Welcome! Come on in! I am excited to give you a tour. This isn’t your average wine tasting tour.
In this lab, we handle the scientific part of making wine. I bet you didn’t know chemistry and biology go into your favorite cabernet.
Are you interested in lab work? You’ll be fascinated to see what we do with the lab side of the winery.
My work here is all about the science and management of making wine so that the people who drink it only think about the product.
Whether it’s for a winery or another scientific lab, being a lab manager requires a diverse set of skills.
What Exactly Does a Lab Manager Do All Day?
Some people imagine laboratory managers are just in charge of creating the next best drug or finding the elusive cure for cancer. Surely, these lab manager jobs are important.
Yet, for every product that requires processing, there is a lab. For every medical innovation, there is a lab manager doing work with a team of scientists.
Here is a quick overview of my lab manager requirements:
- Equipment: Every tool, microscope, beaker etcetera is under my supervision.
- Supplies and Inventory: make sure all the needed materials are here so our scientists can do their work
- Manage staff
- : If we are not getting results, we can’t be a success.
- Know science and business: A lean lab not only means managing for scientific results but business ones as well.
More Than Tasting, College Too
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good glass of wine. But that didn’t get me into lab management.
Most lab managers start as scientists. It’s important for a lab manager to know and understand the science being done in the lab. A bachelor’s degree is a must.
Most lab managers will start out working in the lab they now manage. They work their way up through the ranks. Finding a person in the lab who can provide mentorship can greatly increase the opportunity to go from the scientific work into the management work.
Many lab manager requirements include getting advanced degrees like Masters and Ph.D. degrees. Gaining not only experience in the lab but also an increased knowledge base helps the lab manager in their duties.
Ultimately, a lab manager should have a high level of curiosity too. Understanding and knowing all aspects of how the lab runs are necessary for effective management.
Staff Stuff: Management Needs
As a lab manager, I now do more management than science.
The role of the lab manager is to manage staff, run meetings, and handle scheduling. I do the hiring for the lab and work with contracts.
It is my role to support my lab team in their endeavors and track the safety of the lab. Lab integrity is important for the best results. It’s my role to make certain our lab is adhering to industry standards.
Many lab managers actually go onto to get MBA degrees as the role of the lab manager gets into as much business as it does science.
Lab Management Could Be For You
If you already have a love for science, but want to advance in your field being a lab manager could be for you.
Are you both a scientist and a leader? Do you want more variety in your work? Use your and scientific mind in perfect unison to be a lab manager.
