation methods. The candidate will also collaborate with other analytical facilities within the Doerr School of Sustainability to ensure consistency with downstream needs. The successful candidate will have opportunities for professional and career development. Responsibilities
Train and supervise laboratory users on instruments and techniques, including preparation and processing of geoscience samples for structural geology, mineralogy, volcanology, paleontology, and materials science research. Ensure the integrity and quality of all prepared samples through rigorous quality control testing and measures. Develop methods for producing polished resin mounts for electron microscopy (imaging, compositional analyses, and crystallographic analyses) using a new suite of instruments including a Struers Accutom 100, Struers Citovac, and Struers Tegramin 30. Advise researchers on sample preparation and mineral separation methods to meet project goals. Develop and optimize sample preparation procedures to ensure precision and accuracy. Perform administrative duties such as coordinating the daily schedule for laboratory operations using iLab, purchasing consumables, scheduling hazardous waste pickup, and maintaining laboratory documentation. Maintain laboratory equipment, ensuring regular calibration, maintenance, and troubleshooting; work with service engineers as required. Collaborate with lab users, facilities staff, EH&S representatives and other facility lab managers as required. Maintain compliance with university, county, state and federal health and safety requirements. * The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to be a comprehensive inventory of all duties. Specific duties may vary by department or program needs; employees may perform other duties as assigned. Qualifications
Bachelors’ degree in a discipline such as earth science, analytical chemistry, materials science, or related field and two years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Working understanding of academic research laboratory needs. Demonstrated experience managing budgets. Ability to coordinate and manage multiple projects in a complex and technical environment. General background in a discipline related to the work of a sample preparation lab. Demonstrated supervisory experience. Knowledge and experience in managing facilities, operations, maintenance, space, and equipment administration in a research or teaching setting. Excellent communication and customer service skills. Familiarity with health and safety compliance regulations. In addition, our preferred qualifications include: Masters degree or Ph.D. in Geology or Earth Sciences or other relevant field with completed laboratory coursework involving crystallography, microscopy, mineralogy, petrology, geochemistry and a demonstrated ability to identify minerals in rocks and disaggregated samples. Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the safe handling of concentrated acids with appropriate PPE to minimize exposure to hazards. Experience/knowledge in the following areas: preparation of rock samples for chemical or petrographic study (thin section, SEM, EMPA or related analyses), physical processing of rocks to extract mineral concentrates for geochronology and thermochronology, preparation of rock powders for whole-rock geochemistry, Micro-CT 3D imaging and image processing, and physical/chemical processing of quartz-bearing rocks to produce purified extracts for cosmogenic nuclide measurements. Physical Requirements: Frequently stand, walk, twist, bend, stoop, squat, grasp lightly, use fine manipulation, grasp forcefully, perform desk-based computer tasks, lift, carry, push and pull objects weighing over 50 pounds. Perform repetitive tasks such as climbing, scrubbing, sweeping, mopping, chopping and mixing or operation of hand and foot controls. Ability to bend, squat, kneel, stand, reach above shoulder level, and move on hard surfaces for up to 8 hours per day. Must have correctable vision to perform duties of the job. Ability to work in a dusty and odorous environment. Working Conditions
May be exposed to high voltage electricity, radiation or electromagnetic fields, lasers, noise > 80 dB TWA, allergens/biohazards/chemicals/asbestos, confined spaces, working at heights up to 10 feet, temperature extremes, heavy metals, unusual work hours and/or inclement weather. The University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job. The expected pay range for this position is $92,587 to $105,351 per annum. Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on location, knowledge, skills, abilities, education, experience, performance, and other business needs. At Stanford University, base pay is one aspect of the rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website (cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) provides information on benefits and rewards. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process. How to Apply
We invite you to apply for this position by clicking on the “Apply for Job” button in the application portal. The job duties listed are typical examples and may vary by department or program. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned. Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Additional Information
Schedule: Full-time Job Code: 4946 Employee Status: Regular Grade: H Requisition ID: 107057 Work Arrangement: On Site
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Sample Preparation Laboratory Manager – Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford, California. Post Date: Aug 12, 2025. Requisition #: 107057. This position has been deemed critical by the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability Dean’s Office and is exempt from the hiring pause. This position is based on Stanford’s main campus. Telecommuting is not available. Interested candidates must include a resume and cover letter to be considered. