Laboratory Technician

Job Description: Position is responsible for supporting the Locus Ingredients technical team in their formulation, application performance testing, and fundamental foundational data-generation work on the company’s novel and award-winning biosurfactants.  Position uses existing knowledge of chemistry, biochemistry, and running lab equipment to evaluate, characterize, and measure variations of the biosurfactant in formulations and as a standalone solution. 

Key responsibilities are as follows:·      

• Conduct proof-of-concept formulation and formulation application experiments including tests to determine product performance under various conditions.
• Prepare sample product and/or formulations for shipment directly to customers, distributors and collaborators.
• Generate high-quality reproducible results of formulations including surface characteristics, rheological measurements, and physical properties determination.
• Organize and analyze data to prepare concise reports including comparison to historical data using Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excell, etc.
• Keep Lab notebook updated; product date sheet (PDS) and safety date sheet (SDS) documented
• Maintain tidy, clean, and safe laboratory working area.
• Routine housekeeping and chemicals and supplies inventory management in laboratory.
• Support senior science staff in experiments as needed.
• Collaborate with cross departments including engineering, facilities, maintenance, quality control, purchasing, supply chain, and executive leadership.
• Follow all protocols as directed by senior staff and/or standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Prepare, write, and updated SOPs.
• Follow all laboratory and manufactory safety policies, wearing safety glasses, gloves and other safety gears including personal protective equipment (PPE) as necessary
• Perform all other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications & Requirements:

·       Associate’s degree or higher in chemistry or life science.  Candidate could be working toward a degree.

·       Formal laboratory experience required (academic experience included).

·       Experience with industrial product formulation and application testing is a plus.

·       Demonstrated experience drafting scientific documentation such as standard operating procedures, project outlines, and technical reports. 

 

General Skills 

·       Intense attention to detail is a must from cleanliness to execution of lab experiments to documenting data, results, and conclusions.

·       Analytical skills to conduct scientific experiments, troubleshoot complex problems and recommend solutions. 

·       Likes to work on a small, entrepreneurial team.

·       Good communication skills – written and verbal. 

·       Ability to work effectively in a group and independently in a self-managed environment. 

·       Strong organizational skills and ability to make progress and meet deadlines of simultaneous projects. 

·       Ability to use Microsoft Office efficiently. 

 

 

Physical Demands:The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Work is performed in a temperature-controlled laboratory environment.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to move through the laboratory 70% of the time and remain in a stationary position 30% of the time.  The employee is required to consistently position self as appropriate to maintain equipment in the laboratory and identify small details of scientific experiments. The employee will occasionally lift and or carry up to 25 lbs.  Employee will occasionally use computer, phone, copier, and other office equipment in the course of a day.   

 

Work Environment:While performing the duties of this job, the employee is rarely exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time.  This may include warm, hot or cold temperatures.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.