Assistant Core Scientist at Oregon Health & Science University – Portland, Oregon

Assistant Core Scientist

US-OR-Portland

Requisition ID: 2026-38604
Position Category: Research
Job Type: Research
Position Type: Regular Full-Time
Posting Department: Molecular and Medical Genetics
Posting Salary Range: $23.18 - $33.02 per hour, with offer based on experience, education and internal equity
Posting FTE: 1.00
Posting Schedule: Monday - Friday (occassional evenings and weekends as needed)
Posting Hours: 9:00am - 5:0pm
HR Mission: School of Medicine
Drug Testable: No

Department Overview

OHSU is Oregon’s only public academic health center and an institution of higher learning, with schools of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry and public health. OHSU is also a national research hub, with thousands of scientists developing lifesaving therapies and deeper understanding of health and disease. Across the missions of healing, teaching and discovery, OHSU turns discoveries into lifesaving care.

The Elemental Analysis Core offers services to measure elemental concentration is biological and non-biological specimen. We offer mercury speciation and single particle analysis. We are a full-service core, we prepare and measure the samples and provide clients with their analyzed data and a description of the experiment.

Function/Duties of Position

The Core Scientist family provides technology expertise for researchers across campus. Under direct supervision, performs various standardized and routine service functions in a core.

• Prepares client samples for ICPMS analysis, operates the ICPMS (with supervision), analyzes ICPMS data, creates Excel report.
• Prepares samples for mercury analysis, operates the mercury analyzer, analyzes the data, creates results reports.
• Prepares samples and measures fluoride using the fluoride electrode.
• Performs basic instrument maintenance tasks (under supervision).
• Communicates with clients.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in relevant field; OR
• Bachelor's degree with relevant coursework AND 1 year of relevant experience; OR
• Associates in relevant field AND 2 years of relevant experience; OR
• Equivalent in combination of skills, education, experience sets as above or as reflected
  in the Core Descriptor Matrix.

Experience

• Analytical Chemistry background.
• Elemental analysis experience using AAS, ICP-OES, or ICP-MS.
• Has worked with and understands how to work with inorganics acids.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Has a basic understanding of computers and can operate the instrument software.
• Basic math skills are a must. Ability to perform calculations quickly in your head, such as doubling numbers, subtracting or adding simple numbers, or calculating percentages
• Familiarity with units and concepts of measurement (length, weight, volume, density).
• Recognition of numbers and their values. Understanding place value and the number line.
• Has an excellent analytical skill set: knows how to accurately pipette and weigh small amounts of material.
• Is capable of performing mental math and can do and understand unit conversions on the fly.
• Can create Excel spreadsheets and enter data analysis results.
• Is able to effectively communicate with clients.
• Understands basic principles of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
• Can operate the ICPMS (with supervision).
• Understand the principles of spectrometry and spectroscopy.
• Enjoys setting up, running, and maintaining instruments.
• Has basic writing skills to keep lab notebooks up to date.

Preferred Qualifications

• Understanding of basic instrument maintenance and repairs.

Additional Details

Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm. Occasional evenings and weekends as needed.