Microbiologist 2 (35 Hour) Office/On-site Recruitment # 240909-7390HC-001 Location Rocky Hill, CT Date Opened 9/12/2024 12:00:00 AM Salary $65,559 - $88,955/year (New state employees start at the minimum) Job Type Open to the Public Close Date 10/1/2024 11:59:00 PM Go Back Apply View Benefits (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/jobs/?b=Benefits)
Introduction
THE POSITION
The S tate of Connecticut (https://portal.ct.gov/) , Department of Public Health ( DPH (https://portal.ct.gov/DPH) ), Laboratory Division, is currently seeking enthusiastic and driven candidates to apply for the position of Microbiologist 2 (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/specs/classspecdisplay.asp?ClassNumber=7390HC&R1=&R3=) ! This position will train in all areas of the Virology/Serology section of the laboratory to provide accurately and timely diagnosis for a variety of diseases.
Located in Rocky Hill, CT, the State Public Health Laboratory offers exciting opportunities for career development and growth. The Virology/Serology laboratory continues to provide comprehensive diagnostic testing services for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, Syphilis, Herpes, Chlamydia and Gonorrhea for underserved patients in Connecticut who have limited or no health insurance. The laboratory validates and implements current testing methodologies for HIV, Hepatitis C and STDs that follow diagnostic testing algorithms recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Association of Public Health Laboratories. In addition, the Virology/Serology laboratory provides rabies testing on domestic and wildlife animals involved with human exposure for the state of Connecticut. Rabies testing done at the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) Laboratory allows the DPH to monitor the occurrence of rabies among wild and domestic animals. Results are also important to guide the medical management of patients exposed to potentially rabid animals. The Virology/Serology laboratory also plays an important role in providing diagnostic testing in humans for current and newly emerging Arbovirus related infections including Powassan Virus, West Nile Virus, and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. This involves validating and implementing laboratory developed serological assays in response to new outbreaks.
HIGHLIGHTS
UNIT: Virology/Serology Laboratory
ADDRESS: 395 West St, Rocky Hill, CT
WORK HOURS: Full-Time, First Shift, 35 hours per week
SCHEDULE: Typical work schedule of Monday through Friday
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/jobs/?b=Benefits) page!
The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked one of the Best Employers of 2023 (https://portal.ct.gov/das/press-room/press-releases/2023/forbes-state-of-ct-ranked?language=enUS) - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule
Professional growth and development opportunities
A health work/life balance (https://www.jobapscloud.com/ct/sup/EVPPDF123020.pdf) to all employees
As a Microbiologist 2, you will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following duties:
Pre- and post-analytical processing of specimens for testing, serological and molecular testing utilizing a variety of methodologies and instrument platforms;
Communication with healthcare providers to call out significant results and follow up on missing patient and specimen information;
Instrument and equipment maintenance and calibration;
Maintain inventory of laboratory supplies and reagents; and
Following universal laboratory precautions for cleaning and proper disposable of biohazardous waste materials.
ABOUT US
The Mission of the Department of Public Health (https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Communications/About-Us/About-Us) (DPH) is to protect and improve the health and safety of the people of Connecticut by assuring the conditions in which people can be healthy, preventing disease, injury, and disability, and promoting the equal enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, which is a human right and a priority of the state.
DPH accomplishes this through the implementation of its Strategic Plan (https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Departments-and-Agencies/DPH/State-Health-Planning/Strategic-Planning/CTDPH2019Strategic-Plan-final.pdf) which outlines the actions that DPH is taking to accomplish its Mission.
Selection Plan
FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!
Please Note: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
TO APPLY
In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the recruiter listed on this job posting.
You must specify your qualifications on your application. You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.
In order to comply with Public Act 21-69 (https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/act/Pa/pdf/2021PA-00069-R00SB-00056-PA.PDF) , the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.
All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov .
This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.
AFTER YOU APPLY
Although applicants will receive correspondence via email and/or phone, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
NOTE: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position. Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview .
Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics (https://portal.ct.gov/ethics) .
CONNECT WITH US
Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process.
Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Jensine Tran at Jensine.Tran@ct.gov .
PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
In the Departments of Agriculture and Public Health this class is accountable for performing the more difficult and complex biochemical, microbiological or molecular examinations and analyses of a variety of specimens and substances.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
Performs routine as well as new and unusual or difficult examinations and analyses utilizing sophisticated instrumentation;
Performs microbiological and biochemical tests on human and animal specimens to identify bacteriological agents or locate evidence indicative of presence or absence of communicable diseases;
Makes microscopic, cultural, serological and other examinations of a variety of human specimens;
Performs bacteriological and biochemical analyses of water, wastewater, sewage effluent and sludge, seawater, seafood, dairy products and other foods;
Performs microbiological and other biochemical assays for inborn errors of metabolism;
Performs DNA amplification tests to detect various viral and bacterial agents;
Provides testing such as culture, antigen detect assays, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to support investigations of food and water borne outbreaks of disease;
Prepares reagents;
Utilizes universal laboratory precautions;
Utilizes computers to operate and maintain instrumentation, quality assurance data and test results;
Prepares reports and maintains records of investigations;
May testify in court;
Performs related duties as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
Considerable knowledge of
current theories, principles and practices of biomedical sciences and microbiological disciplines including bacteriology, parasitology, virology and others as they relate to public health;
current laboratory methods, equipment, instrumentation and material;
Knowledge of
common statistical techniques and ability to make sophisticated calculations;
quality assurance and quality control policies and procedures;
universal laboratory precautions;
laboratory hazards and safety;
Skills
interpersonal skills;
oral and written communication skills;
Ability to
perform routine and advanced biomedical, microbiological and biochemical examinations;
interpret test results in the context of patient history and epidemiology of disease or agent;
utilize computer software.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE
Six (6) years of experience in a public health or clinical laboratory involving scientific work in the field of microbiology, biochemistry or molecular biology.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE
One (1) year of the General Experience must have been at the junior working level in the field of microbiology. NOTE: For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of a Microbiologist 1.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED
College training in the natural sciences may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
A Master's degree in the natural sciences may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience in a clinical laboratory environment utilizing serological, virologic and molecular techniques for the detection or identification of viral and bacterial agents such as HIV, hepatitis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, rabies, and arboviruses;
Knowledge of laboratory policies, procedures and protocols needed to meet clinical regulatory requirements.
Experience with manual and automated clinical test platforms and instruments, including maintenance and trouble-shooting capabilities.
Experience with and considerable knowledge of quality assurance and quality control policies and procedures.
Experience following safety policies and procedures, including a comprehensive understanding of Biosafety Level 2 and Biosafety Level 3 laboratory practices.
Experience following written and verbal instruction from supervisory level and senior staff with strong attention to detail.
Proficient oral and interpersonal communication skills with public health partners, other operating units, and healthcare providers regarding laboratory policies, procedures, test methods performed, significant test results, and follow up needed for missing patient and test information.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Incumbents in this class must be willing to periodically undergo tests and/or immunizations for communicable diseases.
Incumbents in this class may be required to have specific education and/or experience to meet various certification and/or licensing requirements.
Incumbents may be required to undergo and successfully complete security background checks.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Incumbents in this class may be exposed to communicable diseases and hazardous substances.
Conclusion
AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.ACKNOWLEDGEMENT As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility. Click on a link below to apply for this position:Fill out the Supplemental Questionnaire and Application NOW using the Internet. Apply Online