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Laboratory Technician
Position Description Overview:
The SETI Institute is seeking a Laboratory Technician with wet lab training and/or experience. The Lab Technician will work on a variety of projects where concentration will be placed on studying chemical processes that were important to the chemistry of early terrestrial planets. In particular, processes that affected planetary habitability and the origin of life where specific focus on the chemistry of nitrogen and carbon in relation to minerals, aqueous catalysts, and reactants will be observed. Projects include modeling chemistry of the early Martian atmosphere which seeks to model how photosynthesis may have arisen to protocellular life, and specific measurement of how abiotic reactions have fractionated stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen.
The mission of the SETI Institute is to explore, understand and explain the origin, nature and prevalence of life in the universe. It is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to scientific research, education and public outreach. Founded in 1984, the Institute today employs over 140 scientists, educators and support staff.
Qualifications / Required skills:
Candidates must have a B.S. in Chemistry (most preferable) or a B.S. in Biology, Geology, or physics with an emphasis on chemical techniques.
Responsibilities:
The Laboratory Technician will be expected to conduct experiments, work up results, and handle data following standard chemical procedures and methods in addition to those devised by the Principal Investigator. Duties will also include lab maintenance responsibilities in keeping the lab ready for work and conducting a variety of regular lab safety tasks.
The Laboratory Technician will be expected to make sure he/she understands what is being done, and why (so that he/she may reliably conduct the experiments and, when something that wasn’t anticipated arrises, be able to deal with the situation or bring to the attention of the Principal Investigator).
Examples of job tasks:
* Measuring reagents (weighing, making up solutions, etc.). Setting up apparatus and running reactions (both liquid and gas phase).
* Working up chemical reactions by rotary evaporation, filtrations, extraction, etc.
* Doing analysis by such techniques as colorimetry, GC/MS, and FTIR and derivatizing/reacting samples for analysis.
* Ordering chemicals and keeping them in stock, current, and washing glassware.
Preferred skills:
Experience in laboratory experiments requiring the handling of liquids or gas phases and the measurement of concentrations or physical processes of those systems is desirable.
The SETI Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Open until filled
Important Email Applicants: The subject field of your email must include
Laboratory Technician
Or fax to: 650-961-7099
To apply by mail, send your CV and cover letter to:
SETI Institute
Attention: Human Resources
515 Whisman Road
Mountain View, CA 94043