Laboratory Assistant at Public Health Foundation Enterprises, In in Richmond, California

Job Description:

California’s Microbial Diseases Laboratory is responsible for the diagnostics, education, and applied research programs for identification, surveillance, control, and prevention of bacterial, mycobacterial, fungal, and parasitic diseases originating in humans.

Under the direction of the Supervisor of the Genotyping Unit, Foodborne & Waterborne Diseases Section of the Microbial Diseases Laboratory (MDL), the technologist performs and assists in duties associated with the receipt, culture, identification, antibiotic susceptibility testing, and shipment of the bacterial isolates.

The duties of technologist include receipt and preparation of the pathogens involved in foodborne outbreaks for further characterization at the MDL or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The technologist is responsible for the regular shipments of the isolates to the CDC’s NARMS surveillance program and performs all duties associates with this function. The technologist performs quality control for reagents and media, equipment monitoring and maintenance, as well as assists in the tasks pertaining to bacterial identification, genetic fingerprinting, and antibiotic susceptibility testing. Additional duties include data entry in LIMS, inventory of reagents/disposables, preparation of common buffers/media, and other low complexity work in a clinical microbiology laboratory. The position is M-F, 40 hours per week; weekend, holiday, and overtime may be required during a public health emergency. This work has a direct bearing on ELC lab capacity objectives.

Please provide a resume and  three professional references. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Specimen receipt and shipment


• Cultivation and storage of bacterial pathogens and QC strains


• Maintenance of the isolates database


• Data entry in LIMS and Excel spreadsheets


• Preparation and quality control testing of media and reagents


• Equipment monitoring and maintenance


• Maintenance of the inventory of reagents and disposables


• Perform and assist with bacterial characterization (identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, fingerprinting)


• Performs other related duties as assigned.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to perform micromanipulations such as pipetting small volumes and other fine measurements using laboratory instrumentation and equipment.


• Knowledge of sterile technique and standard biosafety precautions for working with potential infectious material.


• Minimum of one year of experience handling infectious agents in a microbiology laboratory settings.


• Experience in bacterial cultivation and identification methods is preferred, but not required.

 Education/Experience

• Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with course work in chemistry, microbiology, and related areas of biomedical sciences

Certificates/Licenses

• None

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Stand                                        Frequently


• Walk                                          Frequently


• Sit                                              Frequently


• Handling / Fingering              Frequently


• Reach Outward                       Occasionally


• Reach Above Shoulder          Occasionally


• Climb, Crawl, Kneel, Bend      Occasionally


• Lift / Carry                                Occasionally - Up to 50 lbs


• Push/Pull                                 Occasionally - Up to 50 lbs


• See                                            Constantly


• Taste/ Smell                            Not Applicable

KEY

• Not Applicable                        Not required for essential functions


• Occasionally                           (0 - 2 hrs/day)


• Frequently                               (2 - 5 hrs/day)


• Constantly                               (5+ hrs/day)

WORK ENVIRONMENT

General office and laboratory setting, indoors, temperature controlled

EEOC STATEMENT

It is the policy of Heluna Health to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

See job description