Ocean Career: MOTE Chemist – Chemical & Physical Ecology

Staff Chemist

This position will be permanently located at the main lab in Sarasota, Florida. General duties to be performed include inorganic chemical and physical analyses (water/sediment quality parameters), participation in field sampling which may include travel, operations from trucks or boats, occasional evening/night/weekend shifts, and driving laboratory vehicles both with and without boat trailers.

All activities are carried out according the Mote Marine Lab Quality Assurance Plan including operation and maintenance of scientific equipment, preparations for field trips, sample analyses, and data quality assessments. Proficiency is expected for work on computers, and, after initial training, on water quality instrumentation, navigation and safety equipment, balances, pH meters, spectrophotometers, and the like. In general, Staff Chemists will develop skills in particular laboratory analyses and activities and accept assignment to specific projects.

Familiarity with National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC) standards is a benefit, though not required. Familiarity with chemical analyzers (e.g., Auto Analyzers, CHN instruments, spectrophotometers) also a benefit.

This position is currently about 80% lab work and 20% experimental or fieldwork including work on boats (with the possibility of some overnight (1 night to 1 month) research vessel time. Emergency CPR, First Aid, and Coast Guard small vessel safety courses are available through the laboratory and a Staff Chemist will be expected to obtain these certifications within a finite period.

This position is expected to be detail oriented, organized, and able to work both independently and part of a team.

Requirements:

A bachelor's degree with a major or minor in chemistry from an accredited university. In lieu of a chemistry degree, course work in other natural science areas or employment in a related field will be considered. Must have some basic chemistry lab experience and knowledge. Must be able to lift up to 40lbs on occasion.