The EPA National Student Services Contract has an immediate opening for a full time Clinical Research Lab Associate position with the Office of Research and Development at the EPA facility in Chapel Hill, 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 Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA) provides the science needed to understand the complex interrelationship between people and nature in support of assessments and policy to protect human health and ecological integrity. Within CPHEA, the Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division (PHITD) performs clinical and animal toxicological research to assess the impact of environmental exposures on human health by developing and validating biological measures in all aspects of human health to better link exposure, dose, and health outcomes. This includes evaluating toxicological mechanisms and responses for target organ systems using multiple strategies related to chemical screening and prioritization including assessing in vivo predictive value of in vitro tests and test methods development and interpretation.

Some division investigators conduct clinical studies involving human volunteers to determine the effects of exposure to ambient pollution on human health and elucidate the mechanisms through which these effects occur. Studies are conducted in close consultation with client offices in order to support the regulatory activities of the Agency.

What experience and skills will you gain?

As a team member, your responsibilities will include general laboratory duties, project-based tasks, as well as technical and operational support. Specifically, the team member will assist in laboratory experiments aimed at understanding molecular mechanisms associated with adverse outcomes of pollutant exposure and biomarkers of susceptibility to the effects of air pollutant exposure.

The team member will maintain cell cultures, conduct in vitro pollutant exposures, genotype samples, and assay gene and protein expression and function, as well as assist with clinical study operations and sample processing. The team member will also be expected to provide researcher support and contribute to project planning, data analyses, and communicate scientific findings.

Through participation, the team member will learn a variety of fundamental and specialized biochemical and molecular techniques, as well as gain experience in translational clinical research studies. In addition, the team member will learn how to design and manage studies to address scientific questions, and how to prioritize, sequence, and troubleshoot experiments in order to maximize efficiency and productivity.

The team member will work side by with trainees at various stages of their doctoral studies or postdoctoral fellowship and thus be exposed to advanced instruction in the planning and execution of laboratory protocols and clinical research operations. In addition, the team member will attend regular staff meetings in which findings and related scientific principles are presented and discussed.

Communication-related responsibilities will include:

• Participate as a member of a multi-disciplinary research team.
• Interact with other members of the development team as well as EPA scientists.
• Assist with coordination of clinical research operations.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• Proficiency with general laboratory skills in a research laboratory setting outside the classroom, including: proficiency in cell culture, preparing and aliquoting solutions and samples , pipetting, maintaining a scientific notebook, electronic record keeping, and inventory management and organization;
• Completed undergraduate courses (courses with lecture and laboratory components count as one course) in at least three of the following topics: general biology, molecular biology, genetics, microbiology, biochemistry, or toxicology;
• At least six months of mentor-directed laboratory research experience in biological science outside the classroom;
• Hands-on experience culturing mammalian cell lines in a laboratory setting;
• Proficiency performing searches of the scientific literature using databases including PubMed; and
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint software.

Desired Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• Proficiency in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a research laboratory setting outside the classroom and hands-on experience in RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis, and quantitative PCR in a research laboratory setting.
• Proficiency in live cell research-based microscopy techniques, such as bright field and confocal fluorescent microscopy;
• Proficiency in multiplex ELISA assays; and
• Hands-on experience in Western blotting in a laboratory setting.

Location: This job will be located EPA’s facility in Chapel Hill, NC.

Salary: Selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU and will receive an hourly wage of $23.84 for hours worked.

Hours: Full-time.

Travel: Occasional local travel may be required. Occasional overnight travel to scientific meetings to present research may also be required.

Expected start date: The position is full time and expected to begin June 2024. The selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU working as a contractor to EPA.

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