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About the Role

DSHS is committed to hiring skilled and dedicated individuals who share a passion for public health to pursue our vision of A Healthy Texas. If you are looking to make an impact and tackle new challenges, we encourage you to consider a career with us.

Responsibilities

• Oversee, facilitate, and conduct advanced arbovirus diagnostic work using Biosafety Level (BSL) 2 and 3 practices.
• Manage and prioritize laboratory workflows, checking for errors in specimen receipt, testing, and reporting.
• Ensure reagents are prepared in adequate supply and quality tested for diagnostic work.
• Serve as a Senior Molecular Biologist, assuming duties of the Team Leader as required.
• Train laboratory staff on testing workflows.
• Perform duties with considerable latitude to develop and interpret protocols, utilizing scientific knowledge, initiative, independent judgment, and experience.
• Conduct complex laboratory procedures for arbovirus detection and identification from mosquitoes and equines.
• Perform mosquito species identification, sample processing, nucleic acid extraction and amplification, and PCR analysis.
• Propagate Vero and BHK cells, inoculate cell cultures, detect cytopathic effects, and identify isolates by immunofluorescent antibody testing.
• Assist with mosquito insectary maintenance and insecticide resistance testing.
• Distribute and prioritize workload appropriately.
• Serve as a resource for troubleshooting arbovirus detection issues.
• Maintain adequate stocks of reagents and supplies, including inventory databases.
• Verify reagent stocks and schedule production of new lots.
• Oversee and assist with quality control testing of arbovirus reagents.
• Summarize and document quality control testing results.
• Notify appropriate parties of significant results.
• Review quality/assurance documentation to ensure performance parameters are maintained.
• Verify reagent and supply inventory to prevent depletion.
• Prepare arbovirus reagents and infectious material for shipment.
• Enter, review, and validate mosquito and arbovirus results in the laboratory information system.
• Analyze specimen and test data to identify unusual patterns.
• Generate and review summary reports for data quality.
• Coordinate and assist with the evaluation, development, and implementation of new procedures for vector species identification, pathogen testing, and insecticide resistance testing.
• Document all development work thoroughly.
• Review literature and provide summaries of new techniques or research related to vectors and vector-borne diseases.
• Participate in continuing education opportunities to update and learn new techniques.
• Assist other staff in their duties and provide additional support.
• Notify supervisory personnel of equipment malfunctions or test failures immediately, providing assessment and recommendations.
• Provide training to guest laboratorians.
• Perform administrative tasks, including participating in interviews and attending meetings.
• Comply with DSHS Laboratory, local, state, and federal guidelines for safe laboratory functioning.
• Participate in disaster response and/or recovery or continuity of operations (COOP) activation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science or medical technology from an accredited institution.
• Laboratory experience detecting and identifying viruses (preferred).
• Experience performing molecular testing, including real-time RT-PCR (preferred).
• Experience performing cell culture (preferred).
• Experience with quality assurance functions (preferred).
• Must have no color vision problems; a functional color vision assessment will be conducted prior to employment.
• Must bring I-9 documentation on the first day of work.

Skills

• Medical virology principles and practices
• Laboratory safety
• Aseptic technique
• Handling of pathogenic organisms
• Microscopy (light and fluorescent)
• Immunological techniques
• Cell culture techniques
• Molecular biology techniques
• Organizing daily workload and setting priorities
• Maintaining accurate records
• Evaluating problem situations and determining appropriate actions
• Following laboratory procedures accurately
• Concentrating on minute details over an extended period
• Maintaining work efficiency under heavy stress
• Effective oral and written communication
• Following written and verbal instructions
• Using various laboratory equipment
• Computer proficiency for word processing, spreadsheets, database analysis, and results reporting
• Interacting effectively with staff
• Working independently
• Working in harmony with team members
• Following standard operating procedures and protocols
• Training employees
• Manipulating standard laboratory equipment with speed, accuracy, and safety

Location

• AUSTIN

Work Type

• Full time
• Regular

Experience Level

• Senior

Education Level

• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Doctoral degree

Salary/Compensations

• $65,212.68 - $74,994.60

Benefits

• Insurance coverage available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS).
• Rabies virus immunization.
• Immunization against other highly infectious agents.

About the Company

• DSHS is committed to hiring skilled and dedicated individuals who share a passion for public health to pursue our vision of A Healthy Texas.

Equal Opportunity

• In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), DSHS will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring process for individuals with a qualifying disability.