Laboratory Intern

Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District • Cuyahoga Heights, OH

2d • $20 - $22

About The Position

The Laboratory Intern will support NEORSD’s full service and accredited environmental laboratory by working alongside various teams including Sample Control, Chemistry, Biology, Advanced Instrumentation, and EHS & Logistics. This internship offers well-rounded experience to understand the foundation and impact of a full functioning laboratory. The intern will assist with various projects throughout the assignment, including but not limited to: RESPONSIBILITIES PROJECT TITLE: Sample Control Team Using the laboratory’s information management system (LIMS), prepare sampling kits, sampling tags, and chain of custody documentation for routine sampling events. Following NEORSD defined safety practices and laboratory standard operating procedures, utilize NEORSD vehicles to pick up samples and deliver sampling kits to NEORSD facilities. Following laboratory standard operating procedures, visually inspect samples, validate chain of custody records, aliquot samples for testing, preserve samples for storage and document information as necessary in logbooks, forms and the laboratory information management system. PROJECT TITLE: Biology Team Culture and maintain testing organisms. Ensure the health and viability of testing organisms by performing routine water quality checks, maintenance of culturing units, daily feeding, renewal of culture water, and harvest fish larvae and neonates. Maintain documentation on laboratory forms and logs for maintenance performed, reproduction rates, and organism parentage. Assist laboratory staff with Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Testing Following laboratory standard operating procedures, calibrate water quality meters, and validate analytical balances, pipettes and incubators for proper operation and accuracy. Prepare testing reagent water to method specified requirements. Clean, organize, and label all supplies, reagents, and glassware needed to perform routine WET tests. Sample Analysis by Colilert and Membrane Filtration Following laboratory protocols and aseptic technique, perform initial demonstration of capability for Colilert and membrane filtration analyses. Perform tests with associated QC as needed. Enter data into the LIMS and submit completed data packages. General Maintenance and Support Following laboratory protocols and aseptic techniques Utilize an autoclave or UV cabinet to sterilize laboratory equipment and reagents. Perform various quality control checks to verify sterility and media specificity. Prepare media and broths in bulk and validate. PROJECT TITLE: Chemistry, Advanced Instrumentation, and EHS & Logistics Perform routine equipment checks to ensure they are in control. Assist with preparation (filtration, digestion, distillation) of samples for various analyses. Perform physical testing such as solids, oil and grease, and BTU analyses. Perform chemical analyses such as titrations and spectrophotometric assays. PROJECT TITLE: General Laboratory Maintain laboratory glassware, supplies, and equipment. Ensure supplies in all areas are sufficiently stocked. Follow prescribed procedures to order as necessary. Perform general housekeeping as needed.

Requirements

• Candidate must be enrolled in school or must have graduated within 24 months from the date of application.
• Declared Majors: Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, or similar areas of study
• Any of the following degree program levels may qualify Bachelor’s Degree Master’s Degree Doctoral Degree
• Candidates must be able to commit to a fixed-term assignment of 12 months with an option to extend at NEORSD’s discretion.
• Candidates must be able to work 40 hours per week from a combination of Monday – Friday during normal business hours and required weekend work on Saturday and Sunday (typically 4-5 hours each weekend day once every 3-5 weeks).
• This is a full-time temporary position.
• Candidates must possess a valid driver's license with a driving record in accordance with the NEORSD’s acceptable guidelines.
• This internship program provides for a time-limited role at NEORSD with no express or implied guarantee of future employment beyond the assignment period.
• This position is governed by all applicable NEORSD administrative policies, practices, and procedures related to temporary employees.
• The District requires protective footwear (i.e., steel or composite-toed) when working in the plants, pump stations, construction sites, public rights-of-way and other posted areas.
• New hires are required to have protective footwear, meeting the following criteria, on the first day of employment: 1) Must be ANSI 241-1999 or ASTM F-2412/2413 (2005) certified, 2) Must have a steel or composite protective toe, 3) Must be, at a minimum, a 6" work boot or 6" hiker-style boot (Note: shoes are not permitted), 4) Must have a slip-resistant sole.
• It is also recommended, but not required, that footwear be waterproof and have included a shank to protect the bottom of the foot.

Responsibilities

• Using the laboratory’s information management system (LIMS), prepare sampling kits, sampling tags, and chain of custody documentation for routine sampling events.
• Following NEORSD defined safety practices and laboratory standard operating procedures, utilize NEORSD vehicles to pick up samples and deliver sampling kits to NEORSD facilities.
• Following laboratory standard operating procedures, visually inspect samples, validate chain of custody records, aliquot samples for testing, preserve samples for storage and document information as necessary in logbooks, forms and the laboratory information management system.
• Culture and maintain testing organisms.
• Ensure the health and viability of testing organisms by performing routine water quality checks, maintenance of culturing units, daily feeding, renewal of culture water, and harvest fish larvae and neonates.
• Maintain documentation on laboratory forms and logs for maintenance performed, reproduction rates, and organism parentage.
• Assist laboratory staff with Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Testing Following laboratory standard operating procedures, calibrate water quality meters, and validate analytical balances, pipettes and incubators for proper operation and accuracy.
• Prepare testing reagent water to method specified requirements.
• Clean, organize, and label all supplies, reagents, and glassware needed to perform routine WET tests.
• Sample Analysis by Colilert and Membrane Filtration Following laboratory protocols and aseptic technique, perform initial demonstration of capability for Colilert and membrane filtration analyses.
• Perform tests with associated QC as needed.
• Enter data into the LIMS and submit completed data packages.
• Following laboratory protocols and aseptic techniques Utilize an autoclave or UV cabinet to sterilize laboratory equipment and reagents.
• Perform various quality control checks to verify sterility and media specificity.
• Prepare media and broths in bulk and validate.
• Perform routine equipment checks to ensure they are in control.
• Assist with preparation (filtration, digestion, distillation) of samples for various analyses.
• Perform physical testing such as solids, oil and grease, and BTU analyses.
• Perform chemical analyses such as titrations and spectrophotometric assays.
• Maintain laboratory glassware, supplies, and equipment.
• Ensure supplies in all areas are sufficiently stocked.
• Follow prescribed procedures to order as necessary.
• Perform general housekeeping as needed.

Benefits

• Health Insurance Coverage
• Various Retirement Planning Options (Ohio Public Employee Retirement System and Deferred Compensation Plans)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Free Parking at our facilities
• Corporate Discounts
• Health & Wellness Program

What This Job Offers

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