Microbiologist

About This Role

This night-shift post on the cardiac ward pairs patient care with mentoring new nurses. This Microbiologist position is located in the Research Service at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital (Madison VA), a component of the VA Great Lakes Health Care System. The Madison VA Research Service is a significant research enterprise within the Department of Veterans Affairs, hosting collaborative research activities dedicated to improving the health and outcomes of Veterans through rigorous scientific investigation, quality data collection, and sound laboratory methodology. The position serves as a Microbiologist supporting clinical trials and basic science research projects.

Responsibilities

• Conduct and design microbiological research experiments
• Prepare microbial and clinical samples for downstream sequencing applications, ensuring sample integrity and adherence to protocol-specific handling requirements for microbiological specimens
• Design and perform in vitro microbiological experiments in support of assigned research questions, exercising judgment in selecting appropriate techniques from among established microbiological methods
• Collect, record, and monitor microbiological experimental data and test results, identifying anomalies or deviations from expected outcomes and escalating precedent-setting issues to the lab manager or Principal Investigator (PI)
• Operate and maintain microbiology laboratory equipment and inventory
• Perform ongoing quality control checks on microbiology laboratory equipment to ensure proper function and data integrity in support of microorganism isolation, identification, and characterization work
• Track inventory levels of microbiological media, reagents, and supplies and coordinate with the lab manager to place replenishment orders in a timely manner, ensuring continuity of ongoing microbiology studies
• Review, analyze, and report microbiological data
• Summarize microbiological data in the form of tables and graphs suitable for scientific presentation
• Present progress and results of microbiological studies at project-specific meetings to update PIs and the lab team
• Participate in microbiological methodology development
• Participate in the development, interpretation, and implementation of microbiological research methodology and materials
• Adapt published microbiological methodologies for use in the laboratory setting and utilize instrument manuals and microbiological scientific literature to develop and troubleshoot experimental methods for microorganism isolation, identification, and characterization
• Perform all duties as assigned

Requirements

• Successfully completed a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree with major study in microbiology, bacteriology, biology or chemistry with at least 30 semester hours in biological science and 20 semester hours in the physical and mathematical sciences. This coursework must have included:
  • At least 10 semester hours in microbiology in such subjects as bacteriology, microbiology, immunology, serology, algology, mycology, parasitology, protozoology, rickettsiology, tissue culture, or virology
  • At least 10 semester hours in microbiology in such subjects as food, dairy, soil, industrial, public health, agricultural, applied bacteriology, or microbiology, genetics, physiology, metabolism, taxonomy, epidemiology, animal, or plant physiology or pathology, and similar courses, provided these courses were oriented toward the study of microorganism
  • Coursework in qualitative and organic chemistry or biochemistry, physics and college algebra, or their equivalent
• The quality of this coursework must have been such that it would serve as a prerequisite for more advanced courses in the field of science to which it pertains
• Copies of applicable documents must be submitted at time of application such as an unofficial transcript and/or an academic evaluation report etc. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)
• Appropriate experience in (1) the general field of microbiology, (2) one of the specialized areas or applied fields of microbiology, or (3) a field of science directly related and applicable to microbiological work or microbiological research as follows:
  • For Microbiologist, GS-9 grade level: Possess at least 2 years of professional experience in a microbiological science which shows that the applicant has (a) a general working knowledge of microbiology or of one or more areas of specialization, (b) a working knowledge of and ability to apply the methodology required, and (c) the ability to perform work independently
  • The quality of the experience, graduate study or combination of graduate study and experience must be such that it shows the applicant possesses (1) a knowledge and understanding of the laboratory techniques applied in the type of work for which the applicant is being considered, and (2) the ability to exercise independent judgement in evaluating and interpreting the results of his/her work and/or an aptitude for research work
  • For positions at GS-9 which involve a substantial amount of work in a specific specialized area or applied field of microbiology, at least 6 months of the experience at the second lower grade must have been in the appropriate area for which the applicant is being considered
  • Specialized experience is conducting and designing Microbiological research experiments; operating and maintaining Microbiology laboratory equipment and inventory; reviewing, analyzing, and reporting Microbiological data; and participating in Microbiological methodology development. Resume must clearly document this experience to be creditable. We will not make assumptions regarding experience
• OR EDUCATION: Successful completion of 2 academic years consisting of a full program of graduate study creditable toward meeting the requirements of an advanced degree with major study in microbiology may be substituted for the 2 years of experience. Copies of applicable documents must be submitted at time of application such as an unofficial transcript and/or an academic evaluation report etc. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)
• OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCES: An equivalent combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience to meet the total experience requirements for GS-9. Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience. Copies of applicable documents must be submitted at time of application such as an unofficial transcript and/or an academic evaluation report etc. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)
• OR CREATIVE OR OUTSTANDING RESEARCH: Positive evidence to performed highly creative or outstanding research, which has led or can lead to major advances in a specific area of research, or to a major advance in the field of microbiology, that may be rated on this basis for highly demanding research positions which require similar abilities in order to perform the work
• Applicants who meet this criterion may be rated eligible for the next higher grade above that for which they would normally be rated, provided they have not been rated at this grade on the basis of meeting one of the superior college study requirements
• Applicants whose records show that they either met, or would have met, the superior college or graduate student requirements for GS-9, within 2 years of the time they are rated, but who did not enter the Federal service, provided their subsequent experience has been progressive and responsible and has kept them up to date in their field, and provided at least 1 year of the experience has been of a level and difficulty equivalent of the college work, may be rated eligible for the next higher professional grade, i.e., GS-9
• To receive this credit, the work must have been creative in the sense that it developed a basic principle, concept, method, approach, or technique (or provided a body of basic information) which opened the way for major advances in the field of microbiology by providing a method of solving other problems, opening areas of research, or providing the means of exploiting the application of the science in a major area

Important Details

• Schedule: Monday-Friday (8am - 4:30pm)
• Contract: Term appointment (not-to-exceed 3 Years)

About the Company

The William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital (Madison VA) is a component of the VA Great Lakes Health Care System. The Madison VA Research Service represents a significant research enterprise within the Department of Veterans Affairs.