Biomarkers Lab Support

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

Salary: $22.46 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: performing chemistry calculations (molarity), preparing solutions, pipetting, maintaining a scientific notebook, and electronic record keeping;

·        Completed undergraduate courses (courses with lecture and laboratory components count as one course) in at least three of the following topics and received a grade of “B” or higher: 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;

·        Proficiency in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a research laboratory setting outside the classroom;

·        Proficiency performing searches of the scientific literature using databases including PubMed; and

·        Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint software.

·        Hands-on experience in RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis, and quantitative PCR in a research laboratory setting;

·        Hands-on experience culturing mammalian cell lines in a laboratory setting;

·        Hands-on experience with basic molecular biology techniques such as plasmid preparations, transfections and gel electrophoresis;

·        Hands-on experience conducting chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays and associated quantitative PCR and data analysis in a laboratory setting; and

·        Hands-on experience in Western blotting in a laboratory setting.

·        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

·        Provide proof of a COVID vaccination per the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force Guidance for Federal Contractors.

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.

 

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