Overview

The EPA National Student Services Contract has an immediate opening for a full time Analytical Chemist position 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.

What the EPA project is about

The Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling (CEMM) conducts research to advance the Agency’s ability to measure and model contaminants in the environment, including research to provide fundamental methods and models needed to implement environmental statutes. Within CEMM, the Air Methods and Characterization Division (AMCD) develops, evaluates and applies advanced laboratory and field methods to measure, characterize, and analyze concentrations of pollutants in the air and at various emission sources.

As part of their mission, WECD supports EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment by developing and applying methods to measure new chemicals. One group of chemicals, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are a group of man-made chemicals that includes PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and many other chemicals. PFAS have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries around the globe, including in the United States since the 1940s. PFOA and PFOS have been the most extensively produced and studied of these chemicals, but there has been an increase in novel replacement species. Investigation of these and other emerging contaminants is critical to understand the risks posed by chemical exposure. 

Responsibilities

As a team member, you will provide laboratory support, quality control, and sample preparation, as well as performing qualitative and quantitative data analysis for the study of emerging contaminants in the environment. The team member will collaborate with an EPA team of investigators who are identifying emerging chemicals, such as PFAS, in a range of environmental media, including water, soil, and biological samples such as serum.

Laboratory Support, Data Development and Analysis responsibilities 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 environmental samples
• Processing of received samples for LC-MS analysis
• Conducting experiments using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry methods. Experiments will be planned by consulting with research investigators regarding sample preparation, analyte detection and quantification, and data analysis methods
• Maintaining records and documentation associated with the conduct of these experiments, in accordance with Quality Assurance Plans
• Preparation of preliminary analysis of experimental results and data summaries
• Applying creativity and intellect to solve complex problems and generate ideas for further investigation;

Communications-related responsibilities will include:

• Participating as a member of a research team
• Interacting with other members of the research team as well as collaborating closely with other EPA scientists who are experts in chemistry, biology, pharmacokinetics, biological modeling, statistics, and risk assessment for supporting regulatory decision-making
• Documenting methods and efforts
• Assisting in the preparation of analysis summary documents such as manuscripts, presentations, fact sheets, and reports
• Presenting work performed at professional meetings or scientific conference as required

Required Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• Working knowledge of physicochemical separation by liquid chromatography;
• Working knowledge of bench-scale wet chemistry techniques;
• Prior experience working with environmental and/or biological samples;
• Sample preparation and analysis experience;
• Experience with statistical data-manipulation and interpretation techniques; and
• Strong written, oral, and electronic communication skills.

Desired Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• Experience with computational data analysis (e.g. R, Python)

Location:This job will be located 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 $22.91 for hours worked.

Hours: Full-time.

Travel: Occasional overnight travel may be required.

Expected start date: The position is full time and expected to begin November 2022. 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 EPANSSC@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 the fields of chemistry, analytical chemistry, polymer engineering, biochemistry, computational chemistry/biology, polymer chemistry, environmental chemistry, chemo-informatics or a related field 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.