Chemist - Molecular Biology

Goldbelt Apex, LLC is an Alaska Native 8(a) firm that specializes in medical logistics, equipment modernization, maintenance, business analysis and innovative technologies to accelerate the delivery of health care across the military, federal, and civilian landscapes. Goldbelt Apex, LLC is headquartered in Juneau, Alaska with offices in Herndon, Virginia.

Summary:

Goldbelt Apex, LLC is currently seeking an experienced Chemist to support the Army Public Health Center to provide analytical support for a wide variety of Public Health Laboratory samples in support of military deployments, industrial hygiene, water quality, waste disposal, health physics and toxicology projects. They will help solve technical problems involving identification and quantification of the metals in various solid, solid-liquid, liquid and gas samples and provide documentation of same.

Essential Job Functions:

• Conduct complex chemical analyses of a wide variety of Public Health Laboratory samples to determine metals concentrations. Results will be evaluated and reported IAW APHC standards and policies.
• Operate sophisticated laboratory equipment to include, but not limited to, inductively coupled plasma (ICP) optical emission spectrometer (OES) and ICP-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS).
• Check quality control data and perform corrective actions, as required, assess data quality impacts for quality control outlier data, identify components found, concentrations and document techniques used in analyses and report results through automated laboratory information management systems.
• Identify topics within the given lab section/branch that require research, monitoring or study and will develop, plan and/or direct projects to further investigate those areas, using scientifically sound project planning/management methodology.
• Develop, adapt, modify and/or implement analytical testing methods, as needed to include, but not limited to, determining the most effective approach and required analytical instruments to obtain the necessary data.
• Develop and prepare Public Health technical reports, business process documentation, oral reports, charts, tables and/or professional quality presentations, as required.
• Conduct microorganism and molecular biological analysis of a wide variety of Public Health Laboratory samples in support of military deployments, water quality, industrial hygiene, and various other bio-surveillance projects.
• Help solve technical problems involving identification and quantification of biological pathogens in various environmental and/or biological matrices and provide documentation of same.
• Conduct microbiological testing such as bacterial contamination (e.g. Coliform and E. coli) and Cryptosporidium Giardia in waters.
• Utilize molecular based technologies such as reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for detection of current and emerging pathogens of interest in various matrices. Results will be evaluated and reported IAW APHC standards and policies.
• Check quality control data and perform corrective actions, as required, assess data quality impacts for quality control outlier data, identify components found, concentrations and document techniques used in analyses and report results through automated laboratory information management systems.
• Identify topics within the given lab section/branch that require research, monitoring or study and will develop, plan and/or direct projects to further investigate those areas, using scientifically sound project planning/management methodology.
• Develop, adapt, modify and/or implement biological testing methods, as needed to include, but not limited to, determining the most effective approach and required analytical instruments to obtain the necessary data.
• Develop and prepare Public Health technical reports, business process documentation, oral reports, charts, tables and/or professional quality presentations, as required.

Necessary Skills and Knowledge:

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Time Management - Able to manage one's own time
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to work alone or with a team

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in a Physical or Biological Science, Chemistry, Microbiology, or Molecular Biology preferred
• Microsoft Office Products
• Four or more years' experience operating analytical chemistry equipment.
• Four or more years' experience in a production laboratory setting doing sample preparation and analysis of industrial hygiene and/or environmental samples.
• Four or more years' experience conducting microbiological and molecular-based testing of environmental samples.
• Must be able to obtain a current Public Trust clearance
• U.S. Citizenship

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory.
• Experience with one or more of the following methods
• EPA 331/6850 Perchlorate in Water/Soil, EPA 531.2 (Carbamates), EPA 537 (Glyphosate), EPA 300.0 (Anions), EPA 415.3 (Total Organic Carbon), EPA 350.1 (Ammonia in Water), EPA 365.1 (Phosphorus in Water), EPA 353.2 or similar method (Nitrate/Nitrite in Water), OSHA-ID 215 or similar method (Hexavalent Chromium in Air/Wipes), EPA 504.1 EDB and DBCP in Water, EPA 505 Organochlorine Pesticides and PCBs in Water, EPA 515.3 Acid Herbicides in Water, EPA 552.3 Haloacetic Acids in Water, EPA 8081/8082/8141 Organochlorine and Organophosphate Pesticides and PCBs in Water/Soil, EPA 8151A Acid Herbicides in Water/Soil, and NIOSH/OSHA methods for organic analytes in air.