Microbiologist I or II

Universities of Wisconsin•Madison, WI

6d•$52,900 - $57,000

About The Position

The Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH), part of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, is a public health laboratory that provides testing, service, research, and education. Its Communicable Disease Division (CDD) performs diagnostic and surveillance testing and supports public health functions, including disease prevention and control, reference testing, food safety, laboratory improvement, preparedness, training, and partnerships. The position is part of the CDD Sequencing team and works under close supervision. The team supports advanced molecular diagnostics and next-generation sequencing (NGS) for detecting, characterizing, and genomically analyzing pathogens of public health significance, including antimicrobial-resistant organisms, influenza, and other communicable disease agents. The employee performs molecular diagnostic and microbiological testing, including NGS-related laboratory procedures, on clinical specimens and microorganisms. Work includes specimen processing, nucleic acid extraction and preparation, molecular assay workflows, conventional microbiological culture techniques, documentation in the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), and preparation of worksheets and reports. The employee also supports quality assurance, quality control, and continuous improvement to help ensure accurate, reliable, and reproducible results. Additional duties may include supporting method development, evaluation, and validation; preparing and revising standard operating procedures; assisting with test costing and implementation; and providing technical instruction to laboratory personnel, students, and other healthcare professionals. The position is posted at the Microbiologist I and Microbiologist II levels, with title and salary determined upon hire based on experience. Minimum salaries are $52,900 per year for Microbiologist I and $57,000 per year for Microbiologist II.

Requirements

Meet the qualifications in 42 CFR § 493.1489 for testing personnel performing high-complexity testing.
Microbiologist I: Understanding of aseptic technique, conventional microbiology techniques, and molecular diagnostic testing.
Microbiologist II: At least 2 years of laboratory experience.
Microbiologist II: Hands-on experience with molecular biology techniques, including PCR, real-time PCR, nucleic acid extraction, and/or DNA/RNA quantification.
Ability to visually distinguish colors; a color vision screening test is required before an offer of employment.
At minimum, a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical, biological, clinical or medical laboratory science, or medical technology from an accredited institution.
Provide an official transcript, or a copy of an official transcript, showing the conferred degree as a condition of employment.
For a degree earned outside the United States, provide proof of qualification equivalency from a nationally recognized organization; course-by-course review is required for candidates demonstrating ability to meet CLIA qualifications.
The candidate is responsible for expenses related to obtaining and providing proof of qualifications.

Nice To Haves

Microbiologist I: Clinical and/or public health laboratory experience.
Microbiologist I: Hands-on experience with molecular biology techniques, including PCR, real-time PCR, nucleic acid extraction, and/or DNA/RNA quantification.
Microbiologist II: Clinical and/or public health laboratory experience.
Microbiologist II: Experience with next-generation sequencing methodologies, including library preparation, sequencing, and quality control of sequencing data.
Microbiologist II: Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot molecular assays, sequencing workflows, and laboratory instrumentation.
A degree in Microbiology, Genetics, or Molecular Biology.

Responsibilities

Isolate and maintain microorganism cultures from specimens and samples for identification and classification.
Propagate and maintain cell lines and cultures for microorganism isolation or assay procedures while observing laboratory safety.
Perform, interpret, and report microbiological tests and assays for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of illness or to determine sources of environmental contamination.
Prepare specimens for scientific examination and analysis and/or prepare the laboratory for accreditation audits and inspections.
Develop and conduct biological research experiments using quality control and quality assurance practices and following regulatory standards and requirements.
Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory instrumentation and information management systems.
Prepare, review, verify, and report test-result data.
Prepare technical reports, make scientific recommendations based on findings, and present materials to stakeholder groups (Microbiologist II responsibility).
Communicate with internal and external stakeholders, establish and maintain partnerships, and share research updates.
Support and/or train new employees, students, and other professional colleagues.
Participate in educational and outreach activities and other professional development.
Support new test development and validation studies and assist in bringing new technologies to the work unit, with assistance.
Support quality assurance, quality control, and continuous improvement activities.