Lab Assistant

About the role

Works with Food & Dietary Supplement Scientist to support the day-to-day functioning of the Food Laboratory.

Responsibilities

• Receives, collects and tests samples of herbal and food raw materials used in production and/or new product development projects.
• Utilizes standard analytical and microbiological methods to assess tested materials quality.
• Submits samples for testing to third party laboratories if and when necessary.
• Performs occasional testing on finished food and dietary supplement products.
• Assists with maintaining laboratory documentation and archiving, managing reference materials and retained samples.
• Processes vendor qualification documentation and submits the qualification packages to R&D Manager for approval.
• Follows Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) and current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP).
• Prepares food samples.
• Maintains equipment logs, cleans and manages glassware, and assists in keeping the lab clean and organized.
• Assists in other areas in the department as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or associate degree in a scientific discipline; or at least one year of experience in a laboratory and/or training; or equivalent combinations of education and experience.
• Basic computer and laboratory skills.
• Experience operating rotavapor, moisture balance, FTIR, and HPLC is a plus.
• Ability to use a scale and prepare different concentrations of solutions and powders.
• Ability to work with algebraic and statistical formulas.
• Knowledge of basic computer skills.
• Good communication skills.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific literature and analytical SOPs.
• Ability to write laboratory reports and other documents.
• Ability to present information to company management and staff.

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.
• Frequently required to sit.
• Occasionally lifts and/or moves up to 10 pounds.
• Manual dexterity and good tactile perception are necessary.
• Occasionally required to evaluate materials by taste and smell.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and the ability to use analytical instruments requiring accurate focus.

Work Environment

• Occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, toxic, caustic, or flammable chemicals, thermal heat sources, and risk of electric shock.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• May require travel by airplane, automobile, or other public conveyance.

Certificates, licenses, or registrations are a plus.