Environmental Analytical Chemist, Civil Engineering

About the Work Unit

Vanderbilt’s Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) department aims to be one of the foremost programs in effecting tangible change to resolve problems of critical importance to humanity in the built environment and the natural world. The department prepares students to be leaders in Civil and Environmental Engineering, performs innovative research to meet challenges in infrastructure and natural resources, and provides service to institutions and government agencies. The specific research group supports extensive research for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, and other federal and non-federal sponsors.

Responsibilities

• Implement EPA standard methods for analysis of semi-volatile, non-volatile, and volatile organic compounds by GC-MS, including sample preparation by solvent exchange or solid phase extraction and meeting all applicable QA-QC requirements.
• Implement EPA standard methods for inorganic elemental analysis by ICP-MS, ICP-OES, and ion chromatography, including sample preparation and meeting all applicable QA-QC requirements.
• Develop or modify existing methods for organic and inorganic analyses to account for complex background matrices.
• Assist with leaching test methods development and implementation.
• Participate in standard operating procedures (SOPs) and/or sample preparation technique development (including documentation) to support faculty and student needs for selected analytical instrumentation.
• Train students, postdocs, and visiting scholars in the proper SOP for selected analytical instrumentation and procedures.
• Report any major instrument, equipment, or process issues to lab leadership, clearly presenting the problem and participating in its resolution.
• Support an ongoing safety culture in the Environmental Engineering Laboratory by maintaining situational awareness.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or a related field is required; an advanced degree (MS or PhD) is preferred.
• At least 5 years’ experience with one or more of the following instruments: gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS), inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES).
• Familiarity with EPA Standard Methods is preferred.
• Technical understanding of basic lab procedures, safety culture, and compliance requirements is necessary.
• Analytical and quantitative skills with meticulous attention to detail.
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Good written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.

Skills

• GC-MS (preferred)
• ICP-MS (preferred)
• ICP-OES (secondary preferred)
• Ion Chromatography
• GC-FID

Supervisory Relationships

This position does not have line supervisory responsibility. It reports administratively and functionally to the Environmental Engineering Laboratory Manager.