Scientist I, Microbiology

PDI•Woodcliff Lake, NJ

About The Position

Driven by a commitment to research, quality, and service, PDI provides innovative products, educational resources, training, and support to prevent infection transmission and promote health and wellness. Encompassing three areas, our Healthcare, Sani Professional and Contract manufacturing divisions, we develop, manufacture, and distribute leading edge products for North America and the world. We have several locations across the US and are looking for new Associates to join our team! This position is a member of the R&D Microbiology team to conduct antimicrobial testing, method development and scientific research in support of New and Existing Product Development (NPD/EPD) pipeline for products in drug (OTC, DIN, NHP), medical device, cosmetic, disinfectant (EPA, DIN) and general household products areas. The primary function of this position is to plan, execute, and document disinfectant efficacy (e.g., AOAC 961.02 Germicidal Spray/Towelette, ASTM E2362, ASTM E2967, ASTM E3218 for C. difficile spores, ASTM 3363), preservative effectiveness for cosmetics/personal care (USP <51>, PCPC M5), and GMP microbiological quality testing (USP <60>/<61>/<62>, bioburden/objectionables). The position is a key component of scientific advancement and supports new market launches with input across all facets of project progression including scientific insights, prototype assessment and registration testing to meet regulatory requirements. In addition, this role will contribute to studies that enhance PDI’s current portfolio and will be encouraged to take ownership of assigned workstreams and deliver high-quality results that support competitive differentiation.

Requirements

University Degree in a Biological Science required.
Previous experience in a regulated R&D environment supporting Antimicrobial Products.
Strong Microbiology understanding.
Working knowledge of EPA or FDA regulations.
Previous internship/experience in a Microbiology Laboratory strongly preferred.
Ability to articulate previous Microbiology projects, their goals, techniques used and conclusions.
Proficient with a variety of antimicrobial test methods.
Analytical and continuous improvement mindset.
Excellent communication skills (verbal / written).
Ability to explain science to management.
Prudent risk taker.
Identifies opportunities and takes risks to achieve objectives.

Responsibilities

Perform antimicrobial testing according to regulatory (FDA/EPA) requirements in a BioSafety Level-2 laboratory.
Support development of novel methodologies.
Support projects and scientific endeavors.
Analyze experimental data, ensuring accuracy and reproducibility.
Draw meaningful conclusions and guides further development.
Evaluate root causes and create investigation plans for complex research problems.
Management of external studies at 3rd party labs.
Record data in a coherent and reproducible manner.
Capable of presenting experimental data.
Responsible for equipment calibration/verification and associated documentation.
Optimize laboratory space to ensure an efficient flow of work.
Media preparation and glassware processing.
Perform regularly scheduled testing of R&D water systems.
Manage the laboratory’s documentation for chemical and organism inventory.
Perform testing with proper aseptic technique to avoid contamination.
Culture maintenance and management.
Lab notebook entry and approval.
Maintain stocks of organisms relevant to the upcoming studies.