Job Details

Lower Division Instructional Lab Coordinator

Position Number: 7281922
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Position Type: Laboratory and Research

Lower Division Instructional Lab Coordinator

University of California Santa Barbara

Position overview
Position title: Lower Division Instructional Lab Coordinator Salary range: See Table 36 for the full salary range for this position. A reasonable estimate for this position is $64,228 - $80,258. Percent time: 100% Anticipated start: August 2, 2026 or later Application Window

Open date: July 1, 2026

Next review date: Wednesday, Jul 15, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Wednesday, Sep 30, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The Department of Physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, invites applications for the position of Academic Coordinator I (AC) for the 2026-27 academic year, with the possibility of renewal depending on performance and budget constraints.

Applications will be kept active for consideration until the position is filled. Upon starting the position, the successful candidate will be required to be physically present in the Santa Barbara area in order to commute regularly to campus.

The AC performs administrative functions for the UCSB Physics Department, serving as a key contact for Instructors of Record as well as undergraduate students, TAs, UCSB faculty, staff, and the off-campus community.

The UCSB Physics Instructional Lab Group (ILG) is looking to hire a resourceful Academic Coordinator I who will help them build and maintain lower- and upper-division instructional labs for UCSB undergraduate students. The AC will aid in the oversight, creation and maintenance of instructional lab activities for courses with ~400 students a quarter. The AC will work closely with staff, faculty, and other Academic Coordinators of ILG, the new hire will participate in an upbeat
and inclusive culture while:

Building, maintaining and prototyping new laboratory experiences at various levels of complexity, from simple pendulums to Mossbauer Spectroscopy.

Managing equipment and stock room inventories in an orderly manner, including ordering parts and maintaining a budget.

Managing and training graduate students on various equipment and procedures for a variety of lab courses.

Being on call during instructional lab hours to help triage equipment issues and solve problems in real-time.

Managing and training undergraduate student workers to perform useful tasks within the scope of your work.

Handling the storage and retrieval of items and equipment during instructional lab flips.

Completing occasional programming tasks to support educational functions, such as scripts to supplement some digital data acquisition sensors in senior labs. Design, document, and update instructional labs, lab equipment, and manuals.

Instructional Lab Group
The AC is a core member of the UCSB Physics Department's Instructional Lab Group (ILG). The ILG is in charge of development, maintenance and administration of all undergraduate instructional laboratories and the associated coursework. AC responsibilities within the ILG include, but are not limited to, working both independently and also with other faculty & staff.

Department: https://www.physics.ucsb.edu/

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

At minimum, applicants should be enrolled in a Bachelor's degree program in physics or closely related field at the time of application.
Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

Possess a Bachelor's degree in Physics or closely related field at the time of appointment.

Preferred qualifications

At least 1-year of experience with at least one of the following: Python, Javascript, or Google App Script.

At least 1-year of experience in STEM Teaching at the undergraduate level or higher (including TAships).

At least 1-year of experience in a position that required administrative and organizational activities.

Demonstrated ability to write reports and communications to high-level grant-dispensing institutions.

Strong interest in higher education and be comfortable with generating high quality learning content and strategies on a regular basis.

Proficient with most mathematics or physics concepts that may appear in courses up to the Bachelor's level. Applicants should also have familiarity with experimental physics and its core principles.

Interest in learning new technical skills and growing as an educator and administrator.

Previous experience managing students and academic programs focused on pedagogy.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter

Reference requirements

2-4 required (contact information only)

With the applicant's permission, the committee will contact the references listed in UCRecruit for top candidates.
Apply link: https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF03123

Help contact: jdill00@ucsb.edu
About UC Santa Barbara

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination as defined by the employer.
UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, students and third parties
APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Additionally, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.
Job location
Santa Barbara, CA

To apply, please visit: https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF03123