SCIENTIST - MICROBIOLOGICAL SAFETY

Who We Are:

We work to maintain laboratory safety in chemical, biological, optical, and mechanical research areas. We support and direct staff in safety and environmental practices affected by new project ventures.

Objectives of this Role:

• Lead and assist staff with new and existing safety requirements as it relates to incoming projects, involving chemicals, PPE assessments, facility modifications, procedures, etc. Facilitate receiving, cataloging, organizing, storage, shipping and disposal of chemicals.
• Be committed to bringing in projects, which means assisting with promoting of the microbiology area, and assisting with writing proposals and running tasks on a project.
• Support and participate in brainstorming with senior division staff with/about safety/environmental assessments based on new project tasking and potential workplace hazards associated with research programs.
• Generate and help put into practice strategies to reduce personnel expos.
• Be responsible for preventive maintenance of the laboratory suites, maintenance of equipment, calibrations, restocking of laboratory supplies/reagents, making media, sterilizing tools, growing cultures, maintaining stock cultures and running assays.
• Provide microbiological support in following protocols to run experiments, collecting data and reporting to the project manager.
• Encouraged to provide input for process improvements, ideas for customer solutions, and supporting the growth of the microbiology area.

Daily and Monthly Responsibilities:

• Conduct/maintain weekly and monthly safety/environmental laboratory inspections.
• Participate in safety-related committee meetings. Serve as the environmental safety division POC or alternate.
• Maintain safety documentation and work instruction as it relates to the work we do in the division (i.e., chemical hygiene plans, fire evacuation plans, hazard communication, spill procedures, PPE, hazard assessment and laboratory inspections checklists etc.)
• Work with staff at the start of a new project to assist with workflow changes and to help identify potential safety/health concerns and participate in brainstorming recommendations on how to mitigate and proceed.
• Microbiology Lab: media preparation, sterilization of glassware/tools/materials; maintenance and operation of key equipment (autoclave, cryogenic storage, incubators, environmental chambers, pH meters, spectrophotometers, analytical balances, centrifuges, pumps, filters, etc.).
• Daily laboratory tasks or project responsibilities.
• Follow standard operating procedures.
• Prepares equipment & materials for testing.
• Employ aseptic technique.
• Culturing of bacteria, fungi, yeast, phage and viruses.
• Work on experiments independently and with a team.

Requirements:

• Requires a Bachelors in MicroBiology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or directly related with related experience
• 0-2 years: Microbiology-related (or any biological sciences area) laboratory skills, Safety, Environmental tasking, Implementation in a job setting
• 0-2 years: Handling, storing and disposal of chemicals
• Classes, courses, or an interest in Environmental Science is helpful
• A valid/clear driver's license is required