Physics Undergraduate Laboratory Manager

School/Department:                Physics 

Job Category and Level:         Administrative & Support; Administrative Officer 1

Hours of Post:                           35 hours per week

The Purpose of the Role 

The Physics Undergraduate Laboratory Manager will be responsible for overseeing the operation and administration of all undergraduate laboratory classes within the School of Physics at Trinity College Dublin. This role demands expertise in experimental physics and ensures the efficient operation of laboratory components across all Physics programmes, integrating both experimental and computational work essential to the curriculum. The role requires collaboration with academic, administrative and technical staff to ensure high quality, research-led, efficient, and transparent student learning experiences. The undergraduate teaching laboratories are vital in providing students with hands-on experience in data analysis, experimental techniques, and scientific report writing. 

The successful candidate will coordinate the delivery and development of teaching materials and assessments for the laboratory courses, working in tandem with academic staff to align with academic objectives. They will also contribute to curriculum development and the integration of online and VLE (Virtual Learning Environment) initiatives, including the management and deployment of teaching materials on platforms such as Blackboard. The manager will ensure the laboratories evolve in line with the increasing complexity of experiments in succeeding years, preparing students for research projects in their final year. 

Additionally, the Physics Undergraduate Laboratory Manager will handle the timetabling and delivery of laboratory sessions, ensuring that the laboratory infrastructure and resources meet the needs of both students and instructors. The role also involves coordinating assessments, managing student databases, and monitoring student attendance, performance and well-being. The post holder will actively contribute to outreach activities related to Physics and will work closely with other departments, including the Chief Technical Officer, to maintain the highest standards in laboratory teaching and administration.

Context 

The Manager will report to the Director of Undergraduate Teaching and Learning in the School of Physics, collaborating closely with the Chief Technical Officer and the Technical Officers associated with each of the JF, SF and JS laboratories. The Manager will, with the School Manager, prepare the timetables, and the allocation and administration associated with Teaching Assistant assignments. They will have responsibility for training the Teaching Assistants for all these laboratories and assigning their duties. There are about 50 Teaching Assistants per year. 

This role is situated within the School of Physics, Ireland's leading physics department, which is also the largest and oldest, with a rich history dating back to 1724. The school offers two undergraduate physics degree programmes—Physics and Physics & Astrophysics—as well as two joint degrees with the Schools of Mathematics and Chemistry in Theoretical Physics and Nanoscience, respectively. Additionally, in partnership with the Schools of Chemistry and Natural Sciences, it plays a leading role in the postgraduate Energy Science course a new postgraduate course in Quantum Science and Technology. The School also provides service teaching to other disciplines which contributes significant student numbers to the School’s undergraduate laboratory classes. 

This role works in tandem with the academic staff who teach in the laboratories, focusing on the development of technical skills in laboratory practice, data collection, and analysis, closely aligned with the content covered in lectures. Primarily dedicated to the laboratory components of the JF, SF, and JS years, the role requires deep expertise in Physics, enabling students to build strong laboratory skills and effectively prepare for the challenges of research in their capstone projects during the SS year. Additionally, the role supports the development of students' understanding of the Physics of measurement and its connection to the fundamental principles that underpin the subject, as taught by the academic staff.

Person Requirements 

The role-holder will require the following knowledge, skills and attributes for successful performance in the role. 

Qualifications 

• A postgraduate qualification in Physics is essential. 

• A track record of research and/or research-led teaching, in physics or an associated discipline.