Microbiologist II

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

10d • $4,540 - $5,229 • Onsite

About The Position

Under moderate supervision of the Healthcare Acquired Infections and Vaccine Preventable Disease (HAI/VPD) Team Lead and Clinical Bacteriology Group Manager, this role performs moderately complex microbiological work for the isolation and identification of pathogenic bacteria from both referred cultures and clinical specimens using a battery of mass spectrometry, physiological, serological, and other identification tests. The position also performs quality control and preventive maintenance. Duties are performed with adherence to standard protocol, with limited latitude to interpret standard protocol, and with limited use of initiative, scientific knowledge, and independent judgment. Safe operation of either a state-owned vehicle or personal vehicle is required to conduct state business, and an acceptable driving record must be maintained.

Requirements

• Have earned a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science, or medical technology from an accredited institution and one year of clinical microbiology or bacteriology lab experience; or have earned an associate’s degree in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science, or medical laboratory technology from an accredited institution and have at least two years of experience in moderate complexity laboratory testing in clinical microbiology or bacteriology lab.
• Basic diagnostic and public health bacteriology including the use of various identification keys and biochemical tests to accurately identify bacteria representing the entire spectrum of pathogenic organisms.
• General knowledge of the expected reactions of most culture media with known quality control organisms.
• Manipulating standard laboratory equipment with speed, accuracy, and safety.
• See and distinguish color.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing; follow written and verbal instructions.
• Use various items of laboratory equipment, including the use of a computer for word processing, spreadsheet and database analysis, and results reporting.
• Ability to interact effectively with staff, work independently, work in harmony with other team members and follow standard operating procedures and protocols.
• Safe operation of either a state-owned vehicle or personal vehicle is required to conduct state business, and an acceptable driving record must be maintained.

Nice To Haves

• Working experience in bacteriology and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
• Experience with identifying bacteria by use of MALDI-TOF and/or conventional biochemical methods.
• Experience using various items of laboratory equipment.
• Experience maintaining inventory of supplies in a laboratory setting.

Responsibilities

• Under technical guidance of the Team Lead, performs moderately complex procedures for the isolation and identification of bacteria from both referred cultures and clinical specimens. Specimens received may include carbapenem resistant or vaccine preventable organisms.
• Performs bacterial isolation procedures to obtain a pure culture on referred cultures for confirmation and identification using standard protocol on carbapenem resistant and vaccine preventable organisms.
• Performs identification by MALDI-TOF and/or inoculates pure culture isolates to a battery of physiological tests; reads, interprets, and records biochemical test results.
• Performs antimicrobial susceptibility testing or serotyping as needed.
• Completes the testing process, accurately records all test reactions, and confirms the identification of the organism by interpretation of appropriate identification keys.
• Recognizes problems or deviations and refers to supervisor or team lead.
• Initiates troubleshooting and proposes solutions to problems to supervisor.
• Participates in proficiency testing program and demonstrates proficiency in testing work.
• Ensures that all testing is performed within turnaround time.
• Performs quality control and preventive maintenance.
• Routinely prepares and evaluates the quality of reagents used in tests by tracking expiration dates, performing required quality control, and documenting results.
• Documents technical performance issues.
• Identifies any aberrant quality control results, notifies the Team Lead for corrective actions with a clear description of what occurred.
• Assists team lead with preparation of Quality Assurance documents including data graphs and problem and corrective action logs, competency documentation, training documentation, review of quality control records, and turnaround time statistical analysis.
• Evaluates test results and assures accuracy and completeness.
• Enters test results into laboratory information system for reporting.
• Identifies abnormal results and refers to Team Lead.
• Files completed reports according to standard protocol.
• Releases uncomplicated results based on SOP’s including reviewing, entering, and validating test results in the laboratory computer system for final reporting.
• Ensures that there is an adequate supply of reagents and miscellaneous supplies and assists in supporting the group in maintaining an adequate supply of media and supplies.
• Reviews on a monthly basis the expiration dates of reagents and places requests for reagents when supply is below desired level.
• Reviews each shipment of supplies received for completeness and records condition, expiration dates, and reviews any changes for instructions for use.
• Participates in and coordinates semi-annual SAO inventory.
• Performs preventative maintenance and basic troubleshooting on instruments.
• Recognizes problems and deviations and refers to supervisor.
• Documents daily readings and of supplies accurate performance.
• Assists Team Lead with revisions of preventive maintenance records, equipment standard operating procedures, and corrective action documentation.
• Participates in the disposal of biohazardous waste.
• Participate in training program by reading procedures, listening, taking notes, and asking questions.
• Takes responsibility for ensuring that the knowledge and skills demonstrated are clearly understood and competency can be demonstrated.
• Participates in cross-training programs by teaching or demonstrating laboratory techniques in accordance with standard operating procedures.
• Documents all training and delivers to Manager within 10 days of completion.
• Assists with verification or validation studies of new products or techniques.
• Assists in development and revision of procedural manuals.
• Assists with special projects or surge capacity testing.
• Under technical guidance of the Team Lead, provides data for project updates.
• Compiles data in spreadsheet or word processing format for presentations.
• Assists other staff within the Clinical Bacteriology Group in their duties and provides additional support with special projects to maintain the section’s high quality and productivity.
• Attends meetings, interacts, and communicates with customers when applicable.
• Attends and/or participates in work related workshops, seminars, and other training activities.
• Answers routine customer inquiries according to SOP’s and some non-routine inquiries as directed by supervisor.
• Interacts with other programs as requested.
• Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency's obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or continuity of operations (COOP) activation.
• Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.
• Based on your work area, consistently comply with DSHS Laboratory, local, state, and federal guidelines to ensure a safe functioning laboratory.

Benefits

• insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS)

What This Job Offers

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