Laboratory Technician Intern

American Water Co.; Belleville (IL); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

American Water in Belleville, IL offers a Lab Technician Internship in the Central Laboratory to support drinking water testing programs. You will work with chemists and lab staff, gaining hands-on experience in environmental laboratory and water quality analysis.

The role focuses on sample preparation, instrument operation, data entry, and contributing to PFAS and other contaminant investigations, with opportunities to learn LIMS and QA practices; occasional field sampling may be required.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a Chemistry or Environmental Science/Engineering degree.
• Interest in water quality testing and environmental health.
• Willingness to learn analytical methods and QA procedures.

Responsibilities

• Assist with sample preparation and laboratory analyses for drinking water and environmental samples.
• Support operation, calibration, maintenance, and troubleshooting of laboratory instruments.
• Perform data review, quality control checks, and documentation per SOPs.
• Contribute to PFAS, cyanotoxin, and other emerging contaminant investigations as needed.
• Assist with field sampling, plant visits, or facility inspections occasionally.

Education

Chemistry/Environmental Science degree

Tools

GC

HPLC

IC

ICP

ICP-MS

GC-MS

LC-MS

LIMS

Excel

Job description

Share Our Purpose. Be Yourself. Feel Valued.

People are the heart of our business. As an American Water employee, you will be offered a competitive salary and health benefits package, along with opportunities to develop, grow, and evolve your career. Our benefits packages focus on key areas such as health & wellness, emotional & well-being, and savings for current & future goals.

We are Beautifully Different . We strongly believe having diversity across our company makes us more successful and helps us provide essential services to our customers. We are stronger because we embrace different ideas, viewpoints, experiences, and backgrounds. American Water is the best choice for your next role!

About American Water
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886 and celebrating 140 years in 2026, We Keep Life Flowing by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to approximately 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water’s approximately 7,000 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.

The base salary range represents a good faith salary range for this position. The expected pay range for this position is between $18.00 per hour and $28.00 per hour. If you are hired at American Water your compensation will be determined based on factors such as market, geography, skills, candidate's program year, discipline, and degree. At American Water, we are committed to pay equity.

American Water is also proud to offer employees learning opportunities and work experiences to grow professionally!

Primary Role

This Lab Technician Internship experience will introduce you to exciting career opportunities in the environmental laboratory and water quality field. The successful candidate will gain hands‑on experience supporting drinking water testing programs that help protect public health and the environment.

The candidate will work alongside chemists, laboratory technicians, and quality assurance personnel in American Water's Central Laboratory. The laboratory supports drinking water compliance testing, operational monitoring, and emerging contaminant investigations across multiple states.

Key Accountabilities

Typical duties are diverse and designed around the student's education and experience level.

• The successful candidate may assist with sample preparation and laboratory analyses for drinking water and environmental samples while learning analytical methods used for inorganic, organic, PFAS, cyanotoxin, and other water quality parameters.
• Responsibilities may include supporting the operation, calibration, maintenance, and troubleshooting of laboratory instrumentation such as GC, HPLC, IC, ICP, ICPMS, GCMS and LCMS.
  The student may also perform data review, quality control checks, and documentation in accordance with laboratory standard operating procedures and regulatory requirements.
• Additional assignments may involve utilizing Microsoft Excel, laboratory information management systems (LIMS) and other data management tools, assisting with technical reports, supporting quality assurance activities, conducting literature reviews on emerging contaminants and analytical methods.
• Depending on the candidate's education and experience level, duties may also include assisting with laboratory process improvement initiatives, supporting the implementation of new analytical methods and instrumentation, developing training materials and laboratory documentation, and assisting with special projects related to PFAS, cyanotoxins, microplastics, and other emerging water quality issues.
• The student may also accompany laboratory staff on occasional field sampling events, treatment plant visits, or facility inspections as needed

Experience/Education

Currently enrolled in a degree program in Chemistry, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biology or Biochemistry.

Join American Water... We Keep Life Flowing

American Water is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants based on his or her age, race, color, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, citizenship, or because they arean individual with a disability, protected veteran or other status protected by federal, state, and local laws.