Student Intern (Environmental Laboratory - Microbiology)

Orange County Sanitation District•Fountain Valley, CA

18h•Onsite

About The Position

Under close supervision, the selected candidate will perform a variety of duties throughout the Laboratory within the General Chemistry, Microbiology, and Sampling section. Specifically, duties will be mainly to support microbiology including our regional monitoring program where water and shellfish samples from beaches and rivers are analyzed by both culture-based and DNA/RNA-based technology for fecal indicator bacteria, genetic fecal markers, and pathogens. Duties may include assisting with membrane filtration, IDEXX set up, plate incubation, collecting and recording QA/QC data, cleaning glassware, preparing reagents, receiving, and logging samples, molecular lab upkeep, performing culture-based or DNA/RNA-based analysis of environmental samples (water filter and/or shellfish tissues samples), and working with analytical data. Other duties may include preparation and extraction of wastewater, shellfish using total nucleic acid spin columns or automated DNA/RNA extractor, sample preservation, reagent preparation, collecting, entering, tabulating, and analyzing data, general housekeeping, and performing other duties as required. The selected candidate may be required to work with environmental, laboratory, or water samples and will have the ability to write clearly and concisely, complete tasks in an organized, accurate manner, show initiative when given assignments, work independently, and follow OC San safety guidelines.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent
Full-time college student of at least junior level in good standing in a bachelor’s or graduate degree program in a field of study related to the OC San’s activities.
Valid California Class C Driver’s License.
Undergraduate and graduate students must be enrolled full-time at a college or university, be in good standing, and maintain a GPA of 2.0 or better to be eligible for a paid internship with OC San.
Majoring in microbiology, molecular microbiology, biology, genetics, or a related field.
Only students who have at least one year of school remaining will be considered.
Verification of enrollment from the registrar's office indicating "student in good standing" prior to employment with OC San.
Applicants must provide a letter of recommendation from a professor, previous employer or internship supervisor as part of their application.

Nice To Haves

A working knowledge of standard laboratory practices.
Working knowledge and hands-on experience of basic microbiology and molecular laboratory techniques, including fecal indicator bacteria quantification by culture-based methods, water filtration.
Examples include DNA/RNA extraction using spin columns or automated extractors, PCR, quantitative PCR or digital PCR; data compilation and analysis in Excel and/or statistical software such as R, as well as general housekeeping and laboratory safety.
Completion of some molecular microbiology/biology or genetics courses, including lab courses.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel).
Effective verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

Support microbiology including our regional monitoring program where water and shellfish samples from beaches and rivers are analyzed by both culture-based and DNA/RNA-based technology for fecal indicator bacteria, genetic fecal markers, and pathogens.
Assisting with membrane filtration, IDEXX set up, plate incubation, collecting and recording QA/QC data, cleaning glassware, preparing reagents, receiving, and logging samples, molecular lab upkeep.
Performing culture-based or DNA/RNA-based analysis of environmental samples (water filter and/or shellfish tissues samples).
Working with analytical data.
Preparation and extraction of wastewater, shellfish using total nucleic acid spin columns or automated DNA/RNA extractor.
Sample preservation, reagent preparation, collecting, entering, tabulating, and analyzing data.
General housekeeping.
Performing other duties as required.