Principal Microbiologist (35 Hour)

The State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health (DPH) is hiring! We are seeking a qualified individual for the position of Principal Microbiologist. This Principal Microbiologist position will work in Department of Public Health's State Public Health Laboratory. Located in Rocky Hill, CT, the State Public Health Laboratory offers exciting opportunities for career development and growth.

The recently established centralized Advanced Molecular Detection laboratory (AMD) at the State Public Health laboratory, has continued to provide rapid identification of emerging and re-merging disease-causing agents using complex, sensitive and specific tests in the applied clinical area of laboratory diagnostics. The introduction of these tests has improved clinical patient management while enhancing epidemiologic disease monitoring, surveillance, outbreak investigation, and disease control. The AMD laboratory has been paramount in the COVID-19 diagnostic response in Connecticut, validating multiple testing platforms and testing specimens since the onset of the pandemic. 

This Principal Microbiologist position is under direct supervision of the Advanced Molecular Detection section supervisor. This position will ensure support for molecular activities critical for timely outbreak surveillance and response to emerging pathogens. The position will coordinate all pre-analytical, analytical, post-analytical, and quality assurance activities to ensure that diagnostic and sequencing capacity for the rapid detection and differentiation of known and emerging or novel strains of viruses in clinical specimens is sustained and conducted to laboratory standards in a timely manner.

The Mission of the Department of Public Health (DPH) is to protect and improve the health and safety of the people of Connecticut by assuring the conditions in which people can be healthy, preventing disease, injury, and disability, and promoting the equal enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, which is a human right and a priority of the state.

DPH accomplishes this through the implementation of its Strategic Plan which outlines the actions that DPH is taking to accomplish its Mission.

Are you interested in joining our team as a Principal Microbiologist? We encourage you to apply today! This position is conveniently located in Rocky Hill, CT. The work schedule for this position is typically Monday - Friday, 35 hours per week, with opportunities for flexible scheduling.

We offer a competitive benefits package, excellent health care, generous leave policies, retirement plan, and more!  We also encourage a healthy work-life balance to all employees!

The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.

This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.  

Due to the volume of applications anticipated, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be provided through your JobAps portal account. 

Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience most closely meet the preferred requirements of the position. Applicants invited to interview may be required to submit additional documentation, which supports their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: performance reviews, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. 

Please Note: You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs) which will be sent to you via email after the closing date. The email notification will include an expiration date by which you must submit (Finish) your responses. Please regularly check your email for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders, as emails could end up there in error. 

The immediate vacancy is listed above, however applications to this recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies in the job classification.

Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Chelsea Moore at Chelsea.Moore@ct.gov

In the Department of Public Health this class is accountable for acting as a working supervisor responsible for a large and/or complex grouping of work in a laboratory.

Plans unit workflow and determines priorities; schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work; establishes and maintains unit procedures; provides staff training and assistance; conducts or assists in conducting performance evaluations; acts as liaison with other operating units, agencies and outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures; conducts complex or specialized as well as routine microbiological, biomedical, molecular and biochemical analysis as necessary to ensure prompt processing of specimens; maintains quality assurance programs; prepares and maintains records, reports and correspondence; processes specimens under chain-of-custody; maintains knowledge of current developments and changes in field of expertise; oversees the use of and utilizes universal laboratory precautions; utilizes computers to operate and maintain instrumentation and to access, interpret, modify and report test results; acts for Supervising Microbiologist in his or her absence; may be responsible for leading staff and a variety of activities outside normal working hours; may make recommendations on policies or standards; may testify in court; performs related duties as required.

Considerable knowledge of current theories, principles and practices of biomedical sciences and microbiological disciplines including bacteriology, parasitology, virology and others as they relate to public health; considerable knowledge of current laboratory methods, equipment, instrumentation and material; considerable knowledge of quality assurance and quality control policies and procedures; knowledge of universal laboratory precautions; knowledge of common statistical techniques and ability to make sophisticated calculations; considerable oral and written communication skills; interpersonal skills; ability to perform advanced biomedical, microbiological and biochemical examinations; ability to conduct analytical, consultative and research activities; ability to interpret complex examination results in the context of patient history and epidemiology of disease or agent; ability to utilize computer software; some supervisory ability.

Eight (8) years of experience in a public health or medical laboratory involving scientific work in the field of microbiology, biochemistry or molecular biology.

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been at the full working level in the field of microbiology. For state employees this is interpreted at the level of Microbiologist 2.

1. College training in the natural sciences may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
2. A Master's degree in the natural sciences may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

• Experience establishing and maintaining workflow to ensure the efficient, prompt, safe, and accurate performance of test procedures is done
• Experience maintaining adequate inventory of in-dated reagents and supplies
• Experience with clinical molecular diagnostic techniques for the detection, identification, or characterization of pathogenic bacterial, fungal, or viral agents
• Experience with CLIA and laboratory-developed molecular diagnostic techniques and procedures
• Experience with Biosafety Level 2 and Biosafety Level 3 laboratory practices
• Experience writing up-to-date standard operating procedures and protocols
• Experience writing data summary or method validation reports
• Experience communicating with internal and external public health partners and stakeholders regarding laboratory policies, procedures, test methods performed and interpretation of analytical results

1. Incumbents in this class must be willing to periodically undergo tests or immunizations for communicable diseases.
2. Incumbents in this class may be required to have specific education and/or experience to meet the various certification and/or licensing requirements.
3. Incumbents may be required to undergo and successfully complete security background checks.

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to communicable diseases and hazardous substances.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.