Laboratory Manager II - Boyden Lab

The Synthetic Neurobiology Group (Boyden Lab) at the MIT McGovern Institute/HHMI is seeking a Laboratory Manager II to join our team . The Boyden Lab is a ~50-person multidisciplinary group that invents and applies technologies for analyzing and repairing the brain and other complex biological systems. This role is critical to ensuring the continuous, safe, and efficient operation of the laboratory through oversight of documentation, materials, workflows, compliance processes, and personnel support.

For more information about the lab, please visit: Ed Boyden - Synthetic Neurobiology Group

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and highly organized Laboratory Manager to oversee the operational, regulatory, and logistical functions of the Synthetic Neurobiology Group. Key responsibilities include managing equipment installation, maintenance, and repair; coordinating biosafety, chemical safety, animal use, and occasional human-use protocols; and ensuring full compliance with all institutional and regulatory requirements.

In this role, you will serve as a primary liaison with MIT Environmental Health and Safety, the Department of Comparative Medicine, Facilities, Housekeeping, and external vendors. Additional duties include leading monthly and annual inspections, onboarding and training new lab members on safety and regulatory practices, managing corrective actions when needed, and overseeing the assignment of equipment and room stewardship responsibilities. You will also oversee hazardous waste management, liquid nitrogen and gas cylinder inventory, animal ordering and oversight of mouse and zebrafish colony rooms, and the organization and purchasing of common laboratory consumables.

What You’ll Get

• The opportunity to take ownership of key operational functions and develop leadership skills while building deep institutional knowledge.

• Meaningful involvement in research that advances impactful scientific discoveries.

• The ability to work closely with a multidisciplinary team across neuroscience, engineering, and biological sciences.

• An active role in leading lab operations, including onboarding and off-boarding of lab members.

• A competitive and comprehensive benefits package.

What You’ll Do

• Oversee equipment moves, installations, repairs, and routine maintenance; serve as the primary point of contact for vendor visits and technical support.

• Coordinate, draft, and support approval of amendments and renewals for biosafety, chemical safety, animal use, and occasional human-use protocols.

• Serve as liaison with MIT Environmental Health and Safety, the Department of Comparative Medicine, Facilities, Housekeeping, and external vendors.

• Lead monthly and annual inspections and ensure laboratory compliance with all safety and regulatory standards.

• Onboard new lab members in regulatory and safety practices; ensure group members receive and maintain required training; assist with exit procedures.

• Provide corrective guidance when skills or conduct require improvement.

• Assign stewardship responsibilities for lab equipment and rooms; support team members in their assigned roles, including coverage during absences.

• Oversee hazardous waste management, liquid nitrogen and gas cylinder ordering and inventory, and general lab supply purchasing and organization.

• Manage animal ordering and monitor mouse and zebrafish colony rooms.

• Maintain documentation, organizational systems, and operational workflows that support a large multidisciplinary research team

What You Bring

• Master’s degree in biology or a related technical discipline.

• At least five years of experience in a research laboratory and a minimum of three years as a research laboratory manager, ideally in a multidisciplinary, bioengineering, or neuroscience environment.

• Experience writing and editing laboratory protocols, including live animal, biosafety, chemical, and—ideally—human-use protocols.

• Strong detail orientation and exceptional organizational, planning, interpersonal, and communication skills.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat/Illustrator.

• Ability to work independently; strong interest in science and in building and implementing new initiatives.

• Ability to prioritize, multitask, and manage the day-to-day operations of a large (~50-person) research group.

• Willingness to be available during nights/weekends on occasion for urgent or emergency situations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree or training in veterinary science.

• Knowledge of laboratory animal procedures and regulations (AAALAC).

• Experience with hazardous waste regulations and general lab safety procedures.

• Strong documentation skills and familiarity with common laboratory equipment, including ability to troubleshoot and repair equipment when needed.

• Ability to act as an effective liaison to institutional regulatory bodies and external vendors.

• Self-motivation, commitment to high quality standards, and a service-oriented mindset.

Physical Requirements:

Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods of time; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word; ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move about workspace. The position requires mobility, including the ability to move materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet). Work may involve possible exposure to malodorous vapors, low dose radiation, contamination by toxic chemicals and acids and presence of carcinogenic substances.

Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Please Note:

This job description sets forth the job’s principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement, however. Unless they begin with the word “may,” the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are “essential functions” of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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