Job Description

Responsibilities

As a team member, you will conduct laboratory work, generate, and organize laboratory data, perform data analysis, and interface with experts in the respective technical specialties. The team member provide analytical laboratory support and analytical assistance to the ORD-Athens mass spectrometry laboratory in support of the Metabolomics team. The team member will be under the mentorship of CEMM researchers for training in liquid chromatography (LC) and high-resolution accurate mass (HRAM) mass spectrometry (MS) systems. The candidate will assist laboratory researchers with maintenance of the laboratory, sample processing and inventory management, routine data analysis, and some administrative support functions. The team member will maintain careful and accurate records in designated laboratory notebooks. These notebooks and all other data produced under this order will be the property of the Environmental Protection Agency.

How you will apply your skills

Analytical and Laboratory support tasks will include:

• Maintaining, managing, and organizing laboratory facilities, samples, supplies, and reagents
• Preparation of standard solvents and solutions
• Routine instrument calibrations
• Receiving and logging of biological/environmental samples
• Processing of received samples for LC-MS analysis
• Conducting experiments using liquid chromatography and HRAM-MS methods. Experiments will be planned by consulting with research investigators regarding sample preparation, analyte detection and (semi-)quantification, and data quality control methods
• Maintaining records and documentation associated with the conduct of these experiments, in accordance with Quality Assurance plans

Communications-related responsibilities will include:

• Participating as a member of a multi-disciplinary research team
• Presenting data summaries and results to EPA team members
• Assisting in the preparation of analysis summary documents such as manuscripts, presentations, fact sheets, and reports.
• Documenting daily laboratory activities in designated laboratory notebooks
• Presenting work performed at a scientific conference as required.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• At least one year\xe2\x80\x99s experience in graduate school performing (semi-)quantitative chemical analysis including at least 16 hours of laboratory procedures such as pipetting, sample extractions, chromatography, and/or mass spectrometry;
• Working knowledge of physiochemical separation by liquid chromatography and detection by HRAM mass spectrometry;
• Prior experience working with environmental and/or biological samples;
• Experience using at least one of the following: R, Python, and/or Microsoft Excel, to summarize and manipulate data files, manage data, prepare graphics, and conduct basic data analysis such as summary statistics;
• Strong written, oral, and electronic communication skills.
• If still enrolled in school a transcript will be required each semester to show applicant in good standing with university.

Desired Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• Experience using at least one of the following: Thermo software Xcalibur, Chromeleon, SII, Compound Discoverer, and/or Proteome Discoverer; Agilent software MassHunter and/or Mass Profiler Professional; Waters software UNIFI, Progenesis QI, and/or MassLynx

Location: This job will be located EPA\xe2\x80\x99s facility in Athens, Georgia.

Salary: Selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU and will receive an hourly wage of $27.67 for hours worked.

Hours: Part-Time. Up to 15 hours per week.

Travel: Occasional overnight travel may be required.

Expected start date: The position is part time and expected to begin June 2023. The selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU working as a contractor to EPA. The contract renews each May through 2025.

For more information, contact . Do not contact EPA directly.

Qualifications

• Be at least 18 years of age and
• Have earned at least a bachelor\xe2\x80\x99s degree from an accredited institution in biology, chemistry, bioinformatics, toxicology, environmental science, or a closely related field of study plus one year of graduate school within the last 24 months and
• Be a citizen of the United States of America or a Legal Permanent Resident.

EPA ORD employees, their spouses, and children are not eligible to participate in this program.

Oak Ridge Associated Universities