Salary and Benefits

PLEASE NOTE: The starting salary placement depends on qualifications and experience and is anticipated to be in the range of $3,461.00 per month to $4,219.00 per month (Step 1 - Step 11).

Cal State East Bay offers a broad range of benefits that includes medical, dental, vision, retirement (CalPERS), 401k, 457, 403(b), dependent and health care reimbursement accounts, life insurance, vacation and sick, 14 paid holidays, one personal holiday and tuition fee waiver.

For more information on the benefits program, please visit our benefits website. The CSU Total Compensation Calculator demonstrates the significance of our benefits package.

This position may be eligible to participate in the Cal State East Bay hybrid telecommute program subject to management approval. 

Classification

Laboratory Assistant I

About Cal State East Bay

Cal State East Bay's beautiful main campus is located in the Hayward hills with panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay shoreline. Situated above the city of Hayward, the campus offers an ideal setting for teaching and learning and yet easy access to the many cities along the bay. The University has a satellite campus in Concord, a professional development center in Oakland and a significant presence online. Founded in 1957, Cal State East Bay is one of 23 universities of the California State University system (CSU). Cal State East Bay is recognized as a regionally engaged and globally oriented university with a strong commitment to academic innovation, student success, engaged and service learning, diversity, and sustainability.

About the Position

Please Note: Review of applications will begin on December 8, 2025.

This position is temporary through June 30, 2026, with the possibility of reappointment.

This entry-level position provides routine laboratory support for research at the Green Biome Institute (GBI). Under immediate supervision, the Laboratory Assistant I assists with collecting and organizing plant samples, preparing laboratory materials, maintaining a clean and safe laboratory environment, and supporting basic laboratory procedures that contribute to population genomics studies of California’s endangered plant species.

Responsibilities

Laboratory Support for Green Biome Institute Projects

• Assist with the collection, labeling, and proper storage of plant samples from botanical gardens and field sites under the direction of faculty and staff.
• Prepare basic laboratory solutions and assist with routine procedures following established protocols.
• Assist with the organization, cleaning, and sterilization of laboratory glassware, equipment, and work areas.
• Support safe laboratory practices, including proper handling and disposal of laboratory waste and materials.
• Maintain orderly records and assist with entry of basic sample information into lab databases.

Laboratory Organization and Communication

• Assist with preparing materials such as specimen containers, labels, and logs for laboratory use.
• Help maintain laboratory supplies and inventory, ensuring materials are properly stored and available.
• Participate in internal laboratory meetings as needed to support ongoing projects.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge and Abilities 

• Ability to clean and care for laboratory equipment.
• Ability to quickly learn and apply elementary laboratory methods and procedures.
• Ability to follow oral and written directions.
• Ability to read and write at a level appropriate to the duties of the position.
• Ability to work cooperatively with others.
• Ability to attain precise tolerances and tolerances in conducting simple laboratory tasks.
• Ability to distinguish colors most frequently found in laboratory work.

Preferred Skills and Knowledge

• Bachelor’s degree in Biological Science.
• Knowledge of and working experience with collecting and organizing plant samples.
• Ability to use and learn modern office software.

Condition(s) of Employment

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including LiveScan, as appropriate), that may include, but is not limited to: criminal records check, verification of academic credentials, licenses, certificates, credit history, professional references and/or verification of work history is required for employment.  Cal State East Bay will issue a conditional offer of employment to the selected candidate, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Unsatisfactory results may also affect the continued employment of current Cal State East Bay employees who were conditionally offered the position.

All background checks are conducted through the university's third party vendor, Accurate. LiveScan is conducted through the University Police Department.

EEO Statement

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal State, East Bay provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. The CSU complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s  Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

Other Information

All California State University campuses, including Cal State East Bay, are smoke and tobacco-free.  For more information, please visit our website here.

In compliance with state and federal crime awareness and campus security legislation, including The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act, the Cal State East Bay Annual Campus Security Report is available here. 

Sponsorship

Cal State East Bay is not a sponsoring agency for Staff or Management positions and we are not an E-Verify employer.

Mandated Reporter

The incumbent in this position may be considered a mandated reporter under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and will be required to comply with requirements set forth in the CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.