A laboratory manager (alternatively laboratory supervisor) is an individual who supervises personnel and operations in a

laboratory A laboratory (; ; colloquially lab) is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific or technological research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. Laboratory services are provided in a variety of settings: physicia ...

environment; the position is senior to that of a

laboratory technician A laboratory technician is a person who works in a laboratory performing analytical or experimental procedures, maintaining laboratory equipment and assisting scientists with their work. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first use o ...

or laboratory technologist, and is considered a middle-management occupation.

Nature of work

While the duties of laboratory managers depend on their particular field or industry, they generally direct or coordinate scientific research and related activities such as quality control, along with ensuring laboratories have the necessary equipment and materials to sustain operations. Depending on the size of the company or academic institution, the scope of a manager's responsibilities also varies. At a senior level, a laboratory manager may be an administrator primarily responsible for budgets, hiring and supervising scientific and technical personnel, and working with senior management to develop goals and strategies for the organization. Laboratory managers or supervisors at this level may be responsible for managing large teams. Some laboratory managers are current or former scientists who are sometimes called "working managers," and who participate in conducting

research Research is "creativity, creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge". It involves the collection, organization and analysis of evidence to increase understanding of a topic, characterized by a particular att ...

in addition to their administrative duties.

Chemistry Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...

laboratory managers may also be chemical hygiene officers responsible for

occupational health and safety Occupational safety and health (OSH), also commonly referred to as occupational health and safety (OHS), occupational health, or occupational safety, is a multidisciplinary field concerned with the safety, health, and welfare of people at wor ...

. In academic institutions, there may be different categories of laboratory managers, who may also be known as laboratory coordinators, and who may teach laboratory or lecture courses as needed. Regardless of designation,

laboratory safety Many laboratories contain significant risks, and the prevention of laboratory accidents requires great care and constant vigilance. Examples of risk factors include high voltages, high and low pressures and temperatures, corrosive and toxic chemic ...

is a primary responsibility of scientific laboratory managers. The manager or supervisor is responsible for ensuring laboratories are in compliance with established regulations and standards.

Qualifications

Laboratory managers need excellent

leadership Leadership, both as a research area and as a practical skill, encompasses the ability of an individual, group or organization to "lead", influence or guide other individuals, teams, or entire organizations. The word "leadership" often gets view ...

interpersonal The concept of interpersonal relationship involves social associations, connections, or affiliations between two or more people. Interpersonal relationships vary in their degree of intimacy or self-disclosure, but also in their duration, in t ...

, critical-thinking,

problem-solving Problem solving is the process of achieving a goal by overcoming obstacles, a frequent part of most activities. Problems in need of solutions range from simple personal tasks (e.g. how to turn on an appliance) to complex issues in business an ...

, and

time-management Time management is the process of planning and exercising conscious control of time spent on specific activities, especially to increase effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity. It involves of various demands upon a person relating to work, s ...

abilities. Usually, though not always, they must have a

university degree An academic degree is a qualification awarded to students upon successful completion of a course of study in higher education, usually at a college or university. These institutions commonly offer degrees at various levels, usually including unde ...

, along with several years of laboratory experience as a scientist, engineer or laboratory technician or assistant. Most laboratory managers hold a

bachelor of science A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years. The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University of ...

degree. Management of research laboratories, including pharmaceutical and biotechnology laboratories, usually requires a

master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

doctorate A doctorate (from Latin ''docere'', "to teach"), doctor's degree (from Latin ''doctor'', "teacher"), or doctoral degree is an academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism ''l ...

. Some positions require a Professional Science Master's or a

Master of Business Administration A Master of Business Administration (MBA; also Master's in Business Administration) is a postgraduate degree focused on business administration. The core courses in an MBA program cover various areas of business administration such as accounti ...

degree.

References

{{reflist Science occupations