Microbiologist II

Do you meet the requirements for high-complexity testing personnel, as defined by the Code of Federal Regulations? Do you want to collaborate with a team of professionals to make a difference in public health? The Department of Health and Human Services' Utah Public Health Laboratory is looking for the right individual to join the Utah Waste Water Surveillance System as a Microbiologist II.

PLEASE REVIEW BEFORE APPLYING:

• To qualify for this position, applicants MUST meet the requirements for high-complexity testing personnel, as defined by the Code of Federal Regulations. Click HERE to review the requirements.
• Due to the nature and types of testing samples, this position requires compliance with the Utah Department of Health & Human Services Employee Immunization policy. Click HERE for the most current policy information.
• Continued employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a fingerprinting background check. Click HERE for the most current policy information.
• Teleworking is not available for this position.

Principal Duties:

• Process wastewater samples for laboratory analysis
• Perform nucleic acid extraction procedures from wastewater samples
• Set up, run and read polymerase chain reaction (PCR) plates for analysis
• Analyze, compile and report results
• Coordinate with wastewater testing personnel and report regularly to the surveillance team
• Perform test validations and new method implementation and evaluation
• Perform routine maintenance activities to ensure laboratory biosafety and functionality

Minimum Qualifications:

• To qualify for this position, applicants MUST meet the requirements for high-complexity testing personnel, as define by the Code of Federal Regulations. Click HERE to review the requirements.

Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate for this position will have:

• Previous experience working in a BSL-2 clinical and/or research laboratory
• Previous experience performing quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR, digital PCR)
• Knowledge of molecular biology
• Knowledge of medical/environmental microbiology
• Experience with handling potentially infectious samples
• Exceptional pipetting skills
• Experience with nucleic acid extraction procedures

Why You Should Join Our Team:
This is an opportunity to make a difference. The Utah Public Health Laboratory (UPHL) manages laboratory testing through the entire state of Utah. UPHL strives to serve its customers and stakeholders with accurate data as quickly as possible. Along with the satisfaction of being a part of an integral department, you will receive great health and retirement benefits. Some of these benefits can be reviewed below.

Benefits:

Health Insurance - Public Employee Health Program (PEHP):

• 3 medical plan options. Choose a Traditional or High Deductible Health Plan. There is an Opt-Out Cash Benefit option for those that have other medical insurance coverage.

• 5 dental plan options, with an Opt-Out Cash Benefit option for those that have other dental insurance coverage.

• 4 vision plan options under EyeMed or OptiCare

Retirement - Utah Retirement Systems (URS):

• Employees who have any service credit with an employer covered by the Utah Retirement Systems prior to 7/1/2011 are in the Tier I Public Employees System.

• Employees hired on or after 7/1/2011 and who have never been in the URS retirement system have two options for retirement in the Tier II System.

  • Tier 2 Hybrid Retirement System. Employer contributes an amount equal to 10% of your salary between both plans (pension and 401(k))

  • Tier 2 Defined Contribution Plan. Employer contributes an amount equal to 10% of your salary to a 401(k) plan only.  

• Employer contributions to your 401(k) are vested after four years.

Paid Time Off:

• Annual leave and sick leave are accrued at 4 hours per pay period each (4 hours annual, 4 hours sick).

• Annual leave amounts increase with years of service.

• We have 12 paid holidays.