Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment:
Chico State is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs, and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At California State University, Chico, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all. The ideal candidate will embrace our values predicated on the primacy of student success and equitable learning and working environments.
Position Title: MMEM Manufacturing & Safety Laboratory Assistant
College/Unit: ECC
Department/School: MMEM
Application Deadline: 09-30-2025
Seasonal Role Working Dates: 08/01/2025-07/30/2026
Pay Range: $17.86-$23.84
Location Type: On-site
Role Description:
Student Lab Assistants are responsible for supporting safety, operations, and student learning in MMEM’s manufacturing and materials laboratories. This includes assisting students with machining, plastics processing, and materials testing tasks while ensuring compliance with all safety protocols.
In this collaborative and applied learning environment, Lab Assistants serve as peer mentors and role models in supporting lab coursework, extracurricular learning, and open-lab access. They help students understand how material behavior, safety protocols, and manufacturing processes influence design decisions, and how to approach complex engineering problems with technical and practical insight.
The position also includes light lab maintenance, equipment oversight, and collaboration with faculty to improve instructional materials, processes, and access. The work schedule will be about 10 hours per week.
Description of Duties:
Safety Compliance and Oversight
· Enforce safety protocols and intervene when unsafe practices are observed
· Demonstrate safe operation of equipment such as mills, lathes, CNC machines, plastics processing tools, and materials testing systems
· Assist in running safety briefings and orientations for students using lab spaces
· Promote and model a culture of safety and accountability
Technical Support and Equipment Guidance
· Provide hands-on teaching assistance with equipment setup, tool use, and machine operation
· Guide and instruct students through proper procedures for machining, composite work, plastics processing, and mechanical testing
· Support students in understanding how material properties affect performance and design
Mentorship and Student Support
· Serve as a peer mentor for students in AMAR 160, AMAR 260/360, MECH 210, and related labs
· Engage first-year and transfer students in applied learning through the Plumas Labs and other structured lab programs
· Encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration and inclusive lab participation
Lab Operations and Maintenance
· Unlock and monitor labs during open lab periods or scheduled sessions
· Help maintain clean, organized, and well-stocked workspaces
· Track equipment usage, report maintenance needs, and support resource planning
Communication and Leadership
· Coordinate with faculty and staff regarding lab availability, training needs, and usage policies
· Share updates and communicate lab expectations clearly with student users
· Contribute to lab process improvements and development of instructional materials
Support for Research and Projects
· Assist faculty, staff, and students with upper-division research and senior design projects
· Provide technical input or support for research experiments involving materials and manufacturing processes
· Help document procedures, troubleshoot equipment, and prepare spaces for special projects or outreach activitie
Minimum Qualifications:
· Completion of AMAR 160
· Completion of AMAR 260 desirable
Exceptions to the minimum eligibility qualifications may be granted at the sole discretion of the University.
Applicants must provide:
- Resume
- Class schedule / availability
Additional information may be requested at a later time. All applicants must apply online, applications submitted via email or in-person to the department will not be considered.
Notification Procedure:
Step 1 is to submit your resume through Handshake. You will be contacted to provide additional information if you are selected to move forward in the hiring process. After candidates have been selected for the positions, all applicants will be notified.
Job-related questions should be directed to:
Stephanie Lawson
slawson7@csuchico.edu
Additional Information:
All work must be performed within the State of California.
Compliance training completion (approximately 4 hours of work time) is required of this position within the first 30 days of work.
For disability-related accommodations, please call the ADA Coordinator at (530) 898-5959.
All positions are contingent on funding.
Chico State is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, or protected veteran status and only employ individuals authorized to work in the U.S.
All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, California State University, Chico provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. California State University, Chico complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or on any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.
Chico State’s Annual Security Report includes summaries of institutional policy relating to campus safety, drug and alcohol use, sexual assault, and other matters. The report is published in compliance with the Clery Act and includes three years of certain crime statistics that occurred in Clery Act defined geography. A paper copy of the report may be requested in person at the Chico State Police Department or by calling 530-898-5555. It is also available on the web at Annual Security & Fire Safety Report.
