Organizational Overview

Brookhaven National Laboratory possesses world-class and unique measurement technologies in the environmental sciences with applications ranging from basic science in atmospheric and terrestrial processes to environmental security. The Environmental & Climate Sciences Department has a legacy of instrument development that has situated the department favorably for playing a lead role in areas aligned with BNL’s mission and its forward leaning initiatives such as facilitating market penetration of renewable energies, building tomorrow’s smart cities, and protecting urban populations from contaminant or threat dispersion.

The Energy-Environment Measurement Technologies (EEMT) group was created within the department to coordinate several research efforts that are fundamentally based in advanced and innovative measurement technologies. The primary measurement technique that drives BNL’s contributions to the studies of dispersion in urban environments, air quality, pollutant tracking, and building infiltration is the ultrahigh-resolution perfluorocarbon tracer gas chromatograph (PFT-GC) designed, built, and operated by BNL personnel. Perfluorocarbons are safe and non-toxic materials and their concentrations in the environment are extremely low, making them ideally suited as tracer gases. BNL’s detection limit for PFTs (parts per quadrillion) is unique in the world and the technique is proprietary, providing a niche for BNL in this area of applied research and operations.

Position Description
The Environmental and Climate Sciences Department has an exciting opportunity for an Analytical Chemist with knowledge of and an interest in working with gas chromatography as well as an interest in analytical analysis of gases at or near atmospheric concentration limits. The individual in this role will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of our PFT gas chromatography lab and associated instrumentation (www.bnl.gov/envsci/tracer/). The successful candidate will join an experienced team to learn the PFT technology. 

PFT analysis has been successfully applied to simulate the release and dispersion of toxic materials in urban environments and assist in emergency response.  It is used to assess nuclear plant control rooms to ensure the safety of operators under accident conditions and evaluate indoor air quality in energy efficient buildings.  PFTs were used to track pollutants over thousands of km to better understand issues of air quality. Utilities rely on PFTs to find leaks in dielectric fluid from power transmission cables.  The successful candidate will provide the analysis of samples needed to perform these studies. This will include operation and maintenance of our ECD-GCs, sample preparation, maintenance, prep and repair of the air samplers used to collect samples, preparation of data reports and QA/QC of data.

The successful candidate should have the ability to work well in a diverse team across cultures, language skills, and experiences in order to promote the PFT technology throughout the department and laboratory as well as with external collaborators. This position has a high level of interaction with an international and multicultural scientific community. A potential also exists for cooperative work with DOE’s Atmopsheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) User Facility’s trace gas monitoring program (www.arm.gov). This would involve trace gas analysis/monitoring (i.e., including CO, NO/NO₂/NO_y, O₃, and SO₂)

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Use analytical knowledge to support Tracer laboratory including instrument operation, maintenance and to monitor data quality;
• Support ongoing field operations by providing analysis of PFTs, visit field sites as necessary for installation, calibration, and maintenance of instruments; and,
• Perform field work in remote locations which may include domestic and/or foreign travel.

Position Requirements
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• B.S. in analytical or environmental chemistry, atmospheric sciences, or a related field;
• Knowledgeable in analytical chemistry;
• Knowledge of gas chromatography and its fundamental measurement principles;
• Clear and concise oral and written communication skills; and,
• Ability to work well in a diverse team across cultures, language skills, and experiences.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• M.S. in analytical or environmental chemistry, atmospheric sciences or a related field
• Experience in an analytical lab
• Experience running and troubleshooting gas chromatographs
• Experience with data analysis programs and QA/QC for gas chromatography at or near the limits of detection
• Experience working on field campaigns
• Experience with other ambient trace-gas monitoring techniques
• Competent with Microsoft Excel and macro programming
• Proficient in LabVIEW software, C++, and/or python

Environment, Safety & Health, and other information:  

• Ability to work in tight spaces
• Routinely lift more than 30 pounds
• Appointment level will be commensurate with experience and qualifications
• Initial 2 year term appointment is subject to renewal contingent on satisfactory performance and funding

At Brookhaven National Laboratory we believe that a comprehensive employee benefits program is an important and meaningful part of the compensation employees receive. Our benefits program includes, but is not limited to:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Care Plans
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid Time-off and Leave Programs (vacation, holidays, sick leave, paid parental leave)
• Lab-funded Retirement Plan
• 401(k) Plan
• Flexible Work Arrangements
• Tuition Assistance, Training and Professional Development Programs
• Employee Fitness/Wellness & Recreation:  Gym/Basketball Courts, Weight Room, Fitness Classes, Indoor Pool, Tennis Courts, Sports Clubs/Activities (Basketball, Ping Pong, Softball, Tennis)