<prompt> Human: I work in a service based research laboratory at a state university in the U.S. The director is leaving and recruited my co-workers to move with him. I now have seniority with my 10years in this position. I am in the process of becoming manager of the laboratory, whereas before I was a technician. The school has no other choice of applicant. If they dont hire me, no one else could operate the laboratory any time soon at anywhere near the current capacity. It would be extremely difficult for anyone else to walk in without knowing the details and the lab would likely close. The school does not want to close the lab because other PIs rely on my lab. I have all the power in this situation. I have an idea what my salary range for the manager position will be. After they make me an offer, how can I best negotiate to raise the salary. I already am at my full PTO level so I really can only focus on salary.  <response>: Just a warning: if they just lost the head of the team and all his preferred coworkers with him, they may not see you as capable of heading the department regardless of your qualifications since you did not join them. 