Job Title: Laboratory Microbiologist I
Reports To: Laboratory Manager
Date: April 23, 2024

Job Summary:
Under technical supervision, conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses and investigate the growth, structure, development and other characteristics of microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, algae or fungi

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Analyze organic or inorganic compounds to determine chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships or reactions using chromatography, spectroscopy or spectrophotometry techniques
• Isolate and maintain cultures of bacteria or other microorganisms in prescribed or developed media, controlling moisture, aeration, temperature and nutrition
• Study growth, structure, development and general characteristics of bacteria and other microorganisms
• Examine physiological, morphological, and cultural characteristics, using testing instruments to identify and classify microorganisms
• Conduct quality control tests
• Maintain laboratory instruments to ensure proper working order and troubleshoot malfunctions when needed
• Prepare test solutions, compounds or reagents for laboratory employees to conduct tests
• Induce changes in composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy, or chemical catalysts for quantitative or qualitative analyses
• Evaluate laboratory safety procedures to ensure compliance with standards or to make improvements as needed
• Compile and analyze test information to determine process or equipment operating efficiency or to diagnose malfunctions
• Write technical papers or reports or prepare standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products, or tests
• Confer with others to interpret test results
• Maintain workflow and turnaround time for customer samples
• Maintain quality control of micro area and consumables
• Execute method validation plans
• Establish and maintain productive working relationships with people inside the laboratory and people outside the laboratory including customers, regulatory staff and corporate staff

Supervisory Responsibilities:
None

Additional Responsibilities:

• Work with Technical Services to improve current methods
• Perform other duties as may be assigned

Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree with a major in microbiology, biochemistry or other related science major required
• 3 - 5 years of microbiology laboratory experience required
• Proficiency with selective plating, aseptic techniques, gram staining, light microscopy, quantitative polymerase chain reaction techniques

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Knowledge of laboratory applications of microbiology
• Exemplary customer service skills
• Ability to use a variety of laboratory equipment and instruments including colony counters, incubators, autoclaves and microscopes
• Ability to use computers and computer software programs and systems and standard office equipment such as phones, photocopiers and fax machines
• Good written and verbal communication skills to convey and receive information effectively (face-to- face, telephone and electronic)
• Good analytical and judgment skills
• Detail-oriented
• Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding test results
• Excellent organizational skills to work independently, prioritize, handle multiple tasks, manage time

Certifications, Licenses, Registrations:
None

Safety Sensitive Position:
Equipment or vehicles used and activities performed by this position that could cause serious injury or death to the operator, other employees and/or other individuals if not used properly or safely:

• Contamination from working with microbial testing

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer, walking/moving around and standing, talking and hearing and using hands to handle, control or feel objects, tools or controls
• Occasional periods of stooping/bending
• Lifting up to 25 pounds regularly
• Close vision and ability to focus on computer screens and documents; depth perception; color vision

Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The employee works in a laboratory environment.

While performing work-related duties the employee occasionally works with hazardous, toxic or caustic chemicals such as acids and solvents, works around fumes or airborne particles from laboratory chemicals used/fume hoods works with or near moving mechanical parts from laboratory equipment and works with equipment that vibrates. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Stressful Conditions in the Work Environment Affecting This Position:

• Challenging work demands including heavy workload/work quantity or quality demands, time demands, conflicting/multiple deadlines or tasks and interpreting data

Work Schedule:

• 40-hour minimum workweek; Tuesday - Saturday or Sunday - Thursday
• May require on-call duty and the ability to work outside of scheduled work hours including weekends and holidays when the need arise
• Travel of 5-10% may be required.

This job description is intended to describe the essential functions of and requirements for the successful performance of this position. It is not to be interpreted as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements of this position, nor is it intended to limit the authority of any manager to assign and direct the activities of employees under his or her direction.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $23.00 per hour

Expected hours: No less than 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Evening shift
• Weekends as needed

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• Microbiology: 1 year (Required)
• analytical testing: 1 year (Preferred)

Work Location: In person