Job Details

Laboratory Assistant

Leidos is seeking a Laboratory Assistant to assist with all aspects of laboratory facility management and logistical or technical support for science teams deployed to Antarctica. This is a seasonal position which deploys to McMurdo Station, Antarctica for the austral winter season, February - October (approximately 9 months). The candidate in the position must complete the physical and dental examinations required by the National Science Foundation (NSF) for deploying to Antarctica.

Due to contract requirements, US Citizenship is required.

Must obtain a Public Trust security clearance prior to start date. This process could take up to 4 months.

Leidos Antarctic Support Contract (ASC) is the prime contractor to the National Science Foundation (NSF) in support of the United States Antarctic Program (USAP). Leidos supports the NSF's Office of Polar Program's Antarctic Infrastructure and Logistics by aligning with their Mission and Vision Statements:

• Vision: Expanding our scientific reach in Antarctica through increased operational and logistical effectiveness.
• Mission: To provide the operational and logistical platform necessary for the U.S. to conduct world-class science in Antarctica and maintain its active and influential presence on the continent.

Leidos ASC provides science and logistics support for approximately 150 science and technical events across three geographically remote research stations; McMurdo Station, Palmer Station, and South Pole Station and several deep field sites across Antarctica. Each station or field site supports world class research across multiple science disciplines. The planning and implementation of science support requirements in Antarctica is a critical part of our mission.

The Challenge:

• Serve as on-site Point of Contact for the Crary Science and Engineering Center (aka Crary Lab) during winter season.
• Work with off-site staff to prepare for upcoming summer science projects.
• Act as science liaison, including coordinating with other departments for facility inspections, tours, and completion of work orders/tasking.
• Ensure laboratory users maintain safe laboratory practices as outlined in the Chemical Hygiene Plan.
• Orient users to the facility by informing users of all standard safety expectations, highlighting emergency response procedures, presenting primary hazards of the facility, and conducting routine laboratory inspections.
• Assist in the planning, allocation, and adaptation of laboratory resources and equipment for current or upcoming science teams.
• Coordinate intra- and intercontinental science sample movements with scientists and work centers.
• Prepare weekly and end-of-season status reports. Create and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Conduct cleaning, organization, and preparation of laboratories, offices, aquarium facilities, loading docks, staging spaces, cold storage rooms, conference rooms, and other common-use areas within the facility.
• Monitor and maintain cold storage rooms, chemical storage rooms, and all shared-use areas within the facility.
• Manage inventory and tracking of samples, equipment, or other resources.
• Brief various agencies and ASC departments on current research; providing tours of laboratory facilities.
• Monitor the Duty Pager, requiring being on-call 24/7 for alarms throughout the duration of the winter season.
• Provide input on suggested improvements to laboratory spaces and associated systems to enhance usage of research facilities.
• Shovel and otherwise maintain entrances/exits to the facility for safe and proper egress.
• Support the Hazardous Materials Specialist with monitoring the receipt, inventory, proper use, and disposal of hazardous laboratory chemicals.
• Assist with segregation and packaging of laboratory solid wastes for proper disposal, reuse, and/or recycling.
• Monitor use of radioisotopes and radiation producing equipment by National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of Polar Programs' (OPP) approved groups. Provide cryogen support where required.
• Support the Instrument Technician by testing, maintaining, and calibrating equipment and instrumentation as requested.

What Sets You Apart:

• Bachelor's degree in a science field, and 2 – 4 years of prior relevant experience. Additional years of experience will be considered in lieu of degree.
• Experience in a research environment providing direct support to science events/projects required.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal communication, and public speaking skills.
• Self-motivated with strong problem-solving skills. Executes projects and requests without supervision.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications.

You May Also Have:

• Remote field work and/or polar experience preferred.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.