CHEMIST TRAINEE

Definition

Under the close supervision of a supervisory official in a State department or agency, or local jurisdiction, as a trainee and productive worker, learns to perform routine chemical analyses and tests in the laboratory and in the field; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Under close supervision, as trainee and productive worker:
• Learns to identify and analyze substances found in water, waste water, food, pharmaceuticals, and other sources; learns to evaluate the validity of results.
• Learns to perform routine testing and analysis work on industrial hygiene samples, milk, food, drugs, water, sewage, industrial waste, and other sources to determine conformance to established standards.
• Learns to use specialized laboratory equipment to examine substances, identify materials, measure quantities, and evaluate properties of elements and compounds.
• Learns to perform qualitative and quantitative organic constituent analysis using approved methods of ion and gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry (GC/MS).
• Learns to prepare standardized chemical reagents regularly used and other regents of a special nature as may be required.
• Learns to determine the type of analysis or test to be performed on chemicals and materials to establish their properties, characteristics, and chemical compositions.
• Learns to interpret and summarize data collected from analytical instruments and wet chemical analysis.
• Attends appropriate formal and informal courses of instruction.
• Learns to perform a wide variety of routine, standardized tests and analyses on environmental samples, including manual procedures such as gravimetric, colorimetric, or titrimetric tests, and simple instrumental tests such as infrared or ultraviolet spectrophotometry and continuous flow analysis.
• Learns to operate the infrared and ultra-violet spectrophotometer, the X- ray diffraction unit and the spectrograph.
• Learns to develop spectrograph plates.
• Learns to read the spectra lines in the densitometer.
• Learns to photograph distance appreciations, impact molds, and tool marks; learns to draw reproductions.
• Learns to analyze urine specimens for drugs of abuse using EMIT procedures; learns to analyze blood specimens for lead content, hematocrit, and erythrocyte protoporphyrin.
• Learns to test toxicological specimens to show the ingestion of poison and lethal amounts of poison.
• Learns to make flagging, ultra-violet, and weight tests of paint brushes.
• Learns to analyze cloth for thread count, shrinkage, and tensile strength.
• Learns to analyze the softness, tear strength, absorbency, and basic weight of paper.
• Learns to collect water samples.
• Learns to conduct bacteriological (microbiological) analysis for coliform, fecal streptococcus, staphylococcus, and pseudomonas.
• Learns to troubleshoot, diagnose problems, or make minor adjustments to laboratory instruments and equipment.
• Learns to administer tests required for the diagnosis of livestock diseases.
• Learns to prepare reports and correspondence.
• Learns to maintain laboratory records, reports, and files.
• Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in any natural or physical science, including or supplemented by twenty-four (24) credit hours in chemistry and/or biochemistry which shall have included a minimum of six (6) credit hours in analytical chemistry.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of chemical laboratory procedures, techniques, equipment, media, reagents, and supplies, after a period of training.
• Knowledge of the procedures and techniques used when performing and interpreting chemical, physical, and biochemical tests, examinations and analyzes on milk, food, drugs, water, sewage, trade wastes, air samples, and various industrial and institutional materials, equipment, supplies, and other materials in the laboratory and field, after a period of training.
• Knowledge of the standards and procedures used when conducting chemical tests and analyses, after a period of training.
• Knowledge of the precautions to be taken when recording and interpreting the results of chemical and related tests and analyses.
• Knowledge of the methods used to make chemical determinations by Infra-Red Spectroscopy, Gas Chromatography, Ultraviolet Visible Spectroscopy, Polarography, and Fluorometry, after a period of training.
• Knowledge of quality control and quality assurance procedures used to assess the validity, accuracy, and precision of chemical tests and analyses, after a period of training.
• Ability to follow standards and established procedures when performing specific tests, examinations, and analyses of raw materials and finished products, including paints, varnishes, thinners, driers, fuel oils, gasoline, coal, plastic items, carbon papers, chamois, sponges, and other supplies and equipment.
• Ability to learn and be trained on how to handle potential exposure to hazardous chemicals and infectious material and how to work in such area.
• Ability to handle various laboratory scenarios such as exposed instruments, equipment noise; as well as potential exposure to hazardous chemicals and infectious material.
• Ability to understand, remember, and carry out oral and written directions, analyze chemistry and laboratory problems, and develop appropriate work methods.
• Ability to follow procedures when performing specific tests and examinations.
• Ability to use laboratory equipment and reagents in such a way to avoid unnecessary breakage and waste and to obtain accurate, reliable results.
• Ability to learn physical testing and measurements, distance appreciations, photography, and prepare impact molds and tool marks.
• Ability to learn to prepare reports and correspondence.
• Ability to learn to maintain records, reports, and files.
• Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, understand and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
• <b>ADVANCEMENT:</b>
• Upon successful completion of the twelve (12) month training period, appointees will be eligible for advancement to Chemist 1 or Forensic Chemist, in accordance with New Jersey Civil Service Commission procedures.
• The inability of an employee in the trainee title to attain a level of performance warranting advancement to Chemist 1 or Forensic Chemist shall be considered as cause for separation.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposed only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

Some examples of analytical chemistry courses are Mass Spectroscopy, Instrumental Analysis, Gas/Liquid Chromatography, Introduction to Chemical Research Technique, Spectroscopic Methods, Research credits earned using chemistry equipment (GC, HPLC, ICP etc.).

In local government, appointees to water analysis positions may be required to have successfully completed a formal course in the operation of atomic absorption and gas chromatography laboratory equipment, or in lieu of the course, six (6) months of experience in the operation of such equipment. The responsibility for ensuring completion of the course or experience in the use of specialized laboratory equipment rests with the Appointing Authority.

Appointees may be required to perform physical activities such as lifting, carrying, and standing for an extended period of time.

Appointees may be required to get vaccinations or submit vaccination records.

Appointees may be required to wear Personal Protective Equipment.