Microbiologist

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Microbiologist to support a laboratory focused on food safety, environmental testing, and outbreak response. This is a hands-on laboratory position ideal for microbiologists comfortable working in a regulated, high-impact lab environment. The role involves supporting food surveillance, environmental sample analysis, and outbreak/recall testing to help stabilize the team and protect public health.

Responsibilities

• Perform microbiological testing on food and environmental samples.
• Process and analyze samples in accordance with chain-of-custody and regulatory requirements.
• Identify microorganisms related to food safety, surveillance, and outbreak investigations.
• Support routine testing as well as high-priority public health response work.
• Document results accurately and follow all laboratory safety and compliance standards.
• Collaborate with a team of scientists in a fast-paced public health lab setting.
• Perform emergency response and routine surveillance testing for the isolation, characterization, and subtyping of foodborne pathogens.
• Validate and verify new methods, and monitor QA/QC procedures in support of ISO 17025 standards.

Required Qualifications

• Education: A Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Medical Technology, Life Sciences, or a related discipline is required.
• Experience: Candidates must have 2–5 years of hands-on laboratory experience in food microbiology and/or environmental microbiology. Experience with food samples, environmental samples, or evidentiary samples is necessary. Clinical lab experience is acceptable only if paired with environmental or food exposure.
• Technical Skills: Required skills include experience with MALDI, PCR-based testing, and standard microbiology plating and organism identification. Knowledge of laboratory safety practices and the ability to operate and troubleshoot laboratory instrumentation are essential.
• Compliance and Soft Skills: Candidates must be comfortable in a state/public health lab environment with strong adherence to lab safety, dress code, and other professional standards. Reliability, punctuality, and the ability to communicate effectively are required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a biosafety level three (BSL-3) environment.
• Experience with toxin detection.
• Experience working in an ISO 17025 accredited quality environment.