Senior Zoonotic and Vector-borne Diseases Research Scientist RESEARCH SCIENTIST III

The Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory (VDRL) Program is one of the oldest and largest state public health virology laboratories. As a CLIA-certified state public health laboratory performing high complexity testing, it serves as the reference laboratory for local public health laboratories and other clients and provides some primary testing for local public health departments that do not have laboratories. The VRDL is an advanced reference laboratory for the federal Laboratory Response Network and is regulated under the federal Select Agents Program. VRDL provides laboratory testing, technical consultation and support, training and assistance, and research required for the diagnosis, investigation and control of Viral and Rickettsial diseases, and for the development and maintenance of high-quality state and local public health laboratory services in California.

*The salary information listed on this advertisement may not reflect recent salary increases from salary adjustments or changes in the fiscal year.

*The CDPH is not currently an E-Verify employer.

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Candidates in one of these classifications, where a Masters Degree is required to meet the minimum qualifications, shall receive an educational pay differential equivalent to 2% of their monthly base pay. Those where a Doctoral Degree is required to meet the minimum qualifications, shall receive an educational pay differential equivalent to 3% of their monthly base pay. Individuals with both a Masters and Doctoral Degree will be given the best benefit in relation to salary shall only be eligible for only one amount.

This Research Scientist (RS) III position supports the California Department of Public Healths (CDPH) mission and strategic plan by planning, organizing, and directing highly specialized and large-scale molecular scientific research studies to improve diagnostics and laboratory surveillance tools for viral and rickettsial pathogens in support of outbreak investigations, including response to global public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The incumbent will lead applied research studies to develop detailed pathogen characterization tools using a variety of specialized, complex methods that may include, but are not limited to, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), amplicon-based sequencing, and whole genome sequencing (WGS) and commensurate bioinformatic and phylogenetic data analyses to support epidemiological investigations of emerging zoonotic and vector-borne disease pathogens. The RS III will serve as a scientific advisor and provide technical scientific consultation to other research scientists on high-complexity classical and molecular virological methods to support larger research studies and will serve as the technical advisor to communicate scientific findings with other public health professionals, including CDPH laboratorians, epidemiologists, and other partner organizations on public health investigations and scientific studies. The RS III will coordinate and collaborate with other scientists and public health professionals from CDPH, other public health laboratories, and with the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The candidate will present on scientific research and results of major studies to the public health community and publish major findings in scientific reports and journals.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• RESEARCH SCIENTIST III (MICROBIOLOGICAL SCIENCES)

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included.

At the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the core of our mission to advance the health and well-being of Californias diverse people and communities. We are genuinely and strongly committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness where we can grow and learn together with a diverse team of employees. In recruiting for team members, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring to us and the work we do.