Laboratory Technician

State of Oklahoma • Edmond - 800 E 2nd Street, OK

8d • $38,291 - $52,000 • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located in the Forensic Biology Unit within the Criminalistics Services Division in Edmond, OK. Positions in this job family are assigned responsibilities for supporting laboratory operations, performing maintenance functions and completing non-technical routine laboratory tests and procedures under the direction of professional staff.

Requirements

• Two years of experience in laboratory work performing laboratory procedures; or an equivalent combination of experience, substituting one college-level laboratory science course for each six months of required experience.
• Knowledge of a variety of standard laboratory procedures and techniques.
• Knowledge of laboratory equipment and terminology.
• Knowledge of laboratory hazards and safety practices.
• Ability to receive and complete complex written and oral instructions on technical matters.
• Ability to operate laboratory equipment.
• Ability to write reports.
• Must be willing to submit to a drug screen, polygraph examination, psychological evaluation (commissioned positions only), and a thorough background investigation.
• Certain events automatically disqualify an applicant, such as, felony conviction; admission of an undetected crime that, if known, would have been a felony charge; failure to pay federal or state income tax; positive confirmed drug urine test; illegal use of a controlled substance within certain time frames.

Nice To Haves

• Provide either direct or functional supervision and training to other technicians, temporary employees and students assigned to the laboratory.

Responsibilities

• Perform quality control activities, including but not limited to conducting and documenting scheduled function tests for instruments, equipment, and reagents according to OSBI policy.
• Maintain laboratory instruments/equipment, which may involve cleaning, disassembling, replacing parts, replenishing reagents, and/or scheduling vendor service.
• Assist discipline supervisors in adequately maintaining appropriate inventory of supplies, reagents, and consumables needed for casework and/or databasing analyses. Procure, receive, and properly store inventory, according to OSBI policy.
• Prepare and function test specific, in-house serological and DNA reagents.
• Responsible for general laboratory upkeep, including disposing of chemical and bio-hazardous waste, decontaminating surfaces, ensuring proper functionality of safety equipment, etc. Ensure the Biology evidence vault is maintained, clean, and organized.
• Assist qualified Forensic Biology Criminalists with serological analysis of evidence specific to the identification of blood, semen, and/or male DNA.
• Perform various steps of the DNA analysis process, under the direction of qualified Criminalists, ranging from DNA extraction, quantification, and amplification/genetic analysis, excluding interpretation.
• Accession convicted offender samples, provide kits to collection agencies, assist CODIS Criminalists with the compilation of hit verification files, perform administrative reviews, and/or perform training and customer service in reference to the OSBI's online databasing system, CoDNA.
• Performs routine laboratory procedures such as preparation of media and basic preparation of slides and smears.
• Conducts non-technical routine laboratory tests and procedures under the direction of professional staff.
• Sets up and operates laboratory equipment in preparation for specimen examinations.
• Opens, separates, numbers and arranges specimens for laboratory examination and trace results.
• Maintains simple laboratory records and inventory for supplies and reagents.
• Maintains laboratory equipment and supplies by cleaning and maintaining quality assurance records.
• Maintains a clean and sanitary work area in accordance with standard laboratory practice and procedures.

Benefits

• The State of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of genetic information, race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree