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Form of work
SalaryThe EPA National Student Services Contract has an immediate opening for a full time Environmental Microbiologist position with the Office of Research and Development at the EPA facility in Research Triangle Park, NC.
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
Responsibilities:
You will assist with studies to determine microbial fate and transport from terrestrial environments into freshwater and marine coastal environments.
- Processing environmental samples for fecal bacterial counts and isolation of environmental microbial DNA from a variety of aquatic resources including streams, lakes and coastal environments;
- DNA extraction will be conducted from a variety of matrices including, but not limited to water, sediments, and enrichment cultures; testing environmental samples with DNA-based markers for fecal indicator bacteria and fecal pathogens; perform PCR and qPCR for identification and quantification of microbial indicators; assist with DNA cloning, sequencing and fragment analysis, provide support for metagenomic and bioinformatics analysis; and for conducting standard water quality analyses for water samples and sediment suspensions investigated in the laboratory and field studies (including pH, DO, dissolved and suspended solids, COD, BOD, and TOC);
- Responsible for conducting laboratory and field monitoring experiments to assess the effect of environmental parameters on the fate and transport of microbial contaminants in aquatic ecosystems; and
- Data collection, analysis, and report preparation.
Required Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education
- Demonstrated education and/or experience in microbiology and/or molecular biology;
- A working knowledge of DNA extraction and clean-up, performing qPCR assays (including preparation of standard curves, testing of primer/probe sets and standardization of assays);
- A working knowledge of cloning and preparation of libraries for metagenomic analysis;
- Excellent oral, written, and electronic communication skills; and
- Experience with common computer operation and software usage (e.g., Microsoft Office Professional Suite, including Excel, Word and PowerPoint.).
Desired Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education
Location:This job will be located EPA’s facility in Research Triangle Park, NC.
Salary: Selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU and will receive an hourly wage of $31.38 for hours worked.
Hours: Full-time.
Expected start date: The position is full time and expected to begin March 2024. 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.
Qualifications:- Be at least 18 years of age and
- Have earned at least a Master’s degree in Microbiology, Ecology, Environmental Health Science, Toxicology, Biological Science, Biochemistry, or 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.
