Scientist Senior

Job Description:
Do you have a passion and drive to apply your talent to create a better Virginia? Are you looking for a career that provides you with the opportunity to improve the world around you? The State Laboratory of Virginia, the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services, is seeking qualified and diverse individuals to apply for a position that makes direct impact on the improvement of Virginian’s lives. DCLS provides laboratory testing for state agencies, local governments, federal agencies and other states with the mission to promote a healthier world through quality laboratory service. If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated staff of DCLS.

The Department of General Services’ Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS) seeks a qualified candidate to serve as a Senior Scientist (Technical Supervisor) in the Molecular Detection and Characterization (MDC) group. The MDC Group performs molecular analysis on a variety of sample types for the detection of agents of public health significance including bacteria, viruses and parasites. These data are used in the timely support of patient diagnosis and management, epidemiological investigation of infectious disease outbreaks, rapid response to bioterrorism events and for identification of unknown agents affecting public health. The MDC Group’s testing methodologies include, but are not limited to, nucleic acid isolation; operation of automated liquid handling and automated nucleic acid extraction platforms; standard, nested, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing; gel electrophoresis; and nucleic acid sequencing via next-generation and capillary-based Sanger sequencing.

This Senior Scientist position is responsible for serving as the MDC Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) team leader for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) GenomeTrakr program and as a Technical Supervisor for the MDC laboratory. The GenomeTrakr program is a network of public health and university laboratories working together to utilize whole genome sequencing for pathogen identification to aid in foodborne illness outbreak investigations. The Senior Scientist will establish and maintain collegial relationships with the FDA, colleagues at other State Public Health Laboratories and academic institutions for the purpose of information and technology transfer. The Senior Scientist will serve as the point of contact for the FDA’s surveillance initiatives specifically related to next-generation sequencing (NGS) and analysis. The WGS Senior is also responsible for coordinating a timely laboratory response to communicable disease and foodborne outbreaks and reporting critical results directly to Epidemiologists at the Virginia Department of Health. This position supports the use of NGS methodologies for enhanced characterization of pathogens from food, environmental, and clinical samples and isolates of circulating outbreak strains submitted to DCLS.

As a team leader, the Senior Scientist will coordinate daily customer service efforts impacting the MDC Laboratory, review analytical WGS results, update/review SOP’s, monitor QA procedures and perform routine analysis of specimens. In addition, this position will perform method review, assist in method validation and implementation, assist with cost analysis, maintain and monitor laboratory safety practices, act as the MDC QA representative and maintain the group’s competency assessment program. These duties are performed independently with minimal supervision from the Group Manager.

This is a restricted position funded by a federal grant, includes state benefits package.

Minimum Qualifications:

The applicant must comply with CLIA Technical Supervisor requirements for high complexity testing personnel, possessing a minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree in molecular biology, microbiology, bacteriology, virology, genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, or medical technology, or a related field and have the requisite comprehensive laboratory experience in the disciplines of microbiology and molecular biology.

The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to coordinate, lead, and prioritize work of others; and to work effectively in a team environment. Qualified candidates will possess the following: experience performing high complexity microbiology procedures and highly complex molecular laboratory procedures independently; experience with complex instrumentation and computerized laboratory information management systems; experience writing standard operating procedures; knowledge and experience with laboratory safety procedures; ability to record, interpret, review, and document laboratory findings and validation data; troubleshooting of assay and instrumentation performance; understanding of laboratory QA/QC concepts and theory; have proven communication skills (oral and written); ability to lift 30 pounds; experience with computers including spreadsheets, MS Office products and lab software programs.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s degree in molecular biology, microbiology, bacteriology, virology, genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, or medical technology, or a related field.

Preferred work related skills and experience include the following: technical knowledge and the ability to train staff with the following: conventional and real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nucleic acid extraction, and sequencing (preferably NGS), and isolation of microorganisms on selective and non-selective media. Experience with complex data analysis and management including NGS data analysis software and applications is preferred.

Special Requirements:

CLIA Technical Supervisor requirements for high complexity testing personnel can be found:

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=fdc713e19974b1fefd30f6652bd096f8&mc=true&node=pt42.5.493&rgn=div5#se42.5.493_11451

Selected candidate must be able to pass a fingerprint-based criminal history check.

Sponsorship will not be provided for this position.

This is a restricted position funded by a federal grant, includes state benefits package.

In order to comply with OSHA blood-borne pathogen requirements, DCLS offers the Hepatitis B vaccine.

Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) containment laboratory work may be required and the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard is required which involves passing a respiratory physical prior to working in a BSL-3 laboratory. The respiratory physical will be provided by the employer.

Requeriments :

• M.Sc. or higher Degree in Bioinformatics
• Master’s Degree in Genetics

Skills :

• Next Generation Sequencing

Areas :

• Bioinformatics

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