Clinical Laboratory Scientist

About the role

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Responsibilities

• Evaluates the suitability of specimen/s for analysis, requesting new specimen/s if determined to be unusable.
• Prepares specimens for analysis, ensuring that the physiologic state of the specimen properties is maintained.
• Performs steps of analysis for a full range of standards, routine, and specialized tests including instrument maintenance and performance checks; reagent/media preparation; calibration; analysis, and inventory management. In addition, performs advanced and complex laboratory procedures; recognizes deviation from expected results; analyzes and corrects problems using scientific principles.
• Identifies and documents as appropriate instrument malfunctions and/or unacceptable test system performance by analyzing and interpreting instrument function checks, calibration data, and quality control data.
• Cleanses and maintains laboratory equipment and ensures proper functioning of instruments and equipment.
• Conducts quality control/assurance procedures on equipment, reagents, and products and maintains proper records for quality control/assurance reports and adheres to established quality control guidelines.
• Reviews completed work for clerical errors and unusual or unlikely results.
• Investigate problems/incompatibilities to determine the appropriate solution when departure from normal operating procedures is required in conjunction with more experienced staff as needed.
• Responsible for the generation of laboratory results from the work area into the laboratory computer system and for the editing and verification of the results recorded into the computer system.
• Communicate effectively and courteously while working as a healthcare team member, even under difficult conditions, fostering a professional, courteous, and effective manner of communication appropriate to the situation, including giving general direction and guidance.
• Answers inquiries regarding test results, methodology, and specific factors, which influence test results.

Requirements

• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Must adhere to practices and regulations governing biosafety and biosecurity in the workplace.

Qualifications

• Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship, Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university, and one of the certification options listed.
• Education: Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related science.
• Experience: 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related science.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of policies and procedures of clinical laboratory testing, laboratory quality control and quality assurance principles, laboratory equipment and routine maintenance, ability to work as a team member and effectively complete assignments, ability to read and interpret written instructions, and ability to accurately perform pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of testing.