Job Details

Temporary Laboratory Assistant

Position Number: 7148134
Location: Boulder, CO
Position Type: Laboratory and Research

Temporary Laboratory Assistant

Requisition Number: 71755
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: Research Faculty
Schedule: Part Time
Posting Close Date: 13-May-2026
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The Organic Geochemistry Lab in the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) at the University of Colorado Boulder is seeking a part-time laboratory assistant. The position is available for summer 2026 with the possibility of extension based on performance.
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

As the University's oldest institute, INSTAAR has a long history of responding to pressing environmental issues including climate change. Our traditional focus has been on alpine, Arctic, and Antarctic regions, where effects of global change are especially pronounced. In recent decades, our research has broadened to include environmental challenges that span local, regional, and global scales. INSTAAR's research activities integrate field studies, state-of-the-art laboratory experiments, sample analysis, and numerical and laboratory modeling. Our field sites are located across all seven continents and the world's oceans.

Our expertise across disciplines helps us generate influential science that can inform public and policy decisions and move us toward a more sustainable society. INSTAAR's national and international research leadership is augmented by exceptional strength in graduate education and bringing undergraduates into the research process.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Preparation and extraction of environmental samples for organic geochemical analyses, purification and separation of organic molecules (lipid biomarkers) using wet chemistry techniques, data processing, lab organization and safety, training of undergraduate assistants.

What We Can Offer

$22/hour.

Benefits

Temporary positions at the University of Colorado are not benefits-eligible, however, all positions are eligible for paid sick leave.

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.

What We Require

Bachelor's degree in biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Earth Sciences.
Previous laboratory experience with organic geochemical methods, including sample extraction using solvent accelerated extraction (ASE), sulfur removal using activated copper, and column chromatography.
Experience handling hazardous and flammable chemicals and high-pressure gases, and good organizational and communicational skills.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

Resume/CV
Cover Letter

For consideration, please apply by May 13, 2026. Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email.

To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/Temporary-Laboratory-Assistant/71755