State of Maryland

An Agricultural Laboratory Scientist I is the entry level of work performing veterinary analytical, diagnostic, and epidemiological laboratory testing in compliance with applicable local, State and federal regulations and standards for the purpose of controlling and eradicating animal diseases.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.  

Employees in this classification receive close supervision from a Veterinarian or other designated official.  The work is performed in a laboratory setting.  Employees are required to observe infection control precautions in order to prevent contamination and the spread of disease.  The work may require the lifting and moving of laboratory equipment and materials.              

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work Sections of the class specification.  

The Agricultural Laboratory Scientist I, Agricultural Laboratory Scientist II, and Agricultural Laboratory Scientist III are differentiated on the basis of the degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Agricultural Laboratory Scientist I performs duties under close supervision.  The Agricultural Laboratory Scientist II performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending upon the complexity of the specific duty being performed.   The Agricultural Laboratory Scientist III performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Learns to perform biological or chemical testing and analyses of body fluids,tissues, feces, and other biological samples from animals for the purpose of diagnosing and identifying animal diseases;

Learns to execute assays for a variety of animals, including farm animals, such as horses, cows and chickens; companion animals, such as birds, cats and dogs; and wild animals, such as deer, rabbits, squirrels, and bats;

Learns to conduct tests in an assigned area, such as serology, virology, parasitology, mycology, hematology, or bacteriology;

Learns to identify and isolate endemic and exotic pathogens in animal specimens submitted by pathologists, practicing veterinarians, and allied animal health agencies by using techniques in bioanalysis, chemical, or microbiological analysis;

Learns to isolate bacteria from urine samples and perform routine urinalysis including microscopic examination of urine sediment;

Learns to perform virological diagnostic tests including virus isolation in cell culture and embryonated eggs, serum neutralization tests, enzyme linked immunosorbant assays, fluorescent antibody tests, and latex agglutination tests;

Learns to isolate and identify bacteria, fungi, and yeasts from tissues of live animals in order to make diagnoses of disease by identifying and determining growth of bacterial, fungal, or viral pathogens;

Learns to ensure consumer confidence by culturing and identifying pathogenic microorganisms in animal tissues, body fluids, milk, and eggs submitted to the laboratory or collected from animals submitted for necropsy;

Learns to carry out regulatory functions in compliance with local, State and federal regulations and standards by testing samples from horses for diseases including contagious Equine Metritis and Equine Infectious Anemia;

Learns to utilize techniques, such as the Western Blot, to identify disease in animals;

Learns to perform special tests and surveys and participate in special projects as required;

Learns to prepare reports of findings and provide test results to veterinarians, animal owners or other submitters of specimens;

Learns to requisition laboratory supplies;

Learns to operate specialized laboratory equipment and instruments, such as gas chromatographs, biological hoods, microprocessor analyzers, anaerobic systems, spectrophotometers, hemophotometers, pH meters, and microscopes;

Learns to review scientific publications and professional journals and attend scientific seminars and workshops in order to stay abreast of current trends, research and technological developments;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of college-level biology or chemistry applicable to animal health laboratory practice in biochemistry, microbiology, virology, immunology, bacteriology, serology, parasitology, chromatology, and molecular biology;

Knowledge of laboratory procedures, practices, methods and instrumentation;

Knowledge of mathematics including algebra and statistics;

Knowledge of computer software used for diagnostic tests;

Ability to understand and follow laboratory procedures and policies;

Ability to conduct analyses, analyze test data, and draw accurate conclusions;

Ability to apply universal precautions in handling potentially infectious biological materials and hazardous chemicals;

Ability to maintain accurate records and prepare scientific reports;

Ability to operate and maintain specialized laboratory equipment;

Ability to streak and isolate cultures;

Ability to communicate effectively.

Experience: Four years of experience performing veterinary analytical, diagnostic, and epidemiological laboratory testing work.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree in the biological or chemical sciences from an accredited college or university including one course in general microbiology for the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in natural resources management and biological science classification or natural resources management and biological science specialty codes in the animal science field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

1. Candidates for some positions may be given a medical examination to rule out color blindness.

2. Employees in this classification must be willing to undergo and maintain rabies immunization.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies.  Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.  

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.  

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit G, Engineering, Scientific and Administrative Professionals classes.  As provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.  

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of  supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.