Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Microbiology)

National-Institutes-of-Health; Maryland; On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Institutes of Health Clinical Center's Department of Laboratory Medicine (DLM) provides diagnostic support across immunology, hematology, microbiology, chemistry and phlebotomy. It operates as a CAP-designated full-service lab for in-patient and out-patient testing and supports research applications to clinical testing.

Qualifications include any of several education routes: NAACLS-accredited MLS/CLS program, 4-year medical technology track, or equivalent combination with required

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher with courses in biological science, chemistry and mathematics and NAACLS-accredited MLS/CLS program or equivalent.
• A full 4-year course of study including 12 months in a medical technology program or a 1-year post-bachelor certificate, or the last 1–2 years of a 4-year program.
• Alternative combination: 16 hours biology, 16 hours chemistry, math, and five years of full-time clinical lab experience with evidence of knowledge equivalent to a 4-year program; licensure as a medical technologist is a good indicator.

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher with courses in biology, chemistry and math

NAACLS-accredited MLS/CLS program or equivalent

4-year course with clinical tech rotation or last-year of B.S. in medical technology

Bachelor's/grad degree with required science hours and 5 years clinical lab experience (blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, urinalysis)

Job description

The NIH Clinical Center's Department of Laboratory Medicine (DLM) offers laboratory diagnostic support in the area of immunology hematology, phlebotomy, microbiology and chemistry. DLM is designated by the CAP as a full service laboratory and serves as the laboratory for all in/out-patient testing for the Clinical Center. Due to the physical environment in which it sits, DLM supports both the clinical testing for patients and the clinical application of research approaches to clinical testing. You qualify if you meet the following qualification requirements:

Basic Requirements

Education

1. A Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree from a regionally accredited college/university including courses in biological science, chemistry and mathematics, AND successful completion of a Medical Laboratory Scientist/Clinical Laboratory Scientist program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.

   OR

2. A full 4-year course of study that included 12 months in a college or hospital-based medical technology program or medical technology school approved by a recognized accrediting organization. The professional medical technology curriculum may have consisted of a 1-year post- bachelor's certificate program or the last 1 or 2 years of a 4-year program of study culminating in a bachelor's in medical technology.

   OR

3. A Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of biological science (with one semester in microbiology), 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of chemistry (with one semester in organic or biochemistry), one semester (one quarter) of mathematics, AND five years of full time acceptable clinical laboratory experience in Blood Banking, Chemistry, Hematology, microbiology, Immunology and Urinalysis/Body Fluids. This combination of education and experience must have provided knowledge of the theories, principles, and practices of medical technology equivalent to that provided by the full 4-year course of study described in 1 or 2 above. All science and mathematics courses must have been acceptable for credit toward meeting the requirements for a science major at an accredited college or university. Acceptable experience is responsible professional or technician experience in a hospital laboratory, health agency, industrial medical laboratory, or pharmaceutical house; or teaching, test development, or medical research program experience that provided an understanding of the methods and techniques applied in performing professional clinical laboratory work. Certification/licensure as a medical technologist (generalist) obtained through written examination by a nationally recognized credentialing agency or State licensing body is a good indication that the quality of experience is acceptable.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

To qualify for the GS-09 position:

You must have completed two (2) years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree that is directly related to the duties of this position.

OR You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following tasks: 1) Reading microbiology stains and cultures; 2) Recognizing problems such as interfering substances and new organisms; 3) Performing Quality Assurance functions in support of the supervisor of a clinical microbiology laboratory; and 4) Participating in laboratory proficiency testing programs for microbiology.

OR You must have a combination of post-baccalaureate education and experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.

To qualify for the GS-11 position:

You must have completed three (3) years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctorate degree that is directly related to the duties of this position.

OR You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following tasks: 1) Performing microbiological analytical procedures for diagnostic and research purposes; 2) Analyzing microbiology stains and cultures; 3) Interpreting bacterial susceptibility results; 4) Evaluating, modifying or adapting new methods or revising standard techniques to improve quantitativeness, accuracy, precision, specificity or proficiency of analyses; and 5) Assisting infectious disease physicians in interpretation of microbiology test results and suggesting follow up procedures.

OR You must have a combination of post-baccalaureate education and experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.

Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

You will receive credit for all experience material to the position, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether you received pay.

Preview assessment questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13042623