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For more information, contact EPAjobs@orau.org. Do not contact EPA directly.

The EPA Environmental Research and Business Support Program has an immediate opening for an EPA Biological Laboratory Support Associate with the Office of Research and Development at the EPA facility in Cincinnati, OH.

The Office of Research and Development at the EPA supports research to improve the scientific basis for decisions on national environmental issues and help EPA achieve its environmental goals. Research is conducted in a broad range of environmental areas by scientists in EPA laboratories and at universities across the country.

The National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) protects human health and the environment by developing and applying innovations in exposure science. NERL provides scientific leadership, understanding, and tools necessary to quantify exposure for humans and ecosystems

The Exposure Methods & Measurement Division (EMMD) provides the science that underlies the measurement of environmental stressors and their interaction with biological systems. This science includes method development, evaluation, and field and laboratory testing. These measurement methods are foundational to the Agency’s regulatory programs and stakeholder needs in protecting public health and the environment.

The selected candidate shall provide technical laboratory support for research projects focusing on studying: 1) development and testing of various methods for concentration/detection of viral indicators and pathogens and 2) fate and transport of viral and bacterial indicators as well as pathogens in built and environmental systems. He/she shall work with other members of the EMMD team and shall assist the team with collection of environmental samples (e.g. wastewater, surface water, sediments), execution of field decay/persistence studies, sample processing and concentration (e.g. membrane filtration, hollow-fiber ultrafiltration and others), culture-based (e.g. bacteriophage, fecal indicator bacteria and other bacteria) as well as molecular (e.g. nucleic acid extraction/purification, PCR/qPCR) analysis of environmental samples.

Technical laboratory support responsibilities shall include:

• Preparing sampling materials (e.g. coolers, bottles, etc) and local sample collection from various wastewater treatment plants and surface waters,
• Assisting with execution of field decay/persistence studies,
• Processing of samples including membrane filtration and hollow-fiber ultrafiltration/elution,
• Preparing microbiological media and supplements for analysis of culturable bacteria,  infectious bacteriophage and select viral pathogens,
• Analyzing culturable bacteria (indicators and pathogens) using variety of selective-differential media and other techniques,
• Analyzing infectious bacteriophage (using double agar overlay method and/or US EPA method 1602),
• Extracting nucleic acid using a variety of commercial kits or other protocols supplied by the investigators,
• Analyzing different viral and bacterial targets using (but not limited to) quantitative, real-time PCR (qPCR) and digital droplet PCR (ddPCR),
• Analyzing infectious viral pathogens via mammalian cell cultures,
• Assisting with preparation of Quality Assurance Project Plan,
• Maintaining careful and accurate records in designated laboratory notebooks, and
• Maintaining inventory of supplies.

Location: This job will be located at EPA’s facility in Cincinnati, OH.

Salary: The selected applicant will become a full time temporary employee of ORAU and will receive an hourly wage of $27.94 for hours worked.

Travel: Overnight travel may be required.

Working Conditions: The work will be in a laboratory setting and may involve exposure to hazardous elements.

The selected candidate shall be supervised by a mentor who will provide day-to-day direction, as well as coach, advise and counsel the selected candidate, and review his/her work.

Expected Start Date: The position start date is November 2016. The selected applicant will be temporary employees of ORAU working as a contractor to EPA. The initial contract period is through May 14, 2017. EPA may elect to renew the contract for an additional three 12-month optional periods.

For more information, contact EPAjobs@orau.org. Do not contact EPA directly.

Eligible applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years of age and
• Have earned at least a Master’s degree in microbiology, biology, molecular biology, or a closely related field of study from an accredited university or college 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.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

Successful candidates will have:

• Demonstrated experience of general laboratory techniques for assessing water quality (i.e., knowledge of aseptic technique) as well as general laboratory safety practices,
• Experience with collection of environmental samples,
• Demonstrated proficiency in bacteriological culture techniques,
• Advanced experience with molecular techniques including nucleic acid extractions/purifications and real-time, quantitative PCR (qPCR),
• Working knowledge of bacteriophage enumeration techniques,
• Working knowledge of sample concentration techniques including membrane filtration,
• Strong written, oral and electronic communication skills, and
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (i.e., Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook).

Desired Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• Working knowledge of mammalian cell culture techniques.

• Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
• Degree: Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree received within the last 24 month(s).
• Minimum Overall GPA: 2.00
• Discipline(s):
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences (1 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (45 )

I certify that I am at least 18 years of age; have earned at least a Master’s degree in microbiology, biology, molecular biology, or a closely related field of study from an accredited university or college within the last 24 months; a citizen or a Legal Permanent Resident of the United States of America; and not a current employee of EPA ORD or the spouse or child of an EPA ORD employee.