Introduction
The State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health (DPH), Katherine A. Kelley Public Health Laborartory, is currently seeking enthusiastic and driven candidates to apply for the position of Connecticut Careers Trainee (Health Care Professional), Target Class Microbiologist 1. This position will work in the Department's Connecticut Newborn Screening Program. This position will play a key role in the testing of newborn bloodspot samples for over 65 different disorders for the approximately 37,000 infants born in Connecticut annually. This position would contribute to the sample preparation and analysis of infant newborn screening samples using a number of different biochemical, analytical chemistry and microbiological methods as well as the result reviewing and reporting processes within the Connecticut Newborn Screening Laboratory.
This Connecticut Careers Trainee Program is a developmental program designed to help people obtain the experience necessary to qualify for the designated target class of Microbiologist 1. The Connecticut Careers Trainee Program is for a minimum of 1 year to a maximum of 3 years and is based on how long it will take the candidate to meet the experience and training requirement of Microbiologist 1. Candidates must possess the general experience of the target class, Microbiologist 1, at the conclusion of the developmental program. The experience is: five (5) years of experience in a public health or clinical laboratory involving scientific work in the field of microbiology, biochemistry or molecular biology.
HIGHLIGHTS
- UNIT: Connecticut Newborn Screening (CT NBS) Program
- ADDRESS: 395 West St, Rocky Hill, CT
- WORK HOURS: Full-Time, First Shift, 35 Hours per Week
- SCHEDULE: 8:30am - 4:30pm with one-hour lunch
- Following a training and probationary period, a flex schedule is available.
- Teleworking is not an option for this position.
- This position requires our employees to report to the physical work site daily during normal business hours and, possibly, during inclement weather events.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
*SALARY INFORMATION
- Starting Salary with a Bachelor's degree: $47,708
- Starting Salary with a Master's degree: $49,427
Additional salary information can be found
here.
As a Connecticut Careers Trainee (Health Care Professional) (Target Class: Microbiologist 1), you will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following duties:
- Preparing reagents, calibration standards and internal standard solutions utilizing universal laboratory precautions;
- Carrying out sample preparation processes for sample analysis of newborn screening samples;
- Operating laboratory instrumentation for analysis of newborn screening samples;
- Assisting with compiling data related to program and national quality indicators;
- Entering results into laboratory information management systems and databases;
- Utilizing computers related to laboratory instrumentation, quality assurance data and test reports;
- Performing maintenance on laboratory equipment; and
- Preparing sample final analytical reports to be provided to primary care physicians and hospitals/submitters of newborn screening samples.
ABOUT US
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.
The Connecticut Newborn Screening Program (CT NBS) began bloodspot screening for one disorder, Phenylketonuria (PKU) in 1964. Two additional disorders were added in 1979, followed by an additional sixteen disorders and Hemoglobin (Hb) trait screening through 1983. With the implementation of Tandem Mass Spectrometry instrumentation in 2004, the number of disorders detectable through newborn screening increased to over fifty (50) by 2010. Between 2016 and 2024 new screening technologies and treatment options led to even more disorders being added, bringing the number of disorders detectible through bloodspot screening to over sixty-five (65). The Connecticut Newborn Screening Program works to ensure that every newborn, who is born or resides in Connecticut, has a valid newborn screening on record and that those infants with abnormal screening results are promptly referred to a specialty treatment center for further evaluation and treatment when needed. These comprehensive efforts help prevent unnecessary disability and premature death.
Selection Plan
FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!
Watch our video to learn How to Create your User ID and Master Application!
Please Note: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
TO APPLY
- In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
- In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the recruiter listed on this job posting.
- You must specify your qualifications on your application. You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.
- In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.
- All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
- This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.
AFTER YOU APPLY
- Although applicants will receive correspondence via email and/or phone, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
- This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
- NOTE: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
- The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
- Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position. Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.
- Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
CONNECT WITH US
- Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process.
- Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Jensine Tran at Jensine.Tran@ct.gov.
PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
In a state agency this class is accountable for mastering the skills necessary to satisfactorily complete the training program for a professional position.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
- In a department or institution receives training in introductory governmental work for development of skills and knowledge in field of public administration in order to qualify for advancement into agency professional positions;
- Performs a variety of increasingly difficult duties as skills are acquired during course of training period;
- Performs related duties as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
- Oral and written communication skills;
- Ability to
- acquire knowledge and skills required for the target classification;
- understand, evaluate and solve problems by exercising judgement and logic;
- read, interpret and understand written material;
- perform basic arithmetical computations;
- interpret charts, graphs and tables;
- learn and reason;
- establish and maintain cooperative relations with superiors, associates and general public;
- utilize computer software.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Candidates must be able to meet the experience and training requirements of the designated job class at the completion of the development program.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience carrying out laboratory testing and maintenance procedures using equipment such as pipets, centrifuges, incubators, shakers, etc. as well as other complex laboratory equipment and instrumentation
- Experience following biosafety and chemical hygiene standards, working in an environment that requires multi-tasking and a strong attention to detail, following written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and following Quality Assurance requirements
- Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team following written and verbal instruction from supervisory level and senior staff
- Experience with data analysis and recording of results for laboratory testing procedures using Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint
- Experience working in a newborn screening, hospital clinical chemistry laboratory environment or biotech/pharmaceutical laboratory environment
Conclusion
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.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.