Chemist

National Institutes of Health • Montgomery County, MD

9d

About The Position

This position is in the Clinical Pharmacology Program (CPP), Office of the Clinical Director (OCD), Center for Cancer Research (CCR), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The incumbent serves as an analytical chemist supporting clinical pharmacology and translational drug-development research. The role develops, optimizes, validates, and applies quantitative bioanalytical methods to determine concentrations of drugs, metabolites, and related analytes in biological matrices, supporting pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic investigations and clinical study objectives.

The position also involves operating and maintaining analytical instruments, preparing biological samples, evaluating assay performance, processing and reviewing quantitative data, maintaining quality documentation, coordinating specimen handling, and communicating findings to multidisciplinary study teams.

Requirements

• Meet the Chemist, GS-1320 basic qualification requirements: a bachelor's or graduate or higher degree in physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that includes 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus and at least 6 semester hours of physics; OR equivalent coursework and appropriate experience or additional education.
• For GS-1320-12, demonstrate at least one year of qualifying specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-11 in the Federal Government, obtained in the private or public sector, including developing or adapting quantitative chromatographic and mass-spectrometric methods for drugs, metabolites, or related compounds in biological matrices; performing LC-MS/MS quantitative analyses and independently evaluating calibration, quality-control, and sample results; identifying and resolving technical issues affecting method performance or data reliability; and preparing technical documentation such as SOPs, analytical method reports, validation records, or study data summaries.
• Submit transcripts or a list of courses, including titles, credit hours, and grades; official transcripts are required from selectees before an official offer.
• Meet U.S. citizenship or U.S. national status requirements by the closing date.
• Successfully complete the required background investigation, qualification verification, onboarding forms, document submission, and other job-related requirements.
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Complete a pre-employment medical examination.
• Be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, qualify, validate, transfer, and apply chromatographic and mass-spectrometric methods, particularly LC-MS/MS, for quantitative analysis of small-molecule drugs, metabolites, and selected peptides in biological specimens.
• Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot HPLC/UHPLC and tandem mass spectrometry systems; investigate sensitivity, selectivity, carryover, matrix effects, chromatographic interference, and analyte stability.
• Design and execute sample preparation procedures, including protein precipitation, liquid-liquid extraction, and solid-phase extraction; prepare calibrators, internal standards, blanks, and quality-control samples.
• Evaluate assay performance, including accuracy, precision, calibration range, lower limit of quantification, dilution integrity, selectivity, stability, and reproducibility; apply predefined acceptance criteria and document investigations.
• Acquire, process, critically review, and report quantitative data; contribute to pharmacokinetic data interpretation and coordinate with clinical pharmacology investigators.
• Maintain traceable records, SOPs, method-validation protocols, sample-analysis reports, and quality documentation consistent with applicable FDA/EMA bioanalytical guidance, ICH M10, and laboratory quality practices.
• Coordinate specimen receipt, inventory, storage, transfers, and disposition.
• Train laboratory personnel and communicate analytical findings to multidisciplinary study teams.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package, with benefits for employees and their families; specific eligibility depends on position type.
• Potential salary above the minimum based on superior qualifications and/or a special need of the Government, subject to hiring manager discretion and approval before appointment.
• Potential service credit for prior work experience or active-duty uniformed service when directly related to the position, determined case by case and finalized before entrance on duty.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior