Public Health Laboratory Scientist 1-3

State of Louisiana • Baton Rouge, LA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Louisiana Office of Public Health is hiring a Public Health Laboratory Scientist for its Microbiology Laboratory in Baton Rouge. The role supports the Louisiana Department of Health’s mission to protect and promote health and ensure access to medical, preventive, and rehabilitative services for Louisiana residents.

The scientist performs clinical microbiology testing, primarily involving bacterial isolates submitted to the Louisiana Office of Public Health Bacteriology Laboratory. Work includes identification and confirmation, serotyping, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and molecular characterization. Additional duties may include Mycobacteriology Laboratory testing, including nucleic acid amplification testing, AFB smear and culture, and mycobacterial identification using molecular methods and MALDI-TOF analysis.

The position may be filled at the Public Health Laboratory Scientist 1, 2, or 3 level, depending on the selected candidate’s qualifications, and offers the opportunity to advance within the job series. It is located at the Office of Public Health Central Laboratory in East Baton Rouge Parish. The position may be filled as a temporary Job appointment lasting up to 48 months.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a biological, environmental, or chemical science.
• Must possess or be eligible to obtain a Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners clinical laboratory scientist license; national certification by ASCP, AMT, or AAB is required for the license.
• For clinical testing positions, must hold a current Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners license to practice as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist Generalist (CLS-G) or Clinical Laboratory Scientist Specialist (CLS-S). A temporary license fulfills this requirement only for the period granted, and the requirements for a permanent license must be met before the temporary license expires.
• Must be able to pass a criminal background check and/or security clearance, including requirements associated with the Federal Select Agent Program and Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners licensing.

Nice To Haves

• Training and/or experience performing clinical microbiology testing.

Responsibilities

• Identify and confirm bacterial isolates submitted to the Louisiana Office of Public Health Bacteriology Laboratory.
• Conduct serotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of bacterial isolates.
• Perform molecular characterization and related molecular testing of bacterial pathogens.
• Conduct nucleic acid amplification testing and AFB smear testing in the Mycobacteriology Laboratory.
• Perform AFB cultures using liquid- and solid-based media.
• Identify mycobacterial isolates using molecular methods and MALDI-TOF analysis.
• Perform clinical microbiology testing in accordance with laboratory procedures, quality standards, and applicable requirements.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level