Chemistry Technician II -- (Temporary)
About The Position
The Forensic Chemistry Technician II is a temporary technical position in the Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Epidemiology, State Laboratory and Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, located at 4312 District Drive in Raleigh, Wake County. The position supports the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the State Medical Examiner System. It performs specimen accessioning and storage, along with basic routine assays for a post-mortem forensic toxicology laboratory, including volatiles analysis, colorimetric tests, and single-analyte quantitation assays using Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The work requires experience operating a variety of analytical laboratory equipment and the ability to handle non-standard specimens. Daily assignments are provided by the Forensic Chemistry Supervisor I. The work is forensic in nature, making the timeliness and accuracy of results critical. Laboratory results are combined with preliminary autopsy findings to reach final conclusions about cause and manner of death. The technician may serve as a factual witness concerning chain of custody and/or toxicological analysis and, if required, provide fact-based opinions and testimony in court regarding technical testing performed. The job order hourly rate is $22.00, based on education and/or relevant work experience reflected on the application. This temporary position does not offer leave or retirement benefits. Temporary employees averaging 30 or more hours per week annually may be eligible for health insurance coverage under the High Deductible Health Plan.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in chemical, biological, microbiological, environmental, or natural resource sciences, including related chemistry laboratory coursework, from an appropriately accredited institution; or an associate's degree in one of those fields or a closely related curriculum with related chemistry laboratory coursework and two years of directly related chemistry laboratory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience operating a variety of analytical laboratory equipment.
- Ability to deal with non-standard specimens.
Responsibilities
- Accession specimens and manage specimen storage and discard.
- File and archive materials.
- Coordinate requests from outside agencies, including DNA and outside testing requests.
- Prepare reagents and homogenize tissues to support other laboratory staff.
- Answer the main toxicology phone line and respond to customer requests.
- Handle documentation requests involving toxicology casework accurately and promptly.
- Perform basic routine forensic toxicology assays, including volatiles analysis, colorimetric tests, and single-analyte quantitation assays using LC-MS/MS.
- Handle non-standard specimens and operate analytical laboratory equipment.
- Provide factual testimony, if required, regarding chain of custody, toxicological analysis, and technical testing performed.
Benefits
- Temporary employees who work an annual average of 30 or more hours per week may be eligible for health insurance coverage under the High Deductible Health Plan.
