State of Maryland

A Public Health Laboratory Scientist General III is the full performance level of work performing public health analytical, diagnostic, environmental and epidemiological laboratory testing in a public health laboratory.  Employees in this classification perform a variety of laboratory tests, assays, analytical procedure validations and quality assurance and quality control studies in such fields as analytical and environmental chemistry, diagnostic and environmental microbiology and immunology, biochemistry, molecular biology and virology.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Public Health Laboratory Scientist Supervisor.  Work is performed in a laboratory setting.  Employees may be required to work evenings, weekends and holidays.  Employees are required to observe infection control precautions in order to prevent contamination and the spread of disease.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the 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 Public Health Laboratory Scientist General I, Public Health Laboratory Scientist General II, and Public Health Laboratory Scientist General III are differentiated on the basis of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Public Health Laboratory Scientist General I performs duties under close supervision.  The Public Health Laboratory Scientist General 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 Public Health Laboratory Scientist General III performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.  The Public Health Laboratory Scientist General III is differentiated from the Public Health Laboratory Scientist Lead in that the Public Health Laboratory Scientist Lead assigns, reviews and approves the work and trains lower-level Public Health Laboratory Scientists.

Safely handles and disposes of infectious microorganisms, radiochemicals and hazardous chemicals;

Operates and troubleshoots specialized laboratory instrumentation, e.g. HPLC, GC/MS, atomic absorption spectrophotometer, flow cytometer, DNA sequencer, hematology analyzer;

Maintains maintenance logs on laboratory instrumentation;

Assesses the acceptability and appropriateness of test specimens and samples;

Follows laboratory protocols, standard operating procedures, operates laboratory instruments and reports test results in compliance with laboratory policy, State regulations and federal standards for medical or environmental laboratories;

Employs quality control, quality assurance measures and continuing quality improvement processes individually and through team efforts;

Keeps abreast of changes and developments in laboratory science and takes part in continuing education to enhance knowledge and skills;

Produces standard operating procedures and quality assurance manuals, coordinates tasks with co-workers, completes reports and prepares and delivers presentations;

Propagates and identifies viruses in tissue culture;

Conducts chemical analyses of food, water, air, pharmaceuticals and industrial effluents for purity, potency, environmental hazards and pollutants;

Cultures, isolates and identifies infectious and environmental microorganisms from blood, body tissues, water, and foods;

Conducts sequence determinations of viral and microbial genomes;

Conducts biochemical and bioimmunological assays to screen populations for genetic disorders;

Performs molecular techniques, e.g., PFGE and PCR, to identify and track microbial isolates for epidemiological purposes;

Personally participates in proficiency testing;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of college-level biology, chemistry, and medical laboratory technology applicable to public health laboratory practice in biochemistry, environmental chemistry, microbiology, virology, immunology, and molecular biology;

Knowledge of mathematics, including algebra and statistics;

Knowledge of the theory and operation of common laboratory supplies, chemicals, equipment and instruments used in medical and public health laboratories;

Skill in understanding and following laboratory procedures and policies;

Skill in the use of common diagnostic and environmental laboratory supplies, reagents, chemicals and equipment;

Skill in the application of standard precautions in handling potentially infectious biological materials and hazardous chemicals;

Ability to perform analytical laboratory procedures accurately and precisely;

Ability to communicate effectively and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and customers.

Education:   A Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Genetics, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Medical Technology, Pharmacy or Zoology from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Two years of experience working in a chemistry laboratory performing analytical tests on environmental, biological or multi-matrix samples; or two years of experience working in a medical or public health laboratory performing diagnostic or public health testing on human specimens.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute additional graduate education at an accredited college or university at the rate of 30 credit hours in the above noted disciplines for each year of the required experience for up to two years of the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Health Science Research Officer classifications or Medical Laboratory Specialists specialty codes in the Science related field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education.

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 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.