An Augustana education is bold, boundless and life-changing - for students and the people who help shape their journeys. As a nationally recognized college of the liberal arts and sciences, we invest in engaged learning, maximizing student potential, and building strong community partnerships - the driving forces of our Bold & Boundless Strategic Plan (2024-29).
With 2,500 students, Augustana is a place where mentorship matters, innovation thrives, and every role contributes to student success. Located on a scenic, wooded campus in Rock Island, Illinois, Augustana is part of the vibrant Quad-Cities metropolitan area (pop. 470,000), about a 3-hour drive from Chicago.
We seek dynamic professionals who are passionate about shaping futures and who thrive in an environment that values curiosity, collaboration and the power of transformative education. If this is you, we invite you to join us at Augustana.
Job Title: Physics, Engineering and Astronomy Laboratory Coordinator
Wage Grade: 735
Status: Exempt, Full-time
Reports To: Department Head
Overview: This position will be responsible for coordinating laboratory operations across Physics, Engineering, and Astronomy disciplines, ensuring the sustainability, safety, and instructional quality of laboratory spaces, equipment, and curricula by working closely with the PEA Lab Manager and faculty. The successful candidate will perform lab management duties, primarily supporting physics, engineering, and astronomy courses and labs.
The candidate will join an active, eight-member department with disciplinary interests in thermal fluids, environmental fluid dynamics, 3D printing and design, signal processing, quantum photonics, nuclear physics, planetary and stellar magnetic fields, observational astronomy, physics education, and planetarium directing. The department houses research spaces for environmental fluid dynamics, computational fluid dynamics, nuclear physics, and quantum photonics. The department has a newly designed Maker Space with 3D printers, a laser cutter, a scanning electron microscope, a CNC mill, and a welding station. Instructional spaces include a newly renovated electronics lab, design lab, and studio physics teaching spaces. All faculty at Augustana are invited to engage in professional development and mentoring opportunities consistent with their needs throughout their appointment at the college. The department is committed to supporting candidates' professional development in research and teaching.
At Augustana, you'll find a supportive and collegial environment where faculty thrive professionally and personally. Our small class sizes foster deep connections between faculty and students. You'll have access to resources and opportunities to pursue impactful teaching.
Primary Duties:- Laboratory Operations and Instructional Support: Coordinate the scheduling, preparation, maintenance, and daily operation of instructional laboratory spaces and curriculum support.
- Safety, Compliance, and Accreditation: Develop and implement laboratory safety documentation and training while ensuring compliance with institutional policies and accreditation requirements, including ABET standards. Lead efforts to coordinate digitization of safety documents across STEM departments.
- Equipment, Budget, and Resource Management: Oversee laboratory equipment and supply management, including maintenance, inventory, purchasing, and support for budget planning.
- Personnel and Administrative Coordination: Coordinate student laboratory assistant hiring, training, and supervision, and support laboratory priorities, documentation, and reporting in collaboration with the PEA Lab Manager and faculty.
- STEM/Q Center Support: Provide academic support to PEA students through targeted tutoring, skill reinforcement, and connections to campus resources that promote persistence and success in STEM.
- Teaching Responsibilities: Depending on the current needs of PEA and the background of the selected applicant, the position may include teaching responsibilities of up to four credits per academic year
Required Qualifications:
- Experience working in instructional laboratory environments
- Knowledge of laboratory safety practices and procedures
- Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students in an interdisciplinary environment.
- Additional Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with laboratory equipment maintenance and repair
- Experience supporting accredited engineering or science programs (e.g., ABET)
- Teaching or instructional support experience in physics or engineering laboratories
Education: Masters in Physics, Engineering, Astronomy required or a closely related field
Additional Information:
Pay and Benefits: This position is budgeted to pay $43,000 - $46,000 annually. We offer a competitive benefits package designed to support the needs of employees. The budgeted compensation for this position ranges based upon minimum and preferred qualifications, education, experience, skills, and abilities. Actual placement within the range will depend upon experience, education, research, rank, and other relevant factors.
- Medical, dental, vision insurance
- Flexible spending accounts or health savings accounts
- Life insurance, disability insurance, and supplemental insurance programs
- Retirement plan with a generous company contribution
- Excellent paid time off/holiday benefits
- Tuition benefits for employees and their family members
- Access to company facilities (gym, pool, health center, etc.)
You can learn more about our benefit programs at our Benefits website.
Work Environment: This position works primarily in laboratory and instructional settings and may involve handling laboratory equipment and materials. Adherence to established safety protocols is required.
EEO Statement: Augustana is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is Augustana College’s policy to provide equal opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability and any other category protected by federal, state or local law.
Note: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities are subject to change at any time with or without notice.
Application Instructions: A complete application will include:
- A cover letter detailing interest in the position
- Curriculum vitae
- A copy of graduate transcript (unofficial is acceptable at this stage)
- Contact information for three references
Questions about the position may be directed to Nathan Frank, chair of the PEA department, at
[email protected]. Applications received by May 1, 2026, will receive priority consideration. Review will continue until the position is filled. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States; this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
Employees at Augustana enjoy an excellent benefit package including medical, retirement, generous paid time off, tuition benefits for employees and their family members, and much more.
The Physics, Engineering, and Astronomy (PEA) Department at Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois, invites applications for a full-time academic schedule Laboratory Coordinator beginning in August 2026. Our new colleague will join a growing Physics, Engineering, and Astronomy program.
