Clinical Laboratory Scientist

About the role

Join the Indian Health Service as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist providing vital, life-saving diagnostics to American Indian communities. Advance your career, enjoy competitive benefits, and be part of a mission that transforms lives every day.

Responsibilities

• Conduct standardized clinical laboratory testing in areas such as chemistry, hematology, microbiology, urinalysis, serology, and immunology using established procedures.
• Collect and prepare patient specimens for routine analysis.
• Operate, calibrate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment.
• Prepare reagents, controls, and reference materials and verify equipment performance.
• Recognize abnormal findings or testing discrepancies and report issues to supervisory or professional staff.
• Perform quality control, maintain laboratory records, and follow biosafety, infection control, and accreditation requirements.
• Evaluate specimen suitability and prepare specimens for analysis.
• Calibrate, standardize, troubleshoot, and maintain laboratory instrumentation.
• Resolve specimen handling issues and prepare specimens for specialized testing.
• Interpret test data, evaluate abnormal or unexpected findings, independently troubleshoot testing discrepancies, and implement corrective actions to ensure accurate laboratory results.
• Resolve specimen handling issues and prepare specimens for specialized testing.
• Perform quality control activities while maintaining compliance with biosafety, infection control, accreditation, and laboratory regulatory requirements.
• Resolve specimen handling issues and prepare specimens for specialized testing.
• Interpret test data, evaluate abnormal or unexpected findings, independently troubleshoot testing discrepancies, and implement corrective actions to ensure accurate laboratory results.
• Resolve specimen handling issues and prepare specimens for specialized testing.
• Perform quality control activities while maintaining compliance with biosafety, infection control, accreditation, and laboratory regulatory requirements.

Requirements

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must meet the minimum qualifications as stated below:

• GS-07: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: conducting standardized clinical laboratory testing in areas such as chemistry, hematology, microbiology, urinalysis, serology, and immunology using established procedures; collecting and preparing patient specimens for routine analysis; operating, calibrating, and maintaining laboratory instruments and equipment; preparing reagents and quality control materials; recognizing abnormal findings or testing discrepancies and reporting issues to supervisory or professional staff; and performing quality control, maintaining laboratory records, and following biosafety, infection control, and accreditation requirements.
• OR Completion of one (1) year of graduate-level education from an accredited college or university in clinical laboratory science/medical technology, a discipline or specialized area of medical technology, or a field directly related and applicable to medical technology or the position to be filled.
• OR A combination of graduate education and specialized experience that, when combined, meet the minimum qualifications as described above for the GS-07 grade level.
• OR A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in clinical laboratory science/medical technology, a discipline or specialized area of medical technology, or a directly related field applicable to the position. Applicants must also meet one of the following Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) requirements: (1) a cumulative GPA of 2.95 or higher on a 4.0 scale; (2) a GPA of 3.45 or higher in the major field of study or during the last two years of undergraduate study; (3) graduation in the top third of the graduating class; or (4) membership in a national scholastic honor society recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies.
• GS-09: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: conducting laboratory testing in areas such as chemistry, microbiology, hematology, immunology, urinalysis, molecular diagnostics, and immunohematology using established laboratory procedures; evaluating specimen suitability and preparing specimens for analysis; operating, calibrating, standardizing, troubleshooting, and maintaining laboratory instrumentation; preparing reagents, controls, and reference materials and verifying equipment performance; recognizing abnormal or unusual results, identifying instrument malfunctions, implementing corrective actions, validating test data, and consulting with supervisory staff regarding significant findings or quality control issues; and performing quality control activities while maintaining compliance with biosafety, infection control, accreditation, and laboratory regulatory requirements.
• OR Completion of 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree, or a master's or equivalent graduate degree, from an accredited college or university in clinical laboratory science/medical technology, a discipline or specialized area of medical technology, or a field directly related and applicable to medical technology or the position to be filled.
• OR A combination of graduate education and specialized experience that, when combined, meet the minimum qualifications as described above for the GS-09 grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the first 18 semester hours may be used in combination with specialized experience.
• GS-11: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: conducting and evaluating complex clinical laboratory testing in areas such as chemistry, microbiology, hematology, immunology, molecular diagnostics, and immunohematology using established and adapted methodologies; interpreting test data, evaluating abnormal or unexpected findings, independently troubleshooting testing discrepancies, and implementing corrective actions to ensure accurate laboratory results; calibrating, standardizing, troubleshooting, and maintaining laboratory instrumentation; resolving specimen handling issues and preparing specimens for specialized testing; and performing quality control, supporting proficiency testing and accreditation activities, and ensuring compliance with laboratory safety, infection control, and regulatory standards.
• OR Completion of 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, from an accredited college or university in clinical laboratory science/medical technology, a discipline or specialized area of medical technology, or a field directly related and applicable to medical technology or the position to be filled.
• OR A combination of graduate education and specialized experience that, when combined, meet the minimum qualifications as described above for the GS-11 grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the first 36 semester hours may be used in combination with specialized experience.