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Texas Department of State Health Services · 5 days ago

Molecular Biologist

Austin, TX

Full-time

Onsite

Senior Level

$5,434.39/mo - $6,249.55/mo

Texas Department of State Health Services is committed to public health and seeks a Molecular Biologist III to conduct advanced arbovirus diagnostic work. The role involves overseeing laboratory workflows, training staff, and ensuring quality control in laboratory procedures related to arbovirus detection.

Health Care

H1B Sponsor Likely

Responsibilities

As assigned, helps to oversee, facilitate and conduct complex laboratory procedures associated with the detection and identification of arboviruses from mosquitoes and equines including mosquito species identification, processing samples, nucleic acid extraction and amplification, PCR analysis, propagation of Vero and BHK cells, inoculation of cell cultures, detection of cytopathic effects, and identification of isolates by immunofluorescent antibody testing. Assists with mosquito insectary maintenance and insecticide resistance testing. Ensures that the workload is distributed and prioritized appropriately. Trains other staff on laboratory procedures. Serves as a resource for answering questions and trouble-shooting problems related to arbovirus detection, ensuring that questions and problems are addressed in a reasonable time frame. (45%)

Assists with maintaining adequate stocks of reagents and supplies along with associated inventory databases. Verifies stocks of reagents and schedules production of new lots of these reagents. Oversees and assists with quality control testing of arbovirus reagents ensuring that new reagents perform appropriately. Summarizes and documents results from all quality control testing. Notifies appropriate parties of significant results. Reviews quality/assurance documentation to ensure that established performance parameters are maintained throughout testing procedures. Verifies reagent and supply inventory to prevent depletion of supplies. Facilitates the preparation of arbovirus reagents and infectious material for shipment to the appropriate laboratories. (20%)

Enters, reviews and validates mosquito and arbovirus results in the laboratory information system. Notifies appropriate parties of significant results via phone and e-mail as needed. Analyzes specimen and test data to identify unusual patterns of either specimen submission or test results. Generates and reviews summary reports to ensure data quality. (15%)

Coordinates and assists with the evaluation, development, and implementation of new procedures for vector species identification, pathogen testing, and insecticide resistance testing. Discusses status of projects and analyzes alternatives with Team Leader. Documents all development work thoroughly. Trains other employees on new techniques. Reviews the literature on a regular basis and provides summaries to other employees of new techniques or research related to vectors and vector-borne diseases. Participates in continuing education opportunities on a regular basis including training workshops, scientific conferences, or other appropriate opportunities to update and learn new techniques to be able to perform state-of-the-art diagnostic work. Performs other tasks or cross-training within the group as assigned by the Team Lead and/or Group Manager. (15%)

Assists other staff in their duties and provides additional support to maintain a high quality of work. Notifies supervisory personnel of equipment malfunctions or test failures immediately, providing an assessment of the failure and making recommendations to prevent additional failures in the future. Provides training to guest laboratorians. Assists Team Leader when necessary, by performing administrative tasks including participating in interview and selection process and attending meetings, providing input from Arbovirus-Entomology. Based on your work area, consistently comply with DSHS Laboratory, local, state and federal guidelines to ensure a safe functioning laboratory. Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency's obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or continuity of operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location. (5%)

Qualification

Molecular biology techniquesPCR analysisCell culture techniquesLaboratory safetyQuality assurance functionsTraining skillsEffective communicationTeam collaboration

Required

Bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science or medical technology from an accredited institution

Preferred

Laboratory experience detecting and identifying viruses

Experience performing molecular testing, including real-time RT-PCR

Experience performing cell culture

Knowledge of quality assurance functions

Benefits

Insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS)

Company

Texas Department of State Health Services

Glassdoor3.2

Texas Department of State Health Services focuses on public health to promote and protect the health of Texans & their communities.

Founded in 2015

Austin, Texas, USA

1001-5000 employees

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/

H1B Sponsorship

Texas Department of State Health Services has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)

Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship

Represents job field similar to this job

Trends of Total Sponsorships

2025 (1)

2024 (2)