Clinical Scientist Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Meet one of the accepted certification options: MLS generalist certification from ASCP BOC or AMT; MT generalist certification from ASCP BOR or AMT; or categorical or specialist certification from ASCP or AMT, subject to the stated restrictions for CLS generalist positions and unrelated laboratory sections.
• Applicants relying on foreign education must provide the required equivalency evaluation or qualifying certification eligibility documentation described in the posting.
• At GS-9, meet either one year of creditable GS-7-equivalent experience or a master's degree or two academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related science; also demonstrate the listed laboratory testing, quality assurance, equipment, teamwork, instruction interpretation, and testing-phase competencies.
• At GS-11, meet either one year of creditable GS-9-equivalent experience or three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related science; also demonstrate the listed clinical laboratory science, quality assurance, informatics, instrumentation, technical judgment, complex instruction, and communication competencies.
• Non-certified applicants must meet an identified route making them eligible to take the ASCP BOC or AMT MLS certification exam; if appointed under the exception, they may only be appointed at entry level, must work under supervision of a certified CLS at or above full performance level, and may not be promoted or converted until certified.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination.
• Must complete required background/security investigation, onboarding, and application documentation.
• Applicants selected for testing-designated VA employment are subject to pre-appointment urinalysis; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Must comply with the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
• Physical requirements are governed by VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Responsibilities

• Recognize and define testing problems and evaluate methods to resolve them.
• Evaluate, guide, or implement alternative approaches to standard methods.
• Evaluate whether specimens are suitable for analysis and request a new specimen when the original is unusable.
• Prepare specimens for analysis while maintaining their physiological properties.
• Perform phlebotomy as needed for laboratory test requests.
• Select, perform, evaluate, and monitor non-routine and specialized tests using manual and/or instrumental methods in accordance with established protocols.
• Select control samples, establish protocols for evaluating control values, and define actions when controls are outside limits.
• Create, use, or modify logic schemas to determine corrective actions for problems.
• Prepare laboratory reports identifying the sample, method, and results, and report results to the appropriate individual.
• Perform routine and special anatomic pathology procedures as needed, including accessioning, grossing, embedding, microtomy, H&E staining, and special stains.
• Obtain data in accordance with established procedures.
• Develop instructions for converting from manual to automated testing systems.
• Maintain professional currency through formal education, professional training, and networking.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• At applicable grade levels, evaluate, perform, interpret, and validate test results; conduct quality control and routine instrument maintenance; troubleshoot; correlate abnormal results with pathological states; and determine the validity of results and whether additional tests are needed.
• At the GS-11 level, independently carry out day-to-day laboratory operations, organize and prioritize work with minimal technical supervision, monitor quality systems, collaborate in patient diagnosis and treatment, and provide education to laboratory professionals and the public.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs may be carried into retirement.