Clinical Laboratory Scientist GS-0644-11

Defense Health Agency Civilian Corps, Falls Church, VA•San Diego, CA

4d•$0 - $152,729•Onsite

About The Position

This position is located in the Directorate of Clinical Support at Naval Medical Center San Diego, California. The Clinical Laboratory Scientist will perform specialized and technically demanding tests that require concentrated and considerable time and experience, related to diagnostic purposes or in conjunction with clinical research problems. The role involves implementing new solutions to methodological problems, analyzing test systems, and devising plans to achieve objectives after literature reviews and contacts with colleagues. Responsibilities include recording results through various data entry modes into laboratory information systems, retrieving information from electronic databases upon physician requests, instructing and training technical personnel and laboratory students, and responding appropriately to clinical emergencies by recognizing emergent situations and notifying appropriate personnel. The position also ensures compliance with all applicable accreditation agencies and regulatory requirements.

Requirements

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 at the time the degree was obtained.
OR At least 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 that included 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.
Certification from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), American Medical Technologist (AMT) or other board or registry deemed comparable by Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (OASD(HA)) or their designee as a Medical Technologist (MT), Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS), or Medical Lab Scientist (MLS) is required. (Copy of certification must be submitted with application package.)
One year of specialized experience which includes performing complex testing; conducting quality control procedures; and interpreting laboratory results. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09).
OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.
OR Combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.

Responsibilities

Perform specialized and technically demanding tests that require concentrated and considerable time and experience; tests are either related to diagnostic purposes or are in conjunction with clinical research problems.
Implement new solutions to methodological problems, analyze test systems, and devise plan to achieve objectives after literature reviews, and contacts with colleagues in other hospitals.
Record results through a variety of data entry modes into laboratory information systems and retrieve information from electronic databases upon physician requests.
Instruct and train technical personnel and laboratory students in the theory, principles and practices of medical technology.
Respond appropriately to clinical emergencies. Recognizes emergent situations and notifies appropriate personnel.
Ensure compliance with all applicable accreditation agencies and regulatory requirements.