Laboratory Scientist 2 - Special Project/Temporary (PN 20098501)

About Us:

Our mission at the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is advancing the health and well-being of all Ohioans. Our agency is committed to building a modern, vibrant public health system that creates the conditions where all Ohioans flourish.

The Ohio Department of Health supports a hybrid teleworking model. This position may work a hybrid schedule at the discretion of the manager or supervisor, which will require occasional attendance in the office for training, meetings and other operational needs. Employees must reside within a reasonable distance to their assigned headquarters for compliance with workplace reporting requirements.

What You'll Do:

As a Laboratory Scientist 2 assigned to seasonal zoonotic surveillance, you'll work at our state Public Health Laboratory campus (Reynoldsburg, Ohio), processing and testing a high volume of mosquito samples. Your work drives timely guidance to local health departments, enabling informed decisions and effective action against vector-borne diseases.

Primary Job Duties:

• Tests clinical or environmental, human or zoonotic specimens for infectious agents, using high-complexity techniques, e.g,…
  • extraction of nucleic acids for polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assays
  • serologic testing [IgM/IgG ELISA assays, MIA, IFA, PRNT, DFA]
• Performs other sample testing public health mission, public health emergencies, programmatic grant requirements, or federal government requests
• Adapts and validates methods from published methodology and protocols
• Performs quality control testing; assists with quality assurance activities
• Enters specimen and sample information into Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)
• Provides test results to patients, physicians, local health departments (LHDs), &/or other government agencies

Unusual Working Conditions:

• Exposed to biofluids & tissue, sharps, caustic or toxic chemicals, &/or explosives
• Due to potential for exposure, this position requires vaccination against HEPATITIS B prior to starting work

ATTENTION:

This is a temporary, special project position of which the maximum duration shall be directly connected to the funding allocated for the project. This position falls within the unclassified civil service status (ORC124.11 [a] [29]). Employees in the unclassified civil service of the state of Ohio serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and may be removed from their unclassified position at any time for any legal reason.

Special Project Compensation:

• The selected candidate will be paid in accordance with the AFSCME/OCSEA union contract.
• Unless required by contract, the selected candidate will be paid at Pay Grade 31, Step 1 of the AFSCME/OCSEA Pay Range Schedule ($24.71 per hour).
  • SCHEDULED GENERAL INCREASE: Effective with the pay period which includes July 1, 2023, the pay rate will increase by three percent, to $25.45/hr.
  
  

What’s in it for you:

Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

• OPERS is the retirement system for State of Ohio employees. The employee contributes 10% of their salary towards their retirement. The employer contributes an amount equal to 14% of the employee’s salary. Visit the OPERS website for more information.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a Model Employer of Individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

Minimum Qualifications:

Must meet 1 of 5 options:

• Associate’s degree in a medical technology from accredited college or university

OR

• Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) certification

OR

• Bachelor's degree in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science, or medical technology AND 12 mos. pertinent laboratory experience or training in the specialty or subspecialty in which the individual will be assigned

OR

• Education &/or training equivalent to 60 semester hours, or equivalent, that included 24 semester hours of medical laboratory technology courses AND 18 mos. pertinent laboratory experience commensurate with job duties to be performed as outlined per approved position description on file

OR

• Education &/or training equivalent to 60 semester hours, or equivalent, that included 24 semester hours of science that included...
  • 6 semester hours of chemistry AND
  • 6 semester hours of biology AND
  • 12 semester hours of chemistry, biology, or medical laboratory technology in any combination
    AND
  • 18 mos. documented laboratory exp. in each specialty in which the individual performs high complexity testing.
  
  

ALL ANSWERS TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS MUST BE SUPPORTED BY THE WORK EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION PROVIDED ON YOUR CIVIL SERVICE APPLICATION.

Unless required by legislation, the selected candidate will be paid at Pay Grade 31, Step 1 of the union (OCSEA) Pay Range Schedule ($24.71 per hour).

APPLICATION PROCEDURES:
All applicants must submit a completed Ohio Civil Service Application using the TALEO System. Paper applications will not be considered. Applicants must clearly indicate how they meet the minimum qualifications and/or position specific minimum qualifications. Applicants are also encouraged to document any experience, education and/or training related to the job duties above. An assessment of these criteria may be conducted to determine the applicants who are interviewed.

STATUS OF POSTED POSITION:

You can check the status of your application online by signing into your profile. Jobs you applied for will be listed. The application status is shown to the right of the position title and application submission details.

EDUCATIONAL TRANSCRIPT REQUIREMENTS:
Official educational transcripts are required for all post-high school educational accomplishments, coursework or degrees claimed on the application. Applicants will be required to submit an official transcript prior to receiving a formal offer of employment. Failure to provide transcripts within five (5) working days of being requested will cause the applicant to be eliminated from further consideration.

Please note that a transcript is considered "official" only if it is an original copy from the educational institution and includes an institutional watermark, ink stamp or embossed stamp. Transcripts printed from the institution's website will not be accepted. ODH reserves the right to assess the academic credibility of an educational entity's award of a putative degree.

The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.