Clinical Research Lab Associate

The EPA National Student Services Contract has an immediate opening for a full-time contractor position; Clinical Research Lab Associate with the Office of Research and Development at the EPA facility in Chapel Hill, NC.

Salary: $23.84 per hour.

Travel: Occasional local travel may be required. Occasional overnight travel to scientific meetings to present research may also be required.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency with general laboratory skills in a research laboratory setting outside the classroom, including: proficiency in cell culture, preparing and aliquoting solutions and samples , pipetting, maintaining a scientific notebook, electronic record keeping, and inventory management and organization;
• Completed undergraduate courses (courses with lecture and laboratory components count as one course) in at least three of the following topics: general biology, molecular biology, genetics, microbiology, biochemistry, or toxicology;
• At least six months of mentor-directed laboratory research experience in biological science outside the classroom;
• Hands-on experience culturing mammalian cell lines in a laboratory setting;
• Proficiency performing searches of the scientific literature using databases including PubMed; and
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint software.

Desired Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• Proficiency in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a research laboratory setting outside the classroom and hands-on experience in RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis, and quantitative PCR in a research laboratory setting.
• Proficiency in live cell research-based microscopy techniques, such as bright field and confocal fluorescent microscopy;
• Proficiency in multiplex ELISA assays; and
• Hands-on experience in Western blotting in a laboratory setting.

Qualifications

• Be at least 18 years of age and
• Have earned at least Bachelor of Science degree in biology, cell biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, or closely related field of biological science 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 and

EPA ORD employees, their spouses, and children are not eligible to participate in this program.

What the EPA project is about

The Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA) provides the science needed to understand the complex interrelationship between people and nature in support of assessments and policy to protect human health and ecological integrity. Within CPHEA, the Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division (PHITD) performs clinical and animal toxicological research to assess the impact of environmental exposures on human health by developing and validating biological measures in all aspects of human health to better link exposure, dose, and health outcomes. This includes evaluating toxicological mechanisms and responses for target organ systems using multiple strategies related to chemical screening and prioritization including assessing in vivo predictive value of in vitro tests and test methods development and interpretation.

Some division investigators conduct clinical studies involving human volunteers to determine the effects of exposure to ambient pollution on human health and elucidate the mechanisms through which these effects occur. Studies are conducted in close consultation with client offices in order to support the regulatory activities of the Agency.

This is an excellent opportunity for a recent Bachelor’s graduate to collaborate with EPA’s research team. Research experience includes:

• Participating in multi-disciplinary research team;
• Conducting in vitro pollutant exposures;
• Working with postdocs; and
• Networking and exploring many career paths at EPA.

Interested in this research opportunity? If so, follow the link below to apply. Questions? Email EPANSSC@ORAU.org