• Submit application and supporting documents by clicking on Apply Now button.
• For more information, contact EPAjobs@orau.org. Do not contact EPA directly.

The EPA Environmental Research and Business Support Program has immediate opening for a Chemical Laboratory Support Technician with the Office of Research and Development at the EPA facility in Research Triangle Park, NC.

The Office of Research and Development at the EPA supports high-quality 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 Center for Computational Toxicology (NCCT) is responsible for developing computational tools and solutions for improving environmental risk assessments and regulatory decisions pertaining to chemical safety and sustainability. The NCCT is testing thousands of chemicals in a wide range of state-of-the-art high-throughput biological assays, with the goal of building computational models for predicting toxicity.  Supporting this effort are various new laboratory research services, and databases tracking massive amounts of information related to bioassay outputs, chemical structures and identifiers, and detailed tracking of the chemical samples undergoing testing and a suite of web applications make these data available to the public.

This project is a joint effort between NCCT and NERL/EMMD.  NCCT requires analytical chemistry support, including access to Liquid/Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry equipment and NERL/EMMD has a laboratory at the RTP campus with this equipment.  The selected candidate will perform experiments for NCCT using the NERL/EMMD equipment under the mentorship of a NERL/EMMD scientist. He/she shall assist NCCT laboratory scientific researchers with laboratory experiments, maintenance and management, sample inventory and management, data analysis, as well as some administrative support functions.

Analytical and laboratory responsibilities shall include:   

• Maintaining strict adherence to safety rules and procedures for conducting laboratory research;
• Preparing reagents and solutions;
• Maintaining, managing and organizing laboratory facilities, samples, supplies and reagents;
• Performing clear documentation of all activities and experiments using a standard laboratory notebook;
• Conducting literature reviews, obtaining and reviewing publications, and summarizing the literature;
• Planning and conducting experiments using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry methods. Planning includes consulting with research investigators regarding sample preparation, analyte detection and quantification, and data analysis methods;
• Assisting in method development and optimization by troubleshooting results and suggesting solutions;
• Performing preliminary analysis of experimental results including descriptive statistical analyses (i.e., mean, standard deviation, minimum, maximum, median, etc.) for experimental data; and 
• Maintaining (where appropriate) all records and documentation associated with the conduct of these experiments, in accordance with NCCT Quality Assurance plans.

Communications-related responsibilities shall include:

• Participating as a member of a multi-disciplinary research team;
• Filing and organizing records;
• Assisting in summary analysis documents of results and impacts from data analyses; and
• Assisting in writing study results in manuscripts, presentations, and fact sheets.

Selected candidate may be asked to present work performed as a poster presentation at a scientific conference.

Location: This job will be located at EPA’s facility in Research Triangle Park, NC.

Salary: Selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU and will receive an hourly wage of $20.96 for hours worked.

Hours: Full time.

Working Conditions: The selected candidate shall be supervised by a mentor who will provide day-to-day direction, as well as coach, advise and counsel them, and review their work. 

This position will involve work in a laboratory setting and may involve exposure to hazardous elements including, but not limited to hazardous chemicals (CSL3). Laboratory safety training will be provided and completion will be required.

Travel: Occasional overnight travel may be required.

Expected Start Date: The position is full time and expected to begin March 2018.  The selected applicant will be a temporary employee of ORAU working as a contractor to EPA. The initial contract period is through May 14, 2018, followed by two (2) additional 12 month option 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 a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, toxicology, environmental science, or other 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 candidate shall have:

• Demonstrated education and hands-on chemistry laboratory experience;
• Prior work experience in a working laboratory environment and familiarity with general safety and maintenance;
• At least 16 semester hours of laboratory procedures such as pipetting, preparing dilutions, sample extractions, chromatography, mass spectrometry; and
• Prior experience working with environmental, biological, and/or human samples including: sample organization, labeling, receiving, inventory, and processing.

Desired Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

It is desirable for the applicant to demonstrate:

• Experience using Microsoft Excel to summarize and manipulate data files, manage data, create graphics, and conduct basic data analysis;
• Familiarity with R language and packages for data analysis; and
• A working knowledge of physical separation methods such as liquid or gas chromatography and analyte detection using mass spectrometry.

• Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
• Degree: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree received within the last 24 month(s).
• Discipline(s):
  • Chemistry and Materials Sciences (12 )
  • Engineering (2 )
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences (13 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (45 )
  • Physics (16 )

I certify that I am at least 18 years of age; a recent graduate with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, toxicology, environmental science, or other 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.