Public Health Laboratory Scientist 1-3

State of Louisiana; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Parental Leave

Holidays and Leave

Sick Leave

Job summary

The Louisiana Department of Health invites applications for a Public Health Laboratory Scientist in the East Baton Rouge Parish. The role focuses on performing high‑complexity newborn screening tests using mass spectrometry, HPLC, and molecular methods.

Candidates must hold a CLS license or qualify for licensure and pass security/background checks. Location is the Office of Public Health Central Laboratory in Baton Rouge; appointment may be probationary or promotional.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a biological, environmental, or chemical science.
• Pass a criminal background check and security clearance where applicable.
• CLS-G or CLS-S license required by LSBME for clinical testing work.

Responsibilities

• Receive and evaluate newborn screening specimens to meet acceptance criteria.
• Maintain proper specimen handling, identification, and chain-of-custody procedures.
• Perform high-complexity newborn screening tests independently and accurately.
• Ensure testing processes meet quality and regulatory standards.
• Use the LIMS to track specimens and refer for confirmatory testing.
• Maintain competency and proper operation of laboratory equipment.
• Participate in proficiency testing and quality assurance activities.

Skills

Attention to detail

Analytical thinking

Quality assurance

Education

Bachelor's degree in biological, environmental, or chemical science

Tools

Mass spectrometry

Time-resolved fluorescence

HPLC

Isoelectric focusing

qPCR

Mutational analysis

Job description

About This Job

The mission of the Louisiana Department of Health is to protect and promote health and to ensure access to medical, preventive, and rehabilitative services for all residents of the State of Louisiana.

About This Job

The mission of the Louisiana Department of Health is to protect and promote health and to ensure access to medical, preventive, and rehabilitative services for all residents of the State of Louisiana.

Learn more about Louisiana Department of Health

Join the Louisiana Office of Public Health Laboratory and make a difference from the very start of life! IN this position you’ll perform complex analytical laboratory procedures in the Newborn Screening Department of the Louisiana Office of Public Health Laboratory in Baton Rouge. The Newborn Screening Laboratory is responsible for performing testing techniques using mass spectrometry, time resolved fluorescence, high performance liquid chromatography, isoelectric focusing, real time polymerase chain reaction, and mutational analysis. The Newborn Screening Laboratory serves as laboratory support for the Louisiana Genetics Disease Program to detect genetic and metabolic disorders that are present at the time of birth. If you’re passionate about science, precision, and improving health outcomes, we encourage you to apply!

Minimum Qualifications

A bachelor's degree in a biological, environmental, or chemical science.

Special Security Requirements:

Applicants must be able to pass a criminal background check and/or security clearance, including but not limited to those required for the Federal Select Agent Program and the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners license requirements.

Clinical Testing Positions:

For positions which involve processing and analysis of human specimens and/or the generation or interpretation of laboratory results that may be used in the diagnosis or treatment of a disease or condition in humans, the incumbent must have a current license to practice as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist Generalist (CLS-G) or a Clinical Laboratory Scientist Specialist (CLS-S) issued by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners (LSBME).

A temporary license to practice as a CLS-G or a CLS-S issued by the LSBME shall fulfill this requirement only for the limited time granted by the LSBME. The incumbent is required to satisfy the requirements for a CLS-G or CLS-S permanent license prior to the expiration of the temporary license.

Job Specification

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Job Duties:

• Receive and evaluate newborn screening specimens to ensure they meet established acceptance criteria.
• Maintain proper specimen handling, identification, and chain-of-custody procedures in accordance with laboratory requirements.
• Perform high-complexity newborn screening tests independently and accurately using approved laboratory methods.
• Ensure pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical testing processes meet applicable quality and regulatory standards.
• Use the laboratory information management system to track specimens, create patient records, and refer specimens for confirmatory testing.
• Maintain competency in applicable testing methodologies and ensure proper operation and maintenance of laboratory equipment and instrumentation.
• Participate in required proficiency testing and quality assurance activities to support timely and accurate reporting of newborn screening results.

Position-Specific Details:

Location: Office of Public Health / Central Laboratory / East Baton Rouge Parish

Appointment Type: This position may be filled as a Probationary or a Promotional appointment

Cost Center: 3262107412

Position Number(s): 50513454

Career Progression: This position may be filled as a Public Health Laboratory Scientist 1, 2, or 3 determined by the qualifications of the candidate selected. This position provides the opportunity to advance within this job series.

Contact Information:

Paul Tran

[e-mail]

LA Department of Health (LDH)

Division of Human Resources

PO Box 4818

Baton Rouge, LA 70821225-342-6477

This organization participates in E-verify, and for more information on E-verify, please contact DHS at 1-888-464-4218.

LDH supports Louisiana’s commitment to being a State as a Model Employer (SAME) by promoting the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities.

Information on the Louisiana Works, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services is available here.

LDH is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to recruit a highly productive and diverse workforce and will provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and prospective employees. Employment decisions shall be based strictly on merit and without regard to religious or political beliefs, sex, race, or any other non-merit factor.

Louisiana State Government represents a wide variety of career options and offers an outstanding opportunity to make a difference through public service. With an array of career opportunities in every major metropolitan center and in many rural areas, state employment provides an outstanding option to begin or continue your career.

As a State Employee, You Will Earn Competitive Pay, Choose From a Variety Of Benefits, And Have Access To a Great Professional Development Program:

• Insurance Coverage More information can be found at https://info.groupbenefits.org/
• Parental Leave – Up to six weeks paid parental leave
• More information can be found at https://www.civilservice.louisiana.gov/Parental-Leave/Default.aspx
• Holidays and Leave – State employees receive the following paid holidays each year:

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
• Mardi Gras,
• Good Friday,
• Memorial Day,
• Independence Day,
• Labor Day,
• Veteran's Day,
• Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
• Additional holidays may be proclaimed by the Governor

State employees earn sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use. Your accrual rate increases as your years of service increase.

Retirement

State Of Louisiana Employees Are Eligible To Participate In Various Retirement Systems (based On The Type Of Appointment And Agency For Which An Employee Works). These Retirement Systems Provide Retirement Allowances And Other Benefits For State Officers And Employees And Their Beneficiaries. State Retirement Systems May Include (but Are Not Limited To):

• Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (www.lasersonline.org). LASERS has provided this video to give you more detailed information about their system
• Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana (www.trsl.org),
• Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (www.lsers.net), among others