Professional Aide

The successful candidate will work closely with colleagues within MSU St. Andrews to aid in contract chemistry fee for service organic and synthetic chemistry. This position offers in office work experience at the facility in Midland and the opportunity for the successful candidate to: 

Conduct Research 

• Act as the primary point of contact to external research and fee-for-service sponsors. 

• Collaboratively develop scope-of-work documents with sponsor. 

• Develop a plan for staffing and work with the site leader to staff a project accordingly. 

• Supervise the project by providing staff assigned to the project with plans and timelines for their work.  Hold team members accountable for project goals, deliverables, and timelines 

• Be accountable for delivering documentation of activity and results as required under the sponsored programs contract.  

• Carry out laboratory research and fee-for service activities under authorized and signed R&D contracts with external customers 

• Develop methods of chemical and physical analysis as needed by external customers to support project goals 

• Interact with external customers using either online or in person meetings as desired by external customers to set, modify, and carry out project goals  

• Maintain confidentiality of R&D information that is owned by external customers 

• Maintain familiarity with the scientific literature that is pertinent to work covered under R&D contracts – carry out regular literature searches to enhance knowledge that will maximize benefit to external customers as well as to MSU 

• Document laboratory results and maintain a detailed professional laboratory notebook in clearly written reports as required by external customers to summarize and communicate R&D results 

• Direct the activities of laboratory technicians as needed, providing coaching and mentoring to new young researchers who will assist with contract R&D duties 

• When allowed under terms of R&D contracts, publish novel results in peer-reviewed journals to enhance the reputation of MSU as a teaching and research institution  

• Submit invention disclosures to MSU Technologies as needed 

Partner with St. Andrews Facility & Community 

• Participate actively in MSU St Andrews laboratory and building safety activities – promote an overall atmosphere of safe working conditions and a “safety first” mindset 

• Participate actively in weekly MSU St Andrews staff meetings, either online or in person  

• Ensure MSU St Andrews laboratory and analytical equipment is maintained in top working order with regular maintenance activities 

• Be available for teaching MSU lecture or lab courses as may be occasionally requested 

STEM Education Programs  

• Design and develop novel R&D projects for the summer high school internship program at MSU St Andrews, during years when this program is authorized and funded 

• Actively direct, coach, and mentor summer internship students in the context of an active research program 

• Write letters of recommendation for student interns as requested