Thompson Bishop Sparks State Diagnostic Laboratory | Auburn, Alabama The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries is seeking applications for a laboratory supervisor in the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory at Thompson Bishop Sparks State Diagnostic Laboratory (TBSSDL) in Auburn, Alabama.
Thompson Bishop Sparks State Diagnostic Laboratory is the central reference laboratory of the state animal diagnostic laboratory system that includes ACVP board certified pathologists, veterinary diagnosticians with multiple specialties, two trainees (mammal and avian) and branch laboratories in Boaz, Elba, and Hanceville. The TBSSDL is AAVLD accredited and is a NALHN level 1 lab. Laboratories provide animal disease diagnostic and regulatory testing with robust availability of ancillary diagnostics. The laboratory is located on the campus of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. Auburn is a fast-growing college town with an excellent public school system, diverse restaurants, and abundant recreational opportunities for individuals and families alike. Chewacla State Park is located within the city limits and Lake Martin, a large recreation lake, is less than an hour's drive. Auburn also has easy access to several larger cities including Atlanta and Birmingham and is approximately 1.5 hours away from the Hartsfield- Jackson Atlanta International Airport with direct flights all over the US. Within a day's drive are numerous beautiful gulf coast beaches, clear Florida springs, small mountain towns, and quintessential southern cities including New Orleans, Savannah, and Charleston.
Job Responsibilities
Supervisory responsibilities include overseeing the following testing programs to meet program requirements for:
National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN)
Regulatory disease programs monitored by the Alabama State Veterinarian's Office
Movement testing and other time-limited assays for commercial poultry and livestock
National Poultry Improvement Program (NPIP)
Development, validation, and optimization of new molecular tests assays
Troubleshooting issues with current and developing protocols of conventional and real-time PCR, library preparation, and New Generation Sequencing
Training staff for new procedures including conventional and real-time protocols, and extraction and library preparation kits
Continuous implementation and monitoring of Quality System requirements to meet AAVLD Standards
Performing and assisting with different steps of sequencing (library construction, cluster generation, and sequencing) using Illumina NextSeq 1000
Assuring turnaround times of different assays are met, including conventional and real-time PCRs, especially for priority cases
Requirements
Doctoral degree (PhD) from an accredited four-year college or university in Microbiology, Molecular Biology or a closely related field.
Three years of experience performing complex laboratory procedures in human or animal testing and/or disease research.
Student Loan Option The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
Benefits Benefits include low-cost single coverage for health, vision, dental insurance with optional family health coverage, thirteen paid holidays per year, thirteen annual leave and sick days each per year with increases every 5 years, flexible employee benefit plans, and retirement plans with the Retirement Systems of Alabama including a defined benefit plan, and optional deferred compensation plans.
Salary
Entry salary is dependent on qualifications, experience, and final approval by Alabama State Personnel Department.
Salary: $67,658.40 - $113,901.60
Please address inquires to Dr. Heather Walz, Director, Thompson Bishop Sparks State Diagnostic Lab, Phone: 334-328-6510. Email: Heather.Walz@agi.alabama.gov