Lynker is recruiting an Environmental Toxicologist (Chemical Tracer Analyst) to conduct on-site laboratory work in Seattle, WA. Hiring of the position is contingent upon contract award.

Description:
The Environmental Toxicologist will support the Environmental Chemistry Program (ECP) at the NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) to conduct studies on environmental factors affecting fishery resources, including exposure to pollutants, as it relates to the protection of NOAA trust resources including fish and marine mammals. The Environmental Toxicologist will complete chemical tracer analyses of marine mammals and their prey and ensure that the data are of high quality for inclusion in peer-reviewed reports and publications. The collection and dissemination of these data increases our understanding of the causes of disease and mortality events in marine mammals and helps assess the status and trends in contaminant accumulation by U.S. marine mammal populations. These data will also provide a measure of the quality of their habitat.

The Environmental Toxicologist will assist with collecting marine mammal tissue; processing and preparing tissues/fluids of marine mammals and their prey; extracting and cleaning up marine organisms for carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios; and analyzing samples for chemical contaminants, including petroleum-related polycyclic aromatic compounds and their metabolites, persistent organic pollutants, and other chemical tracers (e.g., lipids). Duties will include sample preparation, sample extraction using an accelerated solvent extractor or solid phase extraction, and cleanup of sample extracts using gravity flow cleanup columns and automated cleanup using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with size exclusion chromatography.

Additional responsibilities of the Environmental Toxicologist will include operation and assistance in maintenance of accelerated solvent extractors, HPLC system, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GCMS) systems, organization and maintenance of sample extract and sample freezer inventories, and assistance in writing sample preparation and analyses protocols for peer-reviewed publications and reports.

Duties of the Environmental Toxicologist:

• Collect, prepare, extract, cleanup, and analyze samples of marine fish and seafood (e.g., Pacific herring, salmonids, mussels) and associated quality assurance samples for persistent organic pollutants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their metabolites, and lipid content using analytical protocols established by the NWFSC. Archive any remaining tissue samples and sample extracts in the appropriate storage area and maintain freezer inventories of these samples and sample extracts.
• H omogenize, freeze dry, and help analyze marine fish and seafood samples (e.g., Pacific herring, salmonids, mussels) , as well as the associated quality assurance samples, for carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios using analytical protocols established by the NWFSC. Archive any remaining tissue samples in the appropriate storage area and maintain freezer inventories of these samples.
• Assist NWFSC staff in operation and maintenance of accelerated solvent extractors (ASEs), HPLC, and GCMS systems used in chemical tracer analyses of marine organisms and their prey, using protocols established by the NWFSC.

Deliverables:
Deliverables shall relate to the above tasks and will include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following:

• Production of data associated with measurement of persistent organic pollutant, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and their metabolites, and lipid content of marine fish and shellfish using analytical protocols established by the NWFSC. The data obtained from these chemical tracer analyses shall pass the NWFSC's laboratory quality assurance criteria and the Contractor shall provide the NWFSC with up-to-date chemical tracer sample and sample extract freezer inventories on a monthly basis. If the contractor assists with field collection of tissue samples, the contractor shall supply the Government with any notes associated with these field visits within 5 business days.
• Production of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratio data for marine fish and seafood samples (e.g., Pacific herring, salmonids, mussels) , as well as the associated quality assurance samples. The data obtained from these chemical tracer analyses shall pass the NWFSC's laboratory quality assurance criteria. An updated sample inventory shall also be provided on a monthly basis.

Required Minimum Qualifications of the Environmental Toxicologist:

• Bachelor's degree, or higher, from an accredited college or university with a major in a directly related field of study, such as chemistry, fisheries, oceanography, social science, natural science, mathematics, or hydrology
• Plus three (3) years of experience directly related to the tasks outlined above. (The combination of education and experience should total or exceed seven (7) years.)

Strongly Preferred Qualifications:
Clearly highlight your experience with each in your resume.

• Experience operating and maintaining accelerated solvent extractors (ASEs), high-performance liquid chromatographs (HPLCs), and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry systems (GC/MS).
• Experience in preparation, extraction, and cleanup of tissues of marine organisms and their prey for determining trace levels (parts per billion) of chemical tracers using GC/MS, including persistent organic pollutants, petroleum-related polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, as well as gravimetric lipid determinations.
• Experience in tissue sample preparation for analyses of stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen. This includes experience in freeze drying tissues.
• Experience following performance-based laboratory quality assurance protocols, including following clean-laboratory practices for chemical tracer analyses.

Average estimated hours per week are 32 to 40.

The successful Environmental Toxicologist will clearly describe their experience with the laboratory procedures and equipment listed above. We request that you include a Cover Letter with your application. Either include your cover letter in the same file as your resume, underneath of your resume; OR once you have Applied by Creating/Using an Account with Lynker, you may upload a Cover Letter within your user profile.

About Lynker

Lynker is a growing, employee owned, small business, specializing in professional, scientific and technical services. Our continually expanding team combines scientific expertise with mature, results-driven processes and tools to achieve technically sound, cost effective solutions in hydrology/water sciences, geospatial analysis, information technology, resource management, conservation, and management and business process improvement.

We focus on putting the right people in the right place to be effective. And having the right people is critical for success. Our streamlined organization enables and empowers our talented professionals to tackle our customers' scientific and technical priorities creatively and effectively.

Lynker offers a team-oriented work environment, competitive salaries and benefits, and the opportunity to work in a culture of exceptionally skilled and diverse professionals who embrace sound science and creative solutions.

Lynker is an E-Verify employer.

Lynker is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply.