Job opening: Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Microbiology)
Salary: $104 961 - 136 446 per year
Published at: Aug 20 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
This position is located in a full laboratory services facility within the Indian Health Services. This senior level position is responsible for the application, modification, adaptation and extension of analytical methods and procedures in the performance of a wide variety of tests/examinations of human tissue, fluids and/or other substances in the clinical laboratory.
Duties
Performs wide range of clinical laboratory tests/examinations for use in clinical diagnosis, patient screening, patient therapy, and other authorized purposes. Selects, performs, evaluates, and monitors the performance of routine and specialized test procedures using
manual and/or automated techniques in accordance with established protocols. Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunction, locates and implements corrections.
Conducts studies of blood cell morphologies, body fluid analysis, and urinalysis. Selects the procedures, which are appropriate for the request for service and congruent with patient considerations, and evaluates methods to meet the requirements of particular testing situations.
Conducts molecular diagnostic testing that involves sequencing DNA/RNA, preparing samples, reporting findings and analyzing data. Computerized equipment as well as manual processes will be used for analyzing microbial and viral substances at the molecular level.
Sets up, operates, and/or utilizes appropriate equipment, instruments, containers and other devices, and materials to perform qualitative, semi-quantitative, and quantitative analysis of substances. Assures critical characteristics as temperature, humidity, volume, etc. are observed. Prepares solutions, stains, reagents, and media required for the conduct of tests/examinations.
Establishes and monitors quality control and record keeping systems and measures to assure the accuracy and validity of test results before reporting patient test results.
Develops procedures and establishes parameter for correlation of test results and troubleshooting measures. Assists with technical surveillance of work records, temperature recordings, quality control testing, maintenance equipment records, and proficiency test records/investigations.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.
BASIC REQUIREMENT(S):
NOTE: Employees currently assigned to positions in this occupational series as of September 2017 will be considered to have met the basic requirements for the position occupied.
Basic Requirements
Education
A Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree from a regionally accredited college/university including courses in biological science, chemistry and mathematics, AND successful completion of a Medical Laboratory Scientist/Clinical Laboratory Scientist program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education(external link) at the time the degree was obtained.
OR
A full 4-year course of study that included 12 months in a college or hospital-based medical technology program or medical technology school approved by a recognized accrediting organization. The professional medical technology curriculum may have consisted of a 1-year post- bachelor's certificate program or the last 1 or 2 years of a 4-year program of study culminating in a bachelor's in medical technology.
OR
A Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of biological science (with one semester in microbiology), 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of chemistry (with one semester in organic or biochemistry), one semester (one quarter) of mathematics, AND five years of full time acceptable clinical laboratory experience in Blood Banking, Chemistry, Hematology, microbiology, Immunology and Urinalysis/Body Fluids. This combination of education and experience must have provided knowledge of the theories, principles, and practices of medical technology equivalent to that provided by the full 4-year course of study described in A or B above. All science and mathematics courses must have been acceptable for credit toward meeting the requirements for a science major at an accredited college or university. Acceptable experience is responsible professional or technician experience in a hospital laboratory, health agency, industrial medical laboratory, or pharmaceutical house; or teaching, test development, or medical research program experience that provided an understanding of the methods and techniques applied in performing professional clinical laboratory work. Certification/licensure as a medical technologist (generalist) obtained through written examination by a nationally recognized credentialing agency or State licensing body is a good indication that the quality of experience is acceptable.
Evaluation of Education and Experience: The major areas of clinical laboratory science are microbiology, clinical chemistry, hematology, and immunohematology (blood banking). Qualifying course work in these areas includes bacteriology, mycology, mycobacteriology, tissue culture, virology, parasitology, endocrinology, enzymology, toxicology, urinalysis, coagulation, hemostasis, cell morphology, immunology, serology, immunoserology, immuno-deficiency, hemolysis, histocompatibility, cytotechnology, and similar disciplines or areas of laboratory practice.
Related fields include physiology, anatomy, molecular biology, cell biology, embryology, pathology, genetics, pharmacology, histology, cytology, nuclear medicine, epidemiology, biostatistics, infection control, physics, statistics, and similar areas of science where the work is directly related to the position to be filled
For positions GS-7 through GS-15 (or equivalent), experience or graduate education must have been in (1) the general field of medical technology; (2) one of the disciplines or specialized areas of medical technology; or (3) a field directly related and applicable to medical technology or the position to be filled.
Clinical laboratory intern (student medical technologist) experience in an education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs(external link) (CAAHEP) education program may be credited on a month-for-month basis toward meeting the GS-7 specialized experience requirement.
NOTE: A typical program comprises 12 consecutive months of professional study, including didactic and practical instruction. Approximately 6 to 7 months are devoted to lectures, laboratory study, demonstrations, and seminars covering theory and technique in clinical laboratory science. The other 5 to 6 months are devoted to clinical laboratory rotations. It is the latter, i.e., the period(s) of supervised work experience in a service laboratory that may be credited as work study experience.
In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks:
GS-13: Performed a wide range of clinical laboratory tests/exams including difficult and infrequent tests demonstrating superior level of technical proficiency and problem solving ability in medical laboratory science principles, concepts, and methodology. Experience in calibrating, operating and maintaining analyzers and equipment appropriate to the requirements of various assays. Skilled and experience in procedure writing, performance of self assessments, evaluating of quality control and quality improvement reports to meet regulatory accreditation requirements. Ability to provide technical instructions on problems and advise subordinates on Microbiology, Molecular, and Urinalysis testing.
Time In Grade
Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP).
You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.
Education
This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer.
Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website:
https://www.ed.gov/accreditation.
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit
https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Contacts
- Address Claremore Service Unit
101 S Moore
Claremore, OK 74017
US
- Name: Raquel Sells
- Phone: 918-282-6049
- Email: [email protected]
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