Laboratory Scientist 1 Bacteriology

Responsibilities

• Performs routine diagnostic assays within the Animal Disease & Diagnostic Laboratory, including processing clinical specimens for bacterial and fungal culture and organism identification using various conventional microbiological techniques and molecular methods.
• Maintains proper culture environment to support optimal microbial growth.
• Assists veterinary microbiologist in advanced diagnostic workflows.
• Establishes definitive organism identification through both traditional testing and advanced methodologies.
• Disposes of materials in accordance with established decontamination and biosafety procedures.
• Conducts quality control procedures as described in laboratory protocols for all assigned tests and prepares reagents & quality-control materials required for testing.
• Provides results to appropriate individuals following agency-established guidelines.
• Monitors equipment to assess performance, diagnose malfunctions, performs routine maintenance, troubleshoots & repairs equipment as needed, and determines when to contact vendor for assistance.
• Utilizes computer systems (including hardware, software, and agency's LIMS) for accurate data entry, tracking, management, and reporting of diagnostic data.
• Updates and maintains work-related documentation.
• Effectively plans and organizes workflow.
• Cleans and maintains workspace.
• Tracks and orders supplies.
• Drafts standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Maintains in-house control samples and reference materials.
• Preserves isolates and organisms for long-term storage.
• Records quality-control data while preparing corresponding control charts.
• Identifies and reports existing or emerging issues or trends based on control-chart performance to the supervisor.
• Assists bacteriologist in developing and/or validation of new diagnostic assays.
• Under direction of higher-level scientists, assists in research of new assay development/validation, drafting scientific reports, and SOPs.
• Performs additional related duties across other laboratory sections as assigned.

Qualifications

• 30 months of pertinent laboratory experience commensurate with job duties as outlined in the approved position description.
• OR completion of an associate degree in a biological, chemical, natural, or physical science plus 12 months of pertinent laboratory experience.
• OR completion of undergraduate core coursework in a biological, chemical, natural, or physical science.
• OR equivalent of the Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment noted above.

Benefits

• Medical Coverage: Quality, affordable, and competitive medical benefits through the Ohio Med PPO plan.
• Dental, Vision, and Basic Life Insurance: Premiums are free after one year of continuous service.
• Time Away from Work and Work/Life Balance:
  • Paid time off, including vacation, personal, and sick leave.
  • 11 paid holidays per year.
  • Childbirth/Adoption leave.
• Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS):
  • Employee contributes 10% of salary; employer contributes 14%.
• Deferred Compensation: 457(b) voluntary retirement savings plan.
• Maternity Benefits:
  • Expanded maternity health care benefits for employees enrolled in the Ohio Med PPO and Ohio Med NN plans.
  • Several prenatal, childbirth, and post-childbirth services provided at no out-of-pocket cost when using network providers, including:
    • Prenatal care, including physician visits and examinations.
    • Home health care services designated as maternity care.
    • Inpatient claims for all types of delivery.
    • Inpatient NICU claims, from birth through discharge.
    • Postpartum care, including office visits for follow-up and related procedures/treatments.
    • Medications prescribed for antepartum and postpartum conditions (e.g., morning sickness, postpartum depression) with no copay.
• Education and Development Opportunities:
  • Employee Development Funds.
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• Additional Benefits:
  • Public Retirement Systems (OPERS, STRS, SERS, HPRS).
  • Optional Deferred Compensation.

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors.