Biology Laboratory Research Support
: Job Details :

The EPA National Student Services Contract has an immediate opening for a full time Biology Laboratory Research Support position with the Office of Research and Development at the EPA facility in Cincinnati, Ohio.

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 EPAs 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 airshed, watershed and ecosystem level. Within CEMM, the Watershed and Ecosystem Characterization Division (WECD) conducts research to advance EPAs ability to characterize the presence, transport, transformation, sources, and impacts of contaminants in watersheds and ecological systems.

As a team member, you will provide technical laboratory support for research projects focusing on 1) development and testing of various methods for concentration/detection of viral indicators and pathogens from wastewater and 2) application of methods in real-world monitoring of viral pathogens in wastewater. The team member work with other members of the WECD team and will assist the team with collection of wastewater samples (e.g. primary treated, secondary treated, and tertiary treated wastewater), execution of field studies, sample processing and concentration (e.g. membrane filtration, hollow-fiber ultrafiltration and others). When deemed necessary, laboratory support will also assist with culture-based (e.g. bacteriophage, enteric viral pathogens) as well as molecular (e.g. nucleic acid extraction/purification, PCR/qPCR/RT-qPCR) analysis of wastewater samples.

How you will apply your skills

Technical laboratory support responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities:

• Preparation of sampling materials (e.g. coolers, bottles, etc) and local sample collection from various wastewater treatment plants
• Assistance with execution of field-based studies
• Processing of samples including membrane filtration and hollow-fiber ultrafiltration/elution
• Preparation of viral media and supplements for analysis of bacteriophage and select viral pathogens.
• Analysis of culturable viruses (indicators and pathogens) using variety of media formulations to identify and optimize viral cultivability.
• Analysis of infectious bacteriophage (using double agar overlay method and/or US EPA method 1602).

Secondary Responsibilities:

• Analysis of infectious viral pathogens via mammalian cell cultures
• Nucleic acid extraction using a variety of commercial kits or other protocols supplied by the investigators.
• Analysis of different viral and bacterial targets using (but not limited to) quantitative, real-time PCR (qPCR) and digital droplet PCR (ddPCR)
• Assist in preparation of Quality Assurance Project Plan and Standard Operating Procedures
• Maintaining careful and accurate records in designated laboratory notebooks.
• Maintaining inventory of supplies.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• Demonstrated experience of general laboratory techniques for assessing water quality (i.e., knowledge of aseptic technique) as well as general laboratory safety practices;
• Experience with collection of environmental samples;
• Demonstrated proficiency in bacteriological culture techniques;
• Strong written, oral, and electronic communication skills; and
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (i.e., Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook).

Desired Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• Working knowledge of molecular techniques including nucleic acid extractions/purifications and real-time, quantitative PCR (qPCR);
• Working knowledge of mammalian cell culture techniques;
• Working knowledge of bacteriophage enumeration techniques; and
• Working knowledge of sample concentration techniques including membrane filtration and hollowfiber ultrafiltration.

Location: This job will be located EPAs facility in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Salary: Selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU and will receive an hourly wage of $24.01 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 December 2024. The selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU working as a contractor to EPA.

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

• Be at least 18 years of age and
• Have earned at least a bachelors degree in microbiology, biology, molecular biology, or a closely 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.