Scientist - Tissue Typing

Queensland Health; City of Brisbane; On-site; AUD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career development

Generous leave entitlements

Job summary

Queensland Health is seeking a Scientist to join the Tissue Typing Laboratory in Herston. The role involves applying high-level immunology knowledge to deliver clinical services, including HLA typing, antibody screening and organ allocation support for transplant services across Queensland.

Reporting to senior scientists, you will ensure quality, participate in accreditation activities and contribute to the development of clinical practices.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of immunology and HLA testing is desirable.
• Able to perform established immunology laboratory methods with clinical supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to quality assurance and patient-focused testing.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high quality immunology testing services for the Tissue Typing Laboratory.
• Perform HLA typing by serological and molecular methods and crossmatching.
• Ensure compliance with accreditation standards (NATA/ISO/TGA/ASHI).
• Contribute to development of clinical practices and protocols.
• Participate in quality control and quality improvement activities.
• Provide timely input into organ allocation and donor compatibility processes.
• Assist with after-hours on-call roster and weekend shifts as required.
• Support researchers and clinicians with consultative immunology services.

Skills

Immunology knowledge

HLA principles

Analytical reasoning

Communication skills

Education

Tertiary qualification in Immunology or related science

Job description

Pathology Queensland are excited to welcome applications for a Scientist to join the Tissue Typing Laboratory in Herston! Pathology Queensland (PQ) provides diagnostic pathology services to all Hospital and Health Services (HHS) across metro, regional and remote Queensland and plays a critical role in the government's response to public health threats, epidemics, and civil emergencies. PQ offers laboratory services in the disciplines of anatomical pathology, chemical pathology, haematology, immunology, microbiology and genomics. PQ also provides expert analysis, scientific testing and advice to maintain and improve our public and environmental health, and to support the coronial system in Queensland.

The Tissue Typing Laboratory is the reference laboratory for histocompatibility and immunogenetics in Queensland. The laboratory provides the complete range of HLA typing, HLA antibody assignment, crossmatching, organ matching and allocation, donor compatibility, drug sensitivities and disease associations. The laboratory supports all transplant services in the state by operating at 24/7 service providing a comprehensive consultative service to clinicians and other agencies involved in organ and bone marrow transplantation.

About the role:

As a Scientist, you will apply high level scientific knowledge, skills, experience and scientific leadership in the delivery of clinical services to the Tissue Typing Laboratory, Immunology Division, Pathology Queensland. You will ensure the provision of high quality cost-effective services to the clients of the Immunology Division which provides a comprehensive range of immunology reference laboratory and consultative services to clinicians to assist in the diagnosis and management of immunological conditions in patients throughout the State of Queensland.

This role reports to the Principal Scientist and senior scientists in the Tissue Typing Laboratory, to ensure the maintenance of professional clinical standards in areas such as HLA typing by serological and molecular methods, HLA Antibody Screening and crossmatching, Organ Allocation from deceased donors, Flow crossmatching for the support of transplantation services in Queensland.

Key responsibilities include:

• Comply with all relevant legislative, administrative and professional standards and meet NATA, ISO (NATA/ISO/NPAAC) plus TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) and American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI) accreditation/certification requirements.
• Perform a range of routine and specialist diagnostic tests and procedures following Pathology Queensland established accredited protocols and standards
• With increasing experience, apply independent scientific judgement, in the analysis of patient specimens, to make more complex decisions under the clinical practice supervision or professional guidance of a more senior clinician.
• Contribute to scientific research activities.
• Provide input in the development of clinical practices, procedures and protocols.
• Participate in quality improvement activities under the guidelines specified in divisional and corporate management systems.
• Conduct appropriate quality control procedures as designated for specific methods to ensure validity of results.
• When competent, participate in the after hours on-call roster and weekend shifts.
• Make responsible and informed decisions to prioritise work according to test urgency and availability of instrumentation in collaboration with the team.

Role fit:

You will be assessed on your ability to demonstrate the following:

• Knowledge and expertise in Immunology, at a minimum, obtained through relevant tertiary education, but increasing commensurate with experience.
• Knowledge of and/or experience in HLA principles and testing is highly desirable.
• Ability to perform established methods and procedures, apply scientific judgement and develop the ability to undertake more complex tasks within an Immunology laboratory.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with both the immediate work team and broader environment and to communicate effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to participate in a single-discipline or multidisciplinary team under the clinical practice supervision of senior practitioners.

Why work for us:

• Career training and development
• Generous leave entitlements, inlcluding leave loading

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

At Queensland Health, our work environment is inclusive and supportive, and we value our employees. We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from people of all cultures, abilities and backgrounds.

Our commitment to cultural safety, equity, diversity and inclusion means we understand some people may need changes to the recruitment process. If you need support during the recruitment process, such as meeting with the panel virtually instead of in person, please reach out to the hiring manager. We value diverse candidates and your need for adjustments will not affect our hiring decisions.