Microbiologist III at ASRT, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia

Job Description:

JOB TITLE: Microbiologist III

POSITION NUMBER: 2412-18480-MICRO-III

POSITION LOCATION: Atlanta, GA, USA

ANTICIPATED START DATE: 3-6 weeks after candidate identification

TRAVEL: As required to fulfill the responsibilities of the position

ASRT, Inc. provides scientific, information management, management consulting, bioinformatics, and administrative program support to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other Federal and private sector clients. The successful candidate will be a full-time employee of ASRT, Inc. and will be assigned to the Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases (DFWED), National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), at the CDC, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, to provide scientific and technical support for the EDLB.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Microbiologist III will provide scientific and laboratory support to the Division of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Diseases (DFWED) in its preparedness and response to foodborne and diarrheal diseases in the United States and abroad.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs conventional and/or molecular microbiologic techniques for the isolation, identification, and subtyping of enteric bacterial pathogens derived from stool, blood, or environmental samples.
• Performs laboratory procedures in compliance with the Quality Management System and regulatory requirements.
• Maintains safe work environment and necessary inventory of supplies to maintain laboratory readiness for research and outbreak investigations.
• Maintains accurate records of conventional and/or molecular microbiologic testing, outbreak detection, and
• Surveillance activities in compliance with the Quality Management System.
• Performs calibration and maintenance of all necessary laboratory instruments to ensure compliance with CDC's Laboratory Quality Management Systems.
• Ensures that incoming specimens are processed and triaged maintaining "chain-of-custody."
• Assists with outbreak response activities during national and international foodborne disease outbreaks.
• Fulfills mandatory BioSafety and IT security training requirements.
• Tracks, analyzes, troubleshoots and corrects performance and problems associated with antimicrobial susceptibility, identification, and other related assays.
• Prepares and updates standard operating procedures for antimicrobial susceptibility and related assays.
• Co-authors relevant abstracts and peer-reviewed publications related to antimicrobial resistance surveillance and outbreak characterization.
• Provides consultation, hands-on training and/or competency assessments for antimicrobial susceptibility and related assays with internal and external partners
• Develops and maintains documentation and other requirements related to team, branch, and CDC safety and quality programs.
• Coordinates outbreak characterization and reporting with stakeholders within and outside CDC.
• Perform antimicrobial susceptibility testing of enteric pathogens, analyzes and interprets results to assist in monitoring trends and changes in drug resistance.
• Effectively communicate and coordinate with others regarding work tasks and plans in order to accomplish antimicrobial susceptibility surveillance and research objectives. Share work progress and problems encountered with others in a timely manner.
• Demonstrates an understanding of program goals and objectives through formal communication and collaboration with partner organizations and stakeholders
• Travel:
  • Provide training to enhance the capacity of the local/international public health sector; provide outbreak response analysis efforts during national and international foodborne disease outbreaks; present findings at scientific meetings (not conferences) - Integrated Conference Approval Portal is required before any presentations on the findings are conducted at any scientific meetings.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

• Master's degree from an accredited academic institution, in a scientific discipline related to the responsibilities of the position.
• 2-4 years of experience in the genetic and/or bioinformatic analysis of bacterial genetic markers.

Required:

• Familiarity with genetic manipulation and sequence analysis of bacteria.
• 3-4 years of relevant experience in the development implementation and validation of diagnostic assays to detect and characterization of bacterial pathogens.
• Experience with the development and evaluation and optimization of in vitro diagnostic assays, including immunoassays.
• Experience with standard microbiological and molecular techniques.
• Experience with outbreak support and consultation.
• Documentation of daily work with good laboratory practice compliance.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Experience writing project reports, research protocols and manuscripts.
• Immunizations may be required.

Desirable:

• Experience working in a CLIA environment.
• Experience working with Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and molecular techniques associated with NGS.
• Experience maintaining inventory of samples using MS Excel and Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
• Experience and knowledge of bioinformatics, bioinformatics analytical tools, microbiology, and next generation sequencing.
• Proficient in the analysis, assembly, and annotation of genomic data from a variety of sequencing platforms such as Illumina and PacBio.
• Experience working in a similar capacity in a Public Health setting.
• Ability to work and build coalitions with partners involved and develop strategies for effectively convey information to partners.
• Ability to work independently and yet to maintain the flexibility to respond to requests for support of ongoing projects.

Language Skills:

• The candidate must possess excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

REQUIREMENT: Must be a United States citizen or permanent resident or have authorization for employment in the United States.

SALARY: Commensurate with qualifications and experience.

To apply for this position:

• If you are viewing this position on the ASRT Career page, please click on the "Apