Laboratory Scientist II 2025-01383

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

As Laboratory Scientist 2 in the EID Section of the Wyoming Public Health Lab, this position fulfills various roles determined by the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Grant. Duties include serving as a secondary analyst in the whole genome sequencing, molecular, and multiple laboratory sections, as workloads dictate. Duties also include communication and partnership with WDH Epidemiology Infectious Disease Program to assess outbreak control measures, make laboratory recommendations, and direct communication with health care providers across the state. This position is also responsible for activities associated with support for specified laboratory testing, including accessioning and processing of patient samples, ordering and maintaining supplies, reagents, and stocking of materials required to provide rapid turnaround time for testing, instrument maintenance, and troubleshooting. Health Department objectives are achieved by providing laboratory testing for public health organizations and ensuring CLIA licensure through federal compliance initiatives. Duties may also be expanded on, especially during surge events related to infectious disease epidemics and pandemics.

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ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The listed functions are illustrative only and are not intended to describe every function that may be performed in the job level.

• Work with the Emerging Diseases Laboratory Supervisor to process and test specimens utilizing NGS Sequencing. Accession and prepare specimens for NGS testing using multiple NGS chemistries and their respective platforms. Analyze, interpret, and upload sequencing data utilizing software and other bioinformatics pipelines to the national databases. Prepare all necessary worksheets and data for stakeholders, including infectious disease epidemiologists and the CDC. Contribute to the enhancement and expansion of the NGS capabilities of the lab.
• Provide testing support in the Molecular section as needed for testing capacityaccession and processing of patient and environmental samples. Order and maintain supplies, reagents, and materials required for prompt testing and timely results. Perform required maintenance, quality control, calibration, and troubleshooting of instrumentation used in testing. Maintain all required quality control elements, LIMS modules, paper, and electronic documentation according to federal regulations (HIPAA & CLIA) and bloodborne pathogen requirements associated with performing testing on human specimens. Update standard operating procedures as required.
• Participate in the development and delivery of NGS training for in-house and other organizations. This includes the University of Wyoming, APHL, and other entities upon request.
• Provide support for ELC grant initiatives by researching emerging technologies pertinent to the objectives of the ELC grant. Assist in co-writing ELC grant narratives for testing performed in this position. Develop proposed line-item budgets for ELC grant capacities associated with job tasks. Write mid-term and final progress reports required by ELC grant administrators.
• Tertiary backup to the Wastewater Surveillance program as needed.

PREFERENCES:

Preference may be given to candidates with a bachelors degree in biological, physical, or chemical science.

Preference may be given to individuals who have two or more years of experience in a clinical diagnostic laboratory.

Preference may be given to those who have obtained a bachelors degree in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Medical Technology, Biology, Chemistry, or a related science.

KNOWLEDGE:

• Knowledge and skills in a solid science background, including microbiology, molecular biology, and statistics, as well as strong general laboratory practices.
• Ability to and experience in performing traditional microbiology and molecular techniques, including PCR and Next Generation Sequencing, is required.
• Knowledge of advanced computer skills using a multitude of instrument-specific and biostatistical programs

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: Bachelor's Degree (typically in Science) Experience: 0-3 years of progressive work experience (typically in a medical or environmental laboratory) with acquired knowledge at the level of a Laboratory Scientist I OR Education & Experience Substitution: 4-6 years of progressive work experience (typically in a medical or environmental laboratory) with acquired knowledge at the level of a Laboratory Scientist I Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: None

PHYSICAL WORKING CONDITIONS:

• The employee may sit comfortably to perform the work; however, there may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying light items, driving an automobile, etc.

NOTES:

• FLSA: Exempt
• The Wyoming Department of Health is an employer .
  

048-Wyoming Department of Health - Public Health Division

Click here to view the State of Wyoming Classification and Pay Structure.

URL: State of Wyoming is an Equal Opportunity Employer and actively supports the ADA and reasonably accommodates qualified applicants with disabilities.

Class Specifications are subject to change, please refer to the A & I HRD Website to ensure that you have the most recent version.