Scientist, Standards

About the role

The Scientist, Standards will prepare and maintain analytical standards, calibration materials, reagents, and reference solutions within the insourced laboratory team as part of an End-to-End (E2E) Laboratory Modernization Program. This role supports chromatographic, aerosol, dissolution, and physical testing laboratories by ensuring the accuracy, traceability, and integrity of standards used for analytical testing at a client site.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and maintain analytical standards, calibration solutions, reagents, and working solutions supporting physical testing, smoke, aerosol, dissolution, and chromatography-based methods.
• Prepare standards and calibration materials supporting analyses of nicotine, minor alkaloids, menthol, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), aromatic amines, benzo[a]pyrene, TSNAs, carbonyls, flavor additives, nicotine degradants, organic acids, glycidol, primary constituents, and elemental analyses.
• Support standard preparation activities associated with GC, GC-MS, GC-FID, UPLC, UHPLC, LC-MS/MS, ICP-MS, and dissolution methodologies.
• Maintain inventory of reference standards, certified reference materials, reagents, solvents, and consumables, ensuring proper storage conditions and full traceability.
• Ensure chain-of-custody and traceability requirements are maintained for all reference materials and analytical reagents.
• Document standards preparation activities and maintain records in laboratory notebooks and LIMS in accordance with good documentation practices.
• Perform routine calibration and verification of balances, pipettes, volumetric glassware, and associated laboratory equipment.
• Support method validation, method transfer, and verification activities involving standards preparation procedures.
• Review preparation records and analytical documentation to ensure compliance with ISO 17025 quality requirements and data integrity principles.
• Investigate preparation issues and support root cause analysis activities as appropriate.
• Collaborate with analytical scientists supporting smoke generation, aerosol collection, dissolution testing, physical characterization, extraction, and chromatographic analyses.
• Mentor and train less experienced staff as appropriate.
• Contribute to the transition from a staffing model to a Managed Service model by identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, standardization, and laboratory effectiveness.
• Maintain training and compliance in areas of health and safety, security, environmental and operational aspects of daily activities in the working environment.
• Handle hazardous waste according to local, state, and federal regulations, including identifying, handling, generating, accumulating, storing, and labeling hazardous waste.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related scientific discipline OR Associate degree with 2+ years of relevant laboratory experience.
• Relevant standards preparation or analytical laboratory experience (entry-level candidates through experienced scientists will be considered).
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a regulated laboratory environment.
• Adaptable, self-motivated, and capable of performing precise, detail-oriented laboratory work.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Skills

• Precision and accuracy in gravimetric and volumetric preparation techniques.
• Strong understanding of reference material traceability and chain-of-custody requirements.
• Knowledge of standards preparation supporting GC, GC-MS, UPLC, LC-MS/MS, ICP-MS, and dissolution methods.
• Strong attention to detail and documentation practices.
• Knowledge of analytical balances, pipettes, and volumetric equipment verification procedures.
• Familiarity with ISO 17025 quality management systems and data integrity requirements.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize work across multiple analytical programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience preparing standards and calibration materials supporting chromatographic and spectrometric analyses.
• Familiarity with GC, GC-MS, UPLC, UHPLC, LC-MS/MS, and ICP-MS instrumentation.
• Experience with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and electronic laboratory notebooks.
• Experience working within ISO 17025-accredited, GLP, or GMP laboratory environments.
• Knowledge of tobacco, nicotine, inhalable, aerosol, or consumer product testing requirements.
• Experience supporting method validation, method transfer, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Working Environment

• Work in a laboratory environment requiring personal protective equipment (e.g., lab coat, safety glasses).
• Fast-paced environment with high job completion demands.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position more than 25% of the time.
• Occasional movement between labs, corridors, adjoining rooms, and buildings onsite.
• Frequent operation of instruments, tools, or controls, requiring regular bending, squatting, stretching, and reaching.
• Occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds (potential for occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds).
• Specific vision abilities required: close-range distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Occasional operation of computers and office machinery (e.g., calculator, copy machine, printer).
• Potential exposure to lab-based hazards including extreme temperatures, biological materials, and hazardous chemicals.
• May require Medical Clearance, Respiratory Protection Training, and Fit Testing to wear a respirator.