Biology Laboratory Research Support - ORAU

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 EPA’s 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 EPA’s 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 studying: 1) development and testing of various methods for concentration/detection of viral indicators and pathogens and 2) fate and transport of viral and bacterial indicators as well as pathogens in built and environmental systems. The team member work with other members of the WECD team and will assist the team with collection of environmental samples (e.g. wastewater, surface water, sediments), execution of field decay/persistence studies, sample processing and concentration (e.g. membrane filtration, hollow-fiber ultrafiltration and others), culture-based (e.g. bacteriophage, fecal indicator bacteria and other bacteria and viruses) as well as molecular (e.g. nucleic acid extraction/purification, PCR/qPCR/RT-qPCR) analysis of environmental samples.

How you will apply your skills

Technical laboratory support responsibilities will include:

• Preparation of sampling materials (e.g. coolers, bottles, etc) and local sample collection from various wastewater treatment plants and surface waters
• Assistance with execution of field decay/persistence studies
• Processing of samples including membrane filtration and hollow-fiber ultrafiltration/elution
• Preparation of microbiological media and supplements for analysis of culturable bacteria, infectious bacteriophage and select viral pathogens
• Analysis of culturable bacteria (indicators and pathogens) using variety of selective-differential media and other techniques
• Analysis of infectious bacteriophage (using double agar overlay method and/or US EPA method 1602)
• 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)
• Analysis of infectious viral pathogens via mammalian cell cultures
• 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;
• Advanced experience with molecular techniques including nucleic acid extractions/purifications and real-time, quantitative PCR (qPCR);
• Working knowledge of bacteriophage enumeration techniques;
• Working knowledge of sample concentration techniques including membrane filtration and hollowfiber ultrafiltration;
• 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 mammalian cell culture techniques.

Location:  This job will be located EPA’s 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 October 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.

• Be at least 18 years of age and
• Have earned at least a Bachelor’s 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.