Laboratory Scientist 2 - Antimicrobial Resistance (PN20013780, PN20013867)

State of Ohio • Reynoldsburg, OH

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Ohio Department of Health Public Health Laboratory supports disease outbreak investigations, public health emergencies, disease identification, screening, reference testing, epidemiological investigations, and oversight of the state’s alcohol breath testing program. The Laboratory Scientist 2 joins a team producing timely, accurate, high-quality data to identify early warning signals, support outbreak and emergency response, and help public health professionals identify sources of illness.

The position performs high-complexity testing on clinical and environmental samples using specialized knowledge, training, and judgment. Testing methods may include microbiological culture and organism identification, PCR and next-generation sequencing, complex sample preparation and chemical separation, radiochemistry and radiological analysis, mass spectrometry, HPLC, and isoelectric focusing. The scientist also performs quality control, communicates test-result explanations to healthcare and public health partners, monitors laboratory supplies, maintains work documentation, and enters and processes data in a Laboratory Information Management System.

Selected candidates must be vaccinated against Hepatitis B or be willing to receive the vaccination after hire. Work may involve exposure to biofluids and tissue, sharps, caustic or toxic chemicals, and explosives. The position may require varying hours, and employees must provide their own transportation.

Requirements

• Meet at least one stated minimum qualification: 42 months of pertinent laboratory experience; undergraduate core coursework in a biological, chemical, natural, or physical science plus 12 months of pertinent laboratory experience; completion of a Master of Science core program in a biological, chemical, natural, or physical science; 12 months as a Laboratory Scientist 1; or one of the Department of Health education, certification, and experience options listed in the posting.
• For the Department of Health qualification options, eligibility may be established through an associate degree in medical technology; Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) certification; a qualifying bachelor's degree plus 12 months of pertinent specialty experience or training; or specified combinations of postsecondary coursework and documented laboratory experience.
• Selected candidates must provide proof of Hepatitis-B vaccination before their first day of work, or be willing and able to receive the vaccination after hire.
• Must be able to provide own transportation.
• Applications must clearly document how the candidate meets the minimum qualifications; experience, education, or training must be explicitly stated in the application.

Nice To Haves

• Undergraduate or advanced degree in chemical, physical, biological, or clinical laboratory science, or medical technology, or Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) certification.
• Experience working in a clinical conventional microbiology or molecular laboratory.
• Experience performing PCR assays, such as real-time PCR or conventional PCR.
• Experience validating or verifying new assays.
• Experience with quality assurance programs and documenting quality control.
• Experience communicating with laboratory, technical, or public health professionals.
• Experience training others in microbiological or molecular techniques.
• Experience maintaining equipment, inventory, and records.
• Experience using Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, or Access.
• Experience writing technical laboratory procedures.

Responsibilities

• Perform high-complexity testing on clinical and environmental samples, applying specialized knowledge, training, and judgment.
• Conduct microbiological testing, including inoculating specimens on appropriate culture media, recording observations such as colony morphology, performing Gram stains, and setting up biochemical tests and other microbial identification methods.
• Use microbial identification and diagnostic methods including MALDI-TOF, Culture Independent Diagnostic Testing (CIDT), BACTEC MGIT, and Panther Fusion.
• Perform polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) testing.
• Prepare complex samples using chemical separation techniques, including digestion, precipitation, and column chromatography.
• Perform radiochemistry analysis, radiological counting, data analysis and reporting, gross alpha/beta and gamma analysis, environmental sample analysis, liquid scintillation, mass spectrometry, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and isoelectric focusing.
• Perform quality control testing on media, reagents, and test kits, and record observations.
• Communicate explanations of test results to physicians, local health departments, and other government agencies.
• Monitor routine laboratory supplies in collaboration with multidisciplinary partners.
• Maintain work-related documentation and use a Laboratory Information Management System to enter and process data.

Benefits

• Medical coverage.
• Free dental, vision, and basic life insurance premiums after completion of the eligibility period.
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, and sick leave, and 11 paid holidays per year.
• Childbirth, adoption, and foster care leave.
• Education and development opportunities, including Employee Development Funds and Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• Public retirement systems, including OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS, and optional Ohio Deferred Compensation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed