JVA #24-007 Research Fellow (NextGen)

About this Position

The Research Fellow is a staff member of the Northern Marianas College Cooperative Research, Extension and Education Services (CREES) located on Saipan and is employed to provide a wide-range of research activities including food chemistry, food analysis, food formulation, food processing, value-added food, food preservation, shelf-life, food safety and other relevant research/experiments in the field of food science. This includes one step method to extract enriching the bioactive compounds, minerals, vitamins, and the removal of the toxic elements and heavy metals simultaneously from the food. The position is under the direct supervision of the program director of the NextGen Program under the Food Science Program.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s Degree from a U.S. Department of Education accredited institution in Chemistry, Bio-Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Food Chemistry, Food Science or a closely related discipline plus four (4) years of field and diagnostic research experience in extraction and analysis of tropical medicinal plants, and experience with tropical agriculture, and supervising personnel or;
• Doctorate Degree from a U.S. Department of Education accredited institution in Chemistry, Bio-Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Food Chemistry, Food Science, or a closely related field discipline plus two (2) years of field and diagnostic research experience in extraction and analysis of tropical medicinal plants, and experience with tropical agriculture, and supervising personnel.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must have knowledge in chemistry/ analytical chemistry/ biochemistry/ biology, and data analysis.
• Contributes and promotes a positive and professional working environment and relationship with the college community and promotes a positive representation of the CREES and NMC.
• Must have strong computer background including, but not limited to, word processing, spreadsheets, and database, preferably Word, Excel, and PowerPoint software applications.
• Completes and prioritize tasks accurately and in a timely manner.
• Takes initiative and works both independently and cooperatively in a team environment.
• Must be able to work with limited supervision.
• Able to communicate effectively with students, staff, faculty, and other college stakeholders.
• Demonstrate strong organizational skills and a high attention to detail.
• Capable of handling multiple tasks while maintaining composure under stressful conditions.
• Completes and prioritizes tasks accurately and in a timely manner.
• Takes initiative and works both independently and cooperatively in a team environment.
• Must be able to present information in a clear and professional manner.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Participates in program review and outcomes assessment (PROA) activities.
• Extracts, separates and fractionation of the food ingredients of bioactive compounds flavonoid, carotenoid, anthocyanins from the local sources/produces of the CNMI by using conventional and non-conventional extraction methods.
• Studies the proximate analysis (carbohydrate, protein, fat, ash, mineral, etc.) of the local produces of breadfruit, sweet potato, taro, cassava and yam flour in the CNMI and wheat flour.
• Isolates the starch content from the breadfruit, sweet potato, taro, cassava and yam flour to determine amylose and amylopectin ratios in the flour.
• Optimizes the blending ratios of breadfruit, sweet potato, taro, cassava and yam flour with wheat flour to compare the physic-chemical, thermal and other rheological properties of the control and mixture of the flour.
• Analyzes the viscosity, gelatinization and pasting properties of the mixture of starch-flour and the mixing effects on the thermal transition of gelatinization peak temperatures using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and gelatinization properties by rapid visco-analyzer (RVA).
• Analyzes the viscoelasticity, textural properties (texture profile analysis: TPA, and stress relaxation: SR) and dough characteristics using Brabender Amylograph and Farinograph for the individual starch and flour and their mixtures to formulate carbohydrate-based food products to replace wheat-based products.
• Studies shelf life and sensory evaluation to recommend the best blending ratios of breadfruit, sweet potato, taro, cassava and yam flour of the local products of CNMI to diversify their uses replacing the wheat flour in the value-added bakery products in CNMI.
• Solves complex problems, review information to develop and evaluate options then implement solutions.
• Builds professional relationships with cross functional teams while facilitating a collaborative environment both internally and externally.
• Assists in the planning and preparation of the CREES Plan of Work as well as the annual accomplishment report.
• Develops research-based educational materials such as brochures, bulletin boards, and newsletters.
• Organizes and conducts workshops and presentations in the relevant research areas.
• Provides community and culturally-focused experiential learning opportunities that encourage personal development and capacity building.
• Partners with EFNEP staff to educate and inform students on the health benefits of locally grown and raised food.
• Confers with immediate supervisor regarding program needs, volunteer progress, and related matters.
• Collaborates with internal and external partners in order to address the appropriate goals and objectives described in the CREES POW (Plan of Work).
• Completes monthly reports and does other paper work as needed.
• Assists Program Director to serve to the community and stakeholders.
• Follows all guidelines and policies of Northern Marianas College (NMC), Cooperative Research and Extension and Education Services (CREES) and camps or facilities where assigned.
• Handles and operates analytical equipment especially for food and nutraceuticals analyses such as Rheometer, Rapid Visco-Analyzer (RVA), Texture Analyzer (TA), Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC), FT-IR, UV-Vis, Brabender Amylograph & Farinograph for Dough Characterization, Gas Chromatography (GC) and Liquid Chromatography (LC), MS, and others relevant equipment.
• Participates in in-service training programs as required, as well as frequent travel interisland during specified periods of time.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Essential Functions of the Position

Must be able to frequently operate a computer and other office productivity machinery. The individual in this position will frequently communicate with students and their colleague(s) in order to exchange information in various situations. Occasionally lifts office products and supplies, weighing up to 50 Ibs.

Work Environment

The Work Environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environment may vary. The employee may be tasked to work outdoors in the sun and heat, on or around wet surfaces, and other areas exposed to the elements.

Applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm on the closing date.  Deadlines that fall on a non-business day will be extended to the next business day.
 
Employment application forms are available at the Human Resources Office of the College and a pdf.file can be downloaded from our website: http://www.marianas.edu using Adobe Acrobat. Please submit all application materials to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 
All post-secondary education degrees must be from a U.S. Department of Education recognized and accredited institution. It is our requirement that degrees be from a U.S.-accredited college or university. Foreign degrees may be accepted when accompanied with a credential evaluation report. A listing of authorized evaluation reports can be obtained at the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) website at http://www.naces.org/
 
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification (I-9) document form upon hire. Police/court clearance will be required upon job offer.