LC-MS Metabolomics Lab Technician at EPA (Part-Time)

The EPA National Student Services Contract has an immediate opening for a part time LC-MS Metabolomics Lab Technician position with the Office of Research and Development at the EPA facility in Athens, Georgia.

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

• Maintaining, managing, and organizing laboratory facilities, samples, supplies, and reagents
• Preparation of standard solvents and solutions
• Routine instrument calibrations
• Receiving and logging of biological/environmental samples
• Processing of received samples for LC-MS analysis
• Conducting experiments using liquid chromatography and HRAM-MS methods. Experiments will be planned by consulting with research investigators regarding sample preparation, analyte detection and (semi-)quantification, and data quality control methods
• Maintaining records and documentation associated with the conduct of these experiments, in accordance with Quality Assurance plans

• Participating as a member of a multi-disciplinary research team
• Presenting data summaries and results to EPA team members
• Assisting in the preparation of analysis summary documents such as manuscripts, presentations, fact sheets, and reports.
• Documenting daily laboratory activities in designated laboratory notebooks
• Presenting work performed at a scientific conference as required.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• At least one year’s experience in graduate school performing (semi-)quantitative chemical analysis including at least 16 hours of laboratory procedures such as pipetting, sample extractions, chromatography, and/or mass spectrometry;
• Working knowledge of physiochemical separation by liquid chromatography and detection by HRAM mass spectrometry;
• Prior experience working with environmental and/or biological samples;
• Experience using at least one of the following: R, Python, and/or Microsoft Excel, to summarize and manipulate data files, manage data, prepare graphics, and conduct basic data analysis such as summary statistics;
• Strong written, oral, and electronic communication skills.
• If still enrolled in school a transcript will be required each semester to show applicant in good standing with university.

• Experience using at least one of the following: Thermo software Xcalibur, Chromeleon, SII, Compound Discoverer, and/or Proteome Discoverer; Agilent software MassHunter and/or Mass Profiler Professional; Waters software UNIFI, Progenesis QI, and/or MassLynx

Location: This job will be located EPA’s facility in Athens, Georgia.

Salary: Selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU and will receive an hourly wage of $27.67 for hours worked.

Hours: Part-Time. Up to 15 hours per week.

Travel: Occasional overnight travel may be required.

Expected start date: The position is part time and expected to begin June 2023. 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.

• Be at least 18 years of age and
• Have earned at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in biology, chemistry, bioinformatics, toxicology, environmental science, or a closely related field of study plus one year of graduate school 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.