BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST II - 42005984 (FOR INTERNAL AGENCY EMPLOYEES ONLY)

State of Florida • Kissimmee, FL

2d • $55,000 - $59,000 • Onsite

About The Position

This is an internal agency opportunity for current employees of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The position is within the Bacteriology/Microbiology Section and involves performing high-quality analysis on a variety of Bacteriology testing, processing specimens, and conducting bench work analysis for bacterial identification and antimicrobial sensitivity. The role requires accurate reading of biochemical reactions, consistent colonial morphology description, and timely reporting of test results through the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). The incumbent will isolate and identify bacterial and mycotic pathogens of terrestrial animals, prepare culture media and biochemicals, and preserve bacterial isolates. The position also involves reviewing scientific literature, managing laboratory supplies, maintaining equipment, and assisting with quality assurance and training.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in biological, physical, natural, or agricultural sciences and one (1) year of related professional experience; OR A master’s degree from an accredited college or university as described above.
• Graduates utilizing education attained in the United States to meet the minimum requirements of a position will not be appointed until verification of the applicable degree has been obtained.
• Foreign trained graduates utilizing a degree attained outside of the United States to meet the minimum requirements of a position must be prepared to provide a copy of a credential evaluation conducted by an Approved Credential Evaluation Agency.
• Requires possession of a valid driver license.
• All fields in the Candidate Profile must be completed (an attached resume is not a substitution for the information required on the candidate profile).
• Work history, duties and responsibilities, hours worked, supervisor, and formal education fields, etc. must be filled out to determine qualifications for this position.
• Responses to Qualifying Questions must be verifiable in the Candidate Profile.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 35 pounds.
• Knowledge of Computer skills such as Microsoft Word and Excel and LIMS.

Nice To Haves

• Occasional travel required.
• Incumbent must pass a pulmonary function test with medical evaluation, must undergo and pass regular respirator fit-testing, and must wear a respirator when required.
• Incumbent must wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when required.
• Some alternate work hours required to accomplish duties and responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Performing high quality analysis on a variety of Bacteriology testing.
• Processing specimens and conducting bench work analysis for bacterial identification and antimicrobial sensitivity.
• Reading biochemical reactions accurately and describing colonial morphology consistently to correspond to bacterial identification.
• Targeting a five (5) day turnaround time from processing, reading the culture, identifying and reporting test results accurately and in a timely manner through the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
• Isolating and identifying bacterial and mycotic pathogens of terrestrial animals by routine culture, gram stain, microscopic studies, and biochemical tests.
• Making various culture media and biochemicals required for bacterial and fungal culture and identification.
• Preparing culture slants of bacteria or fungi for submission to reference laboratories when needed.
• Performing Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) swabs culture, reading the culture plates for 7 days by following the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) guidelines, reporting the negative results through LIMS without failing the turnaround time.
• Conducting antimicrobial susceptibility tests on the isolates obtained or received at the laboratory.
• Maintaining and utilizing frozen stock cultures associated with QC procedures and practices.
• Preserving unusual or new bacterial isolates in glycerol broth and maintaining a spreadsheet record.
• Isolating and archiving target isolates for Vet-LIRN and NALHN AMR projects.
• Reviewing scientific literature to keep current with new procedures for bacteriology section and recommending procedures which might improve laboratory services.
• Reviewing and revising section SOP’s and uploading them to QMS for approval.
• Processing samples received in the Bacteriology Section in a timely manner meeting Quality Assurance (QA) procedures and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Managing the Microbiology laboratory supplies, determining necessary supplies for full laboratory function, and notifying supervisor of laboratory supply needs.
• Ensuring that balances, pipettes, bio-safety hoods, microscopes and other similar items are calibrated and maintained in compliance with Quality Assurance Guidelines.
• Conducting intensive research on existing and new equipment, test procedures and processes to ensure laboratory expectations are current and vital to the state of Florida disease prevention mission.
• Contacting vendors for demonstrations of new equipment options that would enhance efficiency of the work being performed by the section staff.
• Keeping the Bacteriology Section Supervisor properly informed of the activities of the Section including any potential or real problem that may affect the proper function of the laboratory.
• Releasing accurate and timely reports to clients in the absence of Section Head and Department Head.
• Assisting section head and department head in the development and validation of new tests and testing media within the section.
• Maintaining equipment and instrument records in QMS for the bacteriology section according to standard operating procedures.
• Assisting Quality Assurance Manager(s) with the proper function of the Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory Quality System, which includes helping to develop, review or create new Quality System documents, forms, audits, and monthly checklists.
• Tracking, conducting audit and maintaining all inventory records in bacteriology section for instruments, equipment and hardware supplies.
• Assisting and coordinating the cross-training activities for personnel from other sections and new employees.
• Participating in cross training to acquire skills in the activities of other sections in microbiology and within the laboratory.
• Performing other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal holiday each year
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision and other supplemental insurance options
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition waivers

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level