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa. About Us The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability strives to create a future when humans and nature thrive in concert and in perpetuity. The school comprises a three-part structure to drive global impact: academic departments and programs, Institutes, and the Sustainability Accelerator. The school aims to create solutions that benefit all people, particularly those most affected by environmental damage and climate change. For more information on the school, click here. The Sample Preparation Laboratory (SPL) provides centralized sample preparation facilities, offering training and guidance for users within the Doerr School of Sustainability and the broader Stanford community. SPL can prepare a variety of sample types, including rocks, minerals, glasses, ceramics, metals, soils, fossils, and plant tissues, and supports techniques such as sample cutting, coring, drilling, crushing, grinding, pulverization, mounting, polishing, and optical imaging. Equipment includes resin mount making and polishing equipment, optical microscopes, rock saws, ball mills, muffle furnace, sieve shaker, rock crushing/pulverizing equipment, density separators, magnetic separators, and heavy liquid density separation facilities. The SPL is currently undergoing a major renovation, and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to test, develop, and implement innovative sample preparation methods. The candidate will also collaborate with other analytical facilities within the Doerr School of Sustainability to ensure consistency with downstream needs. The successful candidate will have opportunities for professional and career development. Responsibilities
Train and supervise laboratory users on instruments and techniques, including preparation and processing of geoscience samples for structural geology, mineralogy, volcanology, paleontology, and materials science research. Ensure the integrity and quality of all prepared samples through rigorous quality control testing and measures. Develop methods for producing polished resin mounts for electron microscopy (imaging, compositional analyses, and crystallographic analyses) using a new suite of instruments including a Struers Accutom 100, Struers Citovac, and Struers Tegramin 30. Advise researchers on sample preparation and mineral separation methods to meet project goals. Develop and optimize sample preparation procedures to ensure precision and accuracy. Perform administrative duties such as coordinating the daily schedule for laboratory operations using iLab, purchasing consumables, scheduling hazardous waste pickup, and maintaining laboratory documentation. Maintain laboratory equipment, ensuring regular calibration, maintenance, and troubleshooting; work with service engineers as required. Collaborate with lab users, facilities staff, EH&S representatives and other facility lab managers as required. Maintain compliance with university, county, state and federal health and safety requirements. * The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to be a comprehensive inventory of all duties. Specific duties may vary by department or program needs; employees may perform other duties as assigned. Qualifications
Bachelors’ degree in a discipline such as earth science, analytical chemistry, materials science, or related field and two years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Working understanding of academic research laboratory needs. Demonstrated experience managing budgets. Ability to coordinate and manage multiple projects in a complex and technical environment. General background in a discipline related to the work of a sample preparation lab. Demonstrated supervisory experience. Knowledge and experience in managing facilities, operations, maintenance, space, and equipment administration in a research or teaching setting. Excellent communication and customer service skills. Familiarity with health and safety compliance regulations. In addition, our preferred qualifications include: Masters degree or Ph.D. in Geology or Earth Sciences or other relevant field with completed laboratory coursework involving crystallography, microscopy, mineralogy, petrology, geochemistry and a demonstrated ability to identify minerals in rocks and disaggregated samples. Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the safe handling of concentrated acids with appropriate PPE to minimize exposure to hazards. Experience/knowledge in the following areas: preparation of rock samples for chemical or petrographic study (thin section, SEM, EMPA or related analyses), physical processing of rocks to extract mineral concentrates for geochronology and thermochronology, preparation of rock powders for whole-rock geochemistry, Micro-CT 3D imaging and image processing, and physical/chemical processing of quartz-bearing rocks to produce purified extracts for cosmogenic nuclide measurements. Physical Requirements: Frequently stand, walk, twist, bend, stoop, squat, grasp lightly, use fine manipulation, grasp forcefully, perform desk-based computer tasks, lift, carry, push and pull objects weighing over 50 pounds. Perform repetitive tasks such as climbing, scrubbing, sweeping, mopping, chopping and mixing or operation of hand and foot controls. Ability to bend, squat, kneel, stand, reach above shoulder level, and move on hard surfaces for up to 8 hours per day. Must have correctable vision to perform duties of the job. Ability to work in a dusty and odorous environment. Working Conditions
May be exposed to high voltage electricity, radiation or electromagnetic fields, lasers, noise > 80 dB TWA, allergens/biohazards/chemicals/asbestos, confined spaces, working at heights up to 10 feet, temperature extremes, heavy metals, unusual work hours and/or inclement weather. The University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job. The expected pay range for this position is $92,587 to $105,351 per annum. Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on location, knowledge, skills, abilities, education, experience, performance, and other business needs. At Stanford University, base pay is one aspect of the rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website (cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) provides information on benefits and rewards. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process. How to Apply
We invite you to apply for this position by clicking on the “Apply for Job” button in the application portal. The job duties listed are typical examples and may vary by department or program. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned. Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Additional Information
Schedule: Full-time Job Code: 4946 Employee Status: Regular Grade: H Requisition ID: 107057 Work Arrangement: On Site
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