Wet Lab Lead Technician

Responsibilities

• Plan and carry out programs to collect water quality variables on a diverse set of ships across the Great Lakes over a broad spatial scale
• Provide calibration, deployment, and data analysis of in situ instrumentation used to measure nutrients and pigments associated with phytoplankton and dissolved organic matter
• Identify techniques to measure nutrient cycling by aquatic organisms such as mussels and zooplankton; maintain a nutrient analysis/limnology laboratory with a diverse suite of equipment for measuring nutrients and other water quality variables
• Develop technical training materials and conduct training sessions on routine work and work methods
• Prepare and conduct environmental sampling and monitoring plans focusing on water quality variables including nutrients, phytoplankton, and physical variables; process and analyze samples for turbidity, algal toxins, and other water quality variables; maintain a laboratory equipped to measure beta-emitting radioisotopes (C-14, P-32, P-33, tritium), pigments, algal toxins, and more
• Perform routine and complex wet laboratory chemical analyses on water and sediment samples, focusing on organic and inorganic carbon fractions (TOC, DOC, DIC, POC) and related nutrient parameters in support of HABs and ecosystem research
• Operate, calibrate, troubleshoot, and perform routine preventative maintenance on core laboratory analytical equipment (e.g., TOC analyzers, spectrophotometers, fluorometers, filtration apparatus)
• Execute rigorous laboratory QA/QC procedures, accurately document instrument performance, and maintain detailed laboratory notebooks, chemical inventories, and Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
• Log, track, and preserve incoming field samples collected from GLERL research vessels, autonomous vehicles, and the real-time observation network
• Assist research scientists and engineers with field data and sample collection on NOAA small boats and GLERL research vessels during seasonal monitoring cruises (typically May to November)
• Collaborate with technical staff to draft and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), data summaries, and quality management records
• Assist in developing figures, charts, and technical summaries of carbon and bloom data for research communications, technical publications, and presentations

Qualifications

• BS degree in chemistry, biochemistry, biology, environmental science, limnology, or a closely related scientific discipline
• Demonstrated experience working in a wet chemistry laboratory environment handling environmental samples
• Experience with basic laboratory instrumentation and data entry software (e.g., Microsoft Excel, Google Workspace)
• Valid driver's license
• Ability to lift and carry a 50 lb load to assist with sample coolers and field gear
• Ability to perform field work and handle sample collection on marine vessels
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and safely within a laboratory setting, function as part of a technical team, and strong interpersonal and communication skills

Desired

• Two or more years of experience working in an analytical chemistry or biogeochemistry wet lab focused on aquatic environments
• Hands-on experience operating, troubleshooting, and maintaining carbon analysis instrumentation, such as Total Organic Carbon (TOC/DOC) analyzers, Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC) analyzers, or elemental analyzers (CHN)
• Experience with automated nutrient analyzers, spectrophotometers, fluorometers, and vacuum filtration systems
• Experience working with and developing standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Familiarity with QA/QC protocols, creating standard curves, running check standards, and tracking instrument drift
• Experience processing and analyzing environmental datasets using programming languages such as Python or R
• Experience working at sea or on research cruises within the Great Lakes or similar large aquatic systems
• General knowledge of freshwater ecology, harmful algal bloom (HAB) dynamics, and carbon cycle biogeochemistry