Newborn Screening Scientist

State of Colorado • Denver, CO

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Colorado Newborn Screening Program (CONBSP) within the Colorado Public Health Lab (CPHL) exists to comply with state law that all newborns in Colorado are screened for a list of conditions including Phenylketonuria, Congenital Hypothyroidism, Hemoglobinopathies, Galactosemia, Cystic Fibrosis, Biotinidase Deficiency, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Amino Acidemias, Organic Acidemias, Fatty Acid Oxidation disorders, Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Pompe, MPSI, X-ALD and other conditions determined by the Colorado Board of Health. The program aims to prevent or reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with these diseases and to ensure that families of affected newborns receive proper follow-up and education for these disorders. This posting is used to hire several scientist positions within CONBSP, specifically for roles such as Quality Assurance Scientist, Molecular Testing Scientist, and Mass Spectrometry Testing Scientist. The scientist position serves as a subject matter expert in one of these fields. The QA scientist will act as a scientific facilitator for the implementation of new disorders, quality assurance, and quality improvement. These positions may draft and assist in validation plans for methods and instruments, and may serve as the primary reviewer for disorders tested by CONBSP. The roles involve scheduling, training, and participating in all activities related to testing of new or established disorders, as well as monitoring, establishing, and participating in quality assurance processes.

Requirements

• Five (5) years of relevant experience in a laboratory setting performing biological, microbiological, biochemical or molecular science testing with an emphasis on directing or designing quality assurance (QA) protocols and safety procedures.
• A combination of related education in biological and/or physical science (e.g., microbiology, molecular biology, chemistry or genetics) and relevant experience in a laboratory setting performing biological, microbiological, biochemical or molecular science testing with an emphasis on directing or designing quality assurance (QA) protocols and safety procedures equal to five (5) years.
• Must be a resident of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.

Nice To Haves

• An advanced degree in biological and/or physical science (e.g., microbiology, molecular biology, chemistry, or genetics)
• Ability to collaborate and achieve consensus across work units and programs
• In-depth knowledge of laboratory regulatory requirements (e.g., CLIA, EPA, FDA, ISO)
• In-depth knowledge of chemical safety recommendations
• Ability to strategize, organize and plan, including creating and updating training plans
• Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing with a wide range of customers
• Knowledge of and use of desktop computer hardware and software
• Excellent critical thinking and problem solving skills
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
• Ability to interpret regulations and statutes
• Ability to interpret and analyze data
• Keen attention to detail
• Ability to self-motivate
• Ability to work well independently as well as in/with a team

Responsibilities

• Conduct research into methods for current and new testing.
• Develop or support development of plans to validate these methods.
• Collaborate with the Bench Scientist, NBS Scientist Supervisor and/or QA Specialist to share findings and discuss appropriateness of findings for implementation in the NBS Program to improve reliability and consistency of testing methods.
• Work with the NBS Program Manager, Scientist Supervisor, and Bench Scientist to optimize interpretative logic in the NBS LIMS.
• Ensure that testing is correctly identifying and categorizing disorders screened by the NBS program by evaluating cutoff values on an ongoing basis.
• Ensure the quality assurance is being met for staff, instruments, processes and daily assays for disorder testing.
• Operate, calibrate, verify, compare and maintain equipment used in analysis and document the functionality of the instrumentation.
• Perform high-complexity clinical testing in compliance with CLIA to identify newborns at risk.
• Perform daily testing using current instruments for conditions determined by the Colorado Board of Health.
• Perform sample review and preparation for testing on instruments.
• Perform result review and reporting.
• Provide implementation of software support to the NBS Program, including LIMS subject matter expert training and updates.
• Train with the vendor to provide LIMS support and training to NBS staff as a LIMS core team member.
• Engage with NBS LIMS administrator, vital records and the LIMS vendor to ensure the NBS program LIMS is up to date and operational for new disorders and/or cutoff updates.

Benefits

• Free parking and access to RTD bus lines.
• Flexible working arrangements
• Retirement (PERA options), Medical and dental health plans
• Defined Benefit Plan or the PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401K and 457 plans
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year and generous personal time off
• Tuition assistance
• Wellness programs
• Professional development opportunities on a wide variety of subjects
• Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system
• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

What This Job Offers

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