Director of Biology Teaching Labs at InsideHigherEd

Biology-318200

Laboratory Management and Services

10/27/2025

11/11/2025

No

Permanent Staff (EHRA NF)

Director of Biology Teaching Labs

EHRA Non-Faculty

01001448

NF0009358

Full-Time Permanent

1

40

North Carolina, US

Dependent on qualification and/or experience

01/01/2026

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

The Department of Biology at UNC-Chapel Hill is dedicated to the discovery and dissemination of new and existing knowledge in the broad discipline of Biology by maintaining a high-quality faculty who integrate cutting-edge research and student-focused teaching.

We are one of the largest academic departments in the College of Arts and Sciences. We have over 2,800 majors and we enroll over 5,000 undergraduate students in our classes each year. Our average total annual expenditure exceeds $24 million, with nearly half of that coming from grant sponsored research. Our large research base spans many areas of biology and supports several outstanding graduate programs. We consist of 50 tenure-track faculty, 10 teaching faculty, 8 research faculty, and numerous active adjunct and emeritus faculty who are engaged in basic and interdisciplinary research and teaching, both within the department and between other departments and schools at UNC.

We currently have 50 graduate students, 40 post-docs and employ approximately 60 additional graduate and undergraduate students from across the university to assist in our teaching and research missions. Further, we are supported by an administrative staff of 20, with an additional 20 staff directly supporting research.

The Director of Biology Teaching Labs provides leadership and direction in the management of the Biology Department’s undergraduate laboratories and will be responsible for the undergraduate laboratory course program on a day-to-day and semester-to-semester basis. The division of duties for this position is as follows: teaching laboratory facilities management, records management, and teaching assistant training and development. This position also supervises a permanent EHRA Non-Faculty position entitled, ‘Supervisor of Undergraduate Teaching Labs’.

The Director of Biology Teaching Labs works with faculty to review, assess, plan, develop, and structure the undergraduate biology laboratory curriculum in support of the educational mission of the Department.

The Director of Biology Teaching Labs ensures comprehensive preparation for successful laboratory curriculum and classes such as preparing resources and labs for experiments, implementing strategies for maintaining excellent safety standards, and assuring proper building services.

The Director of Biology Teaching Labs also supervises, trains, develops and advises the graduate and undergraduate personnel who work and teach in the lab courses in support of the educational missions of the Department. This position is responsible for logistic set-up for undergraduate laboratory courses as well as developing and implementing the required training program for undergraduate lab course Teaching Assistants to successfully lead undergraduate laboratory courses. This position may require supervision of evening laboratory classes.

This position will instruct undergraduate laboratory or undergraduate lecture courses, based on need. This will be accomplished as a secondary faculty appointment.

Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required (or foreign degree equivalent); for candidates demonstrating comparable independent instructional or educational activities related to laboratory management or practice, will accept a relevant Bachelor’s degree (or foreign degree equivalent) and 3 or more years of relevant experience in substitution.

Superior communication and decision-making skills particularly with graduate and undergraduate student teaching assistants; the ability to relate effectively to faculty members; leadership abilities to manage a large group; strong background and continued education for promoting excellent practice of laboratory safety; ability to responsibly deploy a fixed budget in service of the department’s teaching laboratories.

M.S. or Ph.D. degree in Biology or closely related discipline is preferred.
1-3 years of experience in laboratory management or supervision of trainees in a research or teaching lab setting; and/or formal Biology laboratory instruction.

Must be able to lift and carry or otherwise move 25 pounds occasionally.

Not Applicable.