Senior Lab Assistant

Work Schedule

First Shift (Days)

Environmental Conditions

Able to lift 40 lbs. without assistance, Adherence to all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Safety Standards, Cold Room/Freezers -22degreesF/-6degrees C, Fluctuating Temps hot/cold, Laboratory Setting, Loud Noises (Equipment/Machinery), Office, Some degree of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) required (safety glasses, gowning, gloves, lab coat, ear plugs etc.), Standing for full shift, Strong Odors (chemical, lubricants, biological products etc.), Various outside weather conditions, Will work with hazardous/toxic materials, Working at heights

Job Description

Join Us as a Senior Lab Assistant – Make an Impact at the Forefront of Innovation

At Thermo Fisher Scientific, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life - enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while taking science a step beyond through research, development and delivery of life-changing therapies. With clinical trials conducted in 100+ countries and ongoing development of novel frameworks for clinical research through our PPD clinical research portfolio, our work spans laboratory, digital and decentralized clinical trial services. Your determination to deliver quality and accuracy will improve health outcomes that people and communities depend on – now and in the future.

Our PPD® Laboratory Services team has a direct impact on improving patient health through the expertise of scientists, industry thought-leaders and therapeutic experts. As the world leader in serving science, our laboratory professionals bring their commitment to accuracy and quality to deliver groundbreaking innovations.
As a Senior Lab Assistant, you will assist with loading and unloading instruments. You will participate in scheduled instrument maintenance to include startup and shutdown as directed by supervisor. You will work with various teams and assist with the maintenance of laboratory systems and resources. Additionally, you will assist with preparation of laboratory reagents and solutions and aliquoting of specimens.

What You'll Do:
• Make decisions regarding sample quantity and quality based on predetermined criteria.
• Build work lists and plate diagrams to aid team in daily operations.
• Enter laboratory results into database under supervision of team member.
• Aliquot specimen, prepare reagents and pipettes/aliquots reagents.
• Maintain pipette calibration for all areas of the laboratory.
• Maintain completed daily specimen storage area per laboratory department.
• Maintain long term paper storage area.
• Perform daily work assignments accurately and in a timely manner.

Education & Experience Requirements:
• High / Secondary school diploma or equivalent and relevant formal academic / vocational qualification
• Previous experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job (comparable to at least 4 years) or equivalent combination of education, training, & experience.


Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
• Basic technical/scientific terminology knowledge
• Good cooperative and collaborative skills
• Strong verbal communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Ability to adhere to laboratory policies and standard operating procedures
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of client protocols and study data
• Ability to work in a collaborative team environment

Working Environment:
• Work is performed in a clinical environment.
• Exposure to biological fluids with potential exposure to infectious organisms.

Physical Requirements:
• Frequently stands, twists waists, squats, and bends neck for 4--6 hours per day.
• Repetitive hand movement of both hands with the ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists. Ability to make precise coordinated movements, of the fingers to grasp and manipulate objects.
• Frequent mobility required.
• Occasional crouching, stooping, bending and twisting of upper body and neck.
• Moderate lifting (or otherwise movement, carrying, setting, and placement)of 15-30 lbs. with a maximum lift of 35 lbs.
• Ability to access and use a variety of computer software developed both in-house and off-the-shelf.
• Ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand; with the ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• May interact with others, relating and gathering sensitive information. Interaction includes diverse groups.
• Works with guidance or reliance on oral or written instructions from management. May require periods of intense concentration.
• Performs a wide range of variable tasks as dictated by variable demands and changing conditions with little predictability as to the occurrence. Ability to perform under stress. Ability to multi-task.
• Regular and consistent attendance.

Compensation and Benefits

The hourly pay range estimated for this position based in Virginia is $18.00–$20.00.

This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:

• A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs

• Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement

• At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually, paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave), accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy

• Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan

• Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount

For more information on our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.thermofisher.com/global/en/total-rewards