NIST PREP Senior Research Fellow in Harmonization of Technical Forensic Science Documentary Standards

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Professional Research Experience Program (PREP). NIST recognizes that its research staff may want to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest and, therefore, requires those institutions to be recipients of a PREP award. The PREP program involves staff from a wide range of backgrounds conducting scientific research across various fields. Individuals in this position will perform technical work supporting the collaboration’s scientific research.

Research Title: Harmonization of Technical Forensic Science Documentary Standards

The work will entail:  The Associate will collaborate with the NIST Forensic Science Standards Program and Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science to review technical OSAC Proposed Standards and Published Standards to harmonize with existing interdisciplinary standards and improve the quality, clarity and effectiveness of the documents. This role involves collaborating with NIST staff, Standards Developing Organizations (SDOs), and OSAC Subcommittees to review documentary standards and provide suggested technical upgrades to bring the document or future revisions into alignment with existing standards published by International Organization of Standardization (ISO) and ASTM E30.11 Interdisciplinary Forensic Science Standards Subcommittee.

U.S. Citizen Preferred

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Harmonization with ISO 17025: Review draft and published discipline specific forensic science standards for alignment with ISO 17025 General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories and provide acknowledgement of alignment or recommendations for how the document can improve alignment.
• Harmonization with ISO 21043 Series: Review draft and published discipline specific forensic science standards for alignment with the ISO 21043 Forensic Science Standard Series and provide acknowledgement of alignment or recommendations for how the document can improve alignment.
• Harmonization with ASTM E30.11 Interdisciplinary Forensic Science Standards: Review draft and published discipline specific forensic science standards for alignment with interdisciplinary standards published by ASTM E30.11 Interdisciplinary Forensic Science Standards Subcommittee and provide acknowledgement of alignment or recommendations for how the document can improve alignment.
• Technical Editing: Review draft standards generated by OSAC Subcommittees and provide technical editing support such as scope verification, normative reference checks, text review of clarity for intended audiences, proper formatting, and provide recommendations for upgrades/edits.
• Compliance Checklist Development: Create compliance checklists for published forensic science standards on the OSAC Registry that enable laboratories to systematically self-assess for compliance with specific standards.
• Engagement with OSAC Subcommittees: Participate in virtual meetings with OSAC Subcommittees to discuss suggested changes and recommendations related to draft standards being developed.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in a physical science (e.g., biology, chemistry), forensic science or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in forensic science.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience serving as a member of Standards Developing Organizations (SDO) or supporting the development of forensic science standards.
• Demonstrate experience with ISO 17025 accreditation
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

Privacy Act Statement
Authority:  15 U.S.C. § 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3) and 15 U.S.C. § 272(b) and (c)
Purpose:  The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) hosts the  Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) which is designed to provide valuable laboratory experience and financial assistance to undergraduates, post-bachelor’s degree holders, graduate students, master’s degree holders, postdocs, and faculty.
PREP is a 5-year cooperative agreement between NIST laboratories and participating PREP Universities to establish a collaborative research relationship between NIST and U.S. institutions of higher education in the following disciplines including (but may not be limited to) biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, engineering, electronics, materials science, mathematics, nanoscale science, neutron science, physical science, physics, and statistics. This collection of information is needed to facilitate administrative functions of the PREP Program.
Routine Uses:  NIST will use the information collected to perform the requisite reviews of the applications to determine eligibility, and to meet programmatic requirements. Disclosure of this information is also subject to all the published routine uses as identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notices:  NIST-1: NIST Associates.
Disclosure:  Furnishing this information is voluntary. When you submit the form, you are indicating your voluntary consent for NIST to use of the information you submit for the purpose stated.

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