Function and Responsibilities:

I am a Chemical Technical Assistant, maintaining laboratory equipment and chemical inventory, and assisting researchers with the practical aspects of their work. My duties include the operation of devices for thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, and particle size determination.

I have past industrial experience in aqueous geochemistry, focusing on elemental analysis via Flame AAS, ICP-OES, and ICP-MS. Within this job I was also part of a peer review group to manage standard operating procedures and other technical documents.

Career:

ALS Geochemistry • Perth, Australia
Senior Laboratory Assistant; Solutions Preparation Team Leader

• Produced calibration check solutions for use in AAS, ICP-OES and ICP-MS analysis to a consistently high standard; >99% of over 5,000 solutions passed testing
  
• Assisted global peer review groups in creating and revising standard operating procedures
  
• Fixed and maintained information logs accessed by multiple staff members, and routinely audited these logs to uphold good documentation practice and external accreditation
  
• Maintained wide array of stocks, consumables, and equipment, forecasting usage and coordinating with international suppliers
  
• Built a database to catalogue all solutions, stocks, and reagents in use, along with SDS information and labels. Individually classified items according to the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, and designed unique labels according to their hazard and prevention statements
  
  

Education:

North Metropolitan TAFE • Perth, Australia

Diploma of Laboratory Technology

• Equivalent to the German state-certified Chemical Technician qualification
  
• Performed various wet chemistry techniques, including titrations, organic extraction, pH/conductivity, dilution, standard preparation, and acid digestion
  
• Gained practical experience with flame AAS, UV-Vis, ICP-OES, fire assay, and XRF
  
• Visualised and interpreted data collected from experiments
  
• Learnt about risk assessment, hazard perception, and all relevant laboratory safety documentation