Bioassay Research Technologist 1

Los Alamos National Laboratory; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental & vision insurance

401(k) with match

Life insurance

Tuition assistance

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, NM, seeks a chemistry professional to support the in vitro Bioassay program within the Trace Analytical Chemistry Team of the Nuclear and Radiochemistry Group (C-NR). You will perform separation chemistry on actinides from urine, contribute to method development, and maintain QA/QC documentation and records.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree in a related field and 2 years of related experience, with the ability to work independently, handle

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry or a related discipline is required (or equivalent combination).
• Experience in a chemistry lab with corrosive/hazardous chemicals.
• Ability to lift up to 20 lbs and work in a chemical hood for extended periods.
• Experience documenting work and communicating effectively.
• Experience with radiochemical and biological sample prep methods.
• Ability to work independently with initiative and complete assignments with minimal direction.
• Experience ensuring work meets quality specifications.
• Experience developing new techniques, troubleshooting analytical methods, and maintaining research documentation.
• Experience developing work control documents and SOPs.

Responsibilities

• Perform separation chemistry on biological matrices (actinides from urine) following established procedures.
• Conduct research and development to improve existing procedures and contribute to new methods.
• Maintain QA/QC documentation and records.
• Order, stock, prepare reagents and labware; perform lab cleanup and data entry/review.

Skills

Lab work experience

Hazardous chemicals handling

Lifting 20 lbs

Documentation skills

Radiochemical sample prep

Independent work

Quality assurance

Method development

SOP writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Tools

LIMS

Balance

Weight set

Pipet

Refractometer

pH meter

Job description

What You Will Do

This position supports the in vitro Bioassay program, which monitors thousands of LANL workers for exposures to radioactive materials. This program allows LANL to continue it's mission of delivering scientific discoveries and technical breakthroughs while ensuring worker health and safety. The selected candidate will work in the Trace Analytical Chemistry Team of the Nuclear and Radiochemistry Group (C-NR). Responsibilities will include performing separation chemistry on a biological matrix (actinides from urine) following established procedures, performing research and development to improve existing procedures, contributing to new methods, maintaining Quality Assurance/Quality Control documentation and records, ordering, stocking, preparing reagents, labware cleaning and performing data entry and review. The selected candidate should have advanced knowledge of Bioassay chemical separation methods and should be comfortable working independently and with teammates, with limited direct supervision. Work will routinely include non-routine, exercise, and R&D samples.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements

• Demonstrated experience with laboratory work in chemistry or a related discipline (such as healthcare, geochemistry or biology).
• Proven ability to work in a chemistry laboratory setting with corrosive and hazardous chemicals.
• Ability to lift up to 20lbs. and to work in a chemical hood for extended periods of time.
• Demonstrated experience documenting work performed and good communication skills
• Demonstrated experience with radiochemical and biological sample preparation methods.
• Proven ability to work independently with initiative and complete assignments with minimum direction.
• Demonstrated experience ensuring work meets quality specifications.
• Demonstrated experience developing new techniques, trouble shooting analytical methods, and maintaining research documentation.
• Demonstrated experience developing work control documents and SOPs.

Education/Experience

Position requires a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and 2 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to the occupation.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience ordering and stocking labware, chemicals, and other materials utilized for routine laboratory tasks.
• Use of laboratory information management system (LIMS) software for sample tracking.
• Experience verifying performance of material and testing equipment (examples: balance, weight set, pipet, refractometer, pH meter).

Essential Job Functions

Working alone, occasionally working overtime or irregular schedule, domestic/foreign travel, operation of motor vehicles, work near electrical power supplies, work near sources of ionizing radiation, work near sources of non-ionizing radiation, work near machinery with moving parts, toxic chemicals, irritant chemicals, fumes, safety glasses or eye protection, face shield or facial protection, gloves or hand protection, safety shoes or protective foot gear, hood use.

Ability to lift up to 20lbs. and to work in a chemical hood for extended periods of time.

Work Environment

Work Location

The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.

Position commitment

Regular appointment employees are required to serve a period of continuous service in their current position in order to be eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the time required, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. The position commitment for this position is 1 year.

Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China-including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau-as well as citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation, who are not Lawful Permanent Residents ("green card" holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission, functions, and operations of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Where You Will Work

The Nuclear and Radiochemistry Group supports both operational missions and R&D efforts in bioassay, nuclear forensics, nuclear nonproliferation, safeguards, treaty monitoring, and weapons programs. Basic research is conducted in areas of radiochemistry, radiometric measurements, materials characterization, mass spectrometry, nuclear chemistry and physics, spectroscopy, and actinide chemistry. Programmatic work supported by C-NR includes maintenance and stewardship of the nuclear stockpile, nuclear forensics, international safeguards, nuclear non-proliferation, treaty monitoring, and bioassay monitoring. C-NR addresses immediate to long-term mission needs for sponsors, and has established capabilities and facilities for handling and characterizing radiological materials over a wide range of radioactivity levels. Current major sponsors include the Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Strategic Partnerships (Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of State, and other federal agencies), and LANL institutional support.

Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:

• PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
• Dental and vision insurance
• Free basic life and disability insurance
• Paid childbirth and parental leave
• Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
• Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
• Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
• Onsite gyms and wellness programs
• Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)

Additional Details

Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.

Clearance: Q

Position will be cleared to this level. Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government, and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matter. This position requires a Q clearance, and obtaining such clearance requires US Citizenship except in extremely rare circumstances. Dependent upon the position, additional authorization to access classified information may be required, which may or may not be available to dual citizens. Receipt of a Q clearance and additional access authorization ultimately is a decision of the Federal Government and not of Triad.

• Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 for additional information.

New-Employment Drug Test

The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.

Regular position

Term status Laboratory employees applying for regular-status positions are converted to regular status.

Internal Applicants

Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy Policy P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.

Equal Opportunity

Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to protected categories such as race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to [e-mail] or call (505)-664-6947.