# Laboratory manager

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Laboratory_manager.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laboratory_manager
> Source revision: 1245153086
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{{Infobox occupation
| name               = Laboratory manager
| synonyms           = Laboratory supervisor<br>Laboratory coordinator<br>Staff scientist
| pronounce          = 
| image              = Paleontology_Lab_Manager_Katja_Knoll.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| alt                = 
| caption            =  Katja Knoll, lab manager at the [Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument](/source/Grand_Staircase%E2%80%93Escalante_National_Monument) [Paleontology](/source/Paleontology) Laboratory.
| official_names     = 
| type               = [Profession](/source/Profession)
| activity_sector    = 
| competencies       = 
| formation          = 
| employment_field   = [Academia](/source/Academy), [industry](/source/Private_industry), [government](/source/Government_scientist)
| related_occupation = [Scientist](/source/Scientist)<br>[Engineer](/source/Engineer)
}}

A '''laboratory manager''' (alternatively '''laboratory supervisor''') is an individual who supervises personnel and operations in a [laboratory](/source/laboratory) environment; the position is senior to that of a [laboratory technician](/source/laboratory_technician) or [laboratory technologist](/source/Medical_laboratory_scientist),<ref name="asm">{{cite web |url=https://asm.org/Articles/2022/May/A-Day-in-the-Life-of-a-Clinical-Lab-Manager-or-Sup |title=A Day in the Life of a Clinical Lab Manager or Supervisor |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=May 16, 2022 |website=American Society for Microbiology |access-date=October 23, 2022}}</ref> and is considered a [middle-management](/source/Middle_management) occupation.<ref name="noc">{{cite web |url=https://noc.esdc.gc.ca/Structure/NocProfile?objectid=K1nvsG91tl6RH%2FZqh7ONnKlEnx049LOpnly%2F%2B3WwLIs%3D |title=0212: Architecture and science managers |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=September 1, 2022 |website=National Occupation Classification |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=October 23, 2022}}</ref>

==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.<ref name="BLS">{{cite web |url=https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/natural-sciences-managers.htm#tab-1 |title=Natural Sciences Managers |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=September 8, 2022 |website=Occupational Outlook Handbook |publisher=U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |access-date=October 23, 2022}}</ref><ref name="magically">{{cite journal |last=Borman |first=Stu|date=November 1, 2010 |title=Making Labs Work Magically Well|journal=Chem. Eng. News |volume=88 |issue=44 |pages=43–45 |doi=10.1021/cen-v088n044.p037}}</ref> 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.<ref name="BLS"/> Laboratory managers or supervisors at this level may be responsible for managing large teams.<ref name="BLS"/> 

Some laboratory managers are current or former scientists who are sometimes called "working managers," and who participate in conducting [research](/source/Scientific_method) in addition to administrative duties, mentoring students, and assisting other researchers.<ref name="rewarding"/><ref name="BLS"/> Managers in this category are commonly known as '''staff scientists.'''<ref name="rewarding">{{cite journal |last1=Feder |first1=Toni |date=January 2022 |title=Staff scientists in academia and government labs follow rewarding careers  |journal=Physics Today |volume=75 |issue=1 |pages=24–27 |doi=10.1063/PT.3.4918 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2022PhT....75a..24F }}</ref> [Chemistry](/source/Chemistry) laboratory managers may also be chemical hygiene officers responsible for [occupational health and safety](/source/Occupational_safety_and_health).<ref name="magically"/> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.udel.edu/faculty-staff/human-resources/compensation/lab-coordinator/ |title=Classification Specifications for Lab Coordinator|website=University of Delaware |access-date=October 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327043006/https://www.udel.edu/faculty-staff/human-resources/compensation/lab-coordinator/|archive-date=March 27, 2023}}</ref>

Regardless of designation, [laboratory safety](/source/laboratory_safety) is a primary responsibility of scientific laboratory managers.<ref name="asm"/><ref name="magically"/> The manager or supervisor is responsible for ensuring laboratories are in compliance with established regulations and standards.<ref name="asm"/><ref name="ACS_careers">{{cite web |url=https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/careers/chemical-sciences/fields/laboratory-management.html |title=Careers and the Chemical Sciences: Laboratory Management |author=<!--Not stated-->|website=American Chemical Society |access-date=October 23, 2022}}</ref>

==Qualifications==
Laboratory managers need excellent [leadership](/source/leadership), [interpersonal](/source/Interpersonal_communication), [critical-thinking](/source/Critical_thinking), [problem-solving](/source/Problem_solving), and [time-management](/source/Time_management) abilities.<ref name="BLS"/> Usually, though not always,<ref name="magically"/> they must have a [university degree](/source/Academic_degree), along with several years of laboratory experience as a scientist, engineer or laboratory technician or assistant.<ref name="BLS"/><ref name="ACS_careers"/> Most laboratory managers hold a [bachelor of science](/source/Bachelor_of_Science) degree.<ref name="ACS_careers"/> Management of research laboratories, including pharmaceutical and biotechnology laboratories, usually requires a [master's degree](/source/master's_degree) or [doctorate](/source/doctorate). Some positions require a [Professional Science Master's](/source/Professional_Science_Master's_Degree) or a [Master of Business Administration](/source/Master_of_Business_Administration) degree.<ref name="ACS_careers"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

Category:Science occupations

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Laboratory manager](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laboratory_manager) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laboratory_manager?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.