What are the responsibilities and job description for the Research Wet Lab Support position at ORAU?
Overview
The EPA National Student Services Contract has an immediate opening for a full time Research Wet Lab Support position with the Office of Research and Development at the EPA facility in Gulf Breeze, FL.
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.
What the EPA project is about
Within ORD, the Center for Environmental Measurement & Modeling (CEMM) conducts research to advance EPA’s ability to measure and model contaminants in the environment, including research to provide fundamental methods and models needed to implement environmental statutes. The methods and models developed by CEMM are typically applied at the air shed, watershed and ecosystem level. Within CEMM, the Gulf Ecosystem Measurement and Modeling Division (GEMMD) provides leadership and specialized research in marine, estuarine, and watershed ecology and ecotoxicology to predict and assess the effects of human-generated stressors on the unique aquatic resources of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico & the Nation.
Responsibilities
What experience and skills will you gain?
As a team member, you will work with EPA scientists working under the Chemical Safety for Sustainability (CSS) and Safe and Sustainable Water Resource (SSWR) teams. As a member of the CSS team that determines molecular and population level effects of chemical stressors on aquatic organisms, the student contractor shall culture and test aquatic and terrestrial organisms (e.g., fathead minnow, sheep shead minnows, frogs and toads) and develop and maintain toxicity databases. As a member of the SSWR team that determines the effects of land-based stressors on coral reef ecosystems, the student contractor shall assist with culturing corals in the laboratory. The student contractor should expect to gain experience in the use and care of live animals in a laboratory setting; sample preparation methods for chemical analyses; data management and analysis; laboratory and field sampling protocols; outreach and education; and scientific writing.
How you will apply your skills
- Data entry, documentation, and
- Constructing, cleaning, monitoring, and maintaining laboratory culture and testing systems and
- Measuring, maintaining, documenting, and quality assurance of laboratory test conditions and
- Obtaining, preparing, organizing, and/or maintaining research supplies, materials, and/or solutions.
- Preparing biological and environmental samples for chemical
- Compiling data and literature references into organized computer
- Literature and web searches on chemical properties and mechanisms of action.
- Maintaining laboratory notebooks as instructed by
- Quality assurance and database management of toxicity
- Field collection of specimens and water samples and routine field
- Other assistance as needed in support of division
- Conforming to all health and safety, environmental compliance, and research
Communications-related responsibilities shall include:
- Participating as a member of a multi-disciplinary research
- Interact with EPA
- Report regularly via email to inform team members of
- Participate in conferences and seminars, as requested
Required Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education
- Experience with general database management (e.g. Microsoft Excel);
- Experience with laboratory techniques and environmental studies;
- Experience with marine aquaculture; and
- Knowledge of basic laboratory safety requirements. Will be given additional safety training at the Gulf Ecology.
Location: This job will be located EPA’s facility in Gulf Breeze, FL.
Salary: Selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU and will receive an hourly wage of $22.24 for hours worked.
Hours: Full-time.
Travel: Some local travel may be required.
Expected start date: The position is full time and expected to begin March 2023. The selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU working as a contractor to EPA. The initial project is through May 2025.
For more information, contact EPAjobs@orau.org. Do not contact EPA directly.
Qualifications
- Be at least 18 years of age and
- Have earned at least a Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, marine biology, zoology, chemistry, environmental science or a related field of study 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.
Salary : $22 - $0
