Research Support Specialist; SEE EPA: OASES/ CSSD / LSS

Job Description: The National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) is seeking candidates 55 years of age and older for the position of Research Support Specialist with the U.S. EPA Senior Environmental Employment (SEE) Program OASES/ CSSD/ LSS Division.

General Summary:

Provide oversight for the daily operation and programming, maintenance, calibration, and repair of greenhouse and growth chamber research facilities. Provide technical scientific support for experiments conducted in the greenhouse, laboratory, or field. Tasks will be accomplished with minimal supervision. Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs) and Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) will be read and followed. Field work is not required.

Program Qualification (must meet all 3 minimum requirements):

• 55 years of age and older (in accordance with Public Law 98-313 and the Older American Workers Act)
• a US citizen
• be eligible to work in the US.

Position Qualifications:

• Minimum of 5 years of related experience in operating, troubleshooting, maintaining, repairing, and programming controlled environment chambers and greenhouses and Minimum of 5 years of related experience in laboratory and greenhouse scientific support work with an emphasis on biological work
• BA/BS with college level science courses. Experience in electronic instruments and environmental data collection helpful.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Assist in providing oversight for day-to-day operation, maintenance and troubleshooting, repair, and program of Terrestrial Ecology Research Facility (TERF) hardware and scientific instrumentation (greenhouses, growth chambers, ovens and refrigerators/freezers). Ensure instruments and equipment operate smoothly and with minimum disruption and experimental downtime. Monitor and conduct preventative maintenance and quality checks of hardware and scientific instrumentation. Maintain, calibrate, troubleshoot, repair and program greenhouses/growth chambers and supportive hardware and software. Maintain TERF equipment, supplies, samples, etc in an organized and orderly manner. (50%)
• Fill pots, germinate seeds, water and fertilize plants, harvest plant material, dispose of soils, and plants (e.g., autoclave), and complete other activities related to general plant management. (10%)
• Process (mix, screen, grind, weigh, etc.) soil, sediment, mine tailings, biomass feedstocks, biochar, plant materials, and other media. Prepare samples for chemical analyses and shipment. (10%)
• Calibrate and program scientific instrumentation (e.g. dataloggers, temperature/humidity sensors, light sensors, soil moisture sensors). Ensure the logbooks of calibration and maintenance activities performed are current and contain proper level of detail and information. Send out instruments for calibration. (10%)
• Conduct ph, EC, and other measurements on water samples, mine tailings, soils, and other media and amendments.
• Conduct measurements of plant growth and development including emergence, height, diameter, seed numbers, tuber size, etc. Enter data into notebooks or onto datasheets and then into Excel computer spreadsheets. (5%)
• Contribute to writing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), evaluate existing SOPs for completeness and accuracy, recommend any new SOPs that need to be written, and assist in training new staff who perform routine TERF maintenance and technical scientific support. (5%)

Benefits:

Paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave. Program-paid medical insurance and enrollee-paid dental and vision plans available. This position is reviewed annually and may or may not be renewed. EOE.

**This position is in support of a Federally funded Employment Program with a defined hourly rate**

Pay: $19.21 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Are you 55 years of age or older (in accordance with Public Law 98-313 and the Older American Workers Act). For more information: Senior Environmental Employment (SEE) Program | US EPA
• Are you a US Citizen?

Work Location: In person

Salary : $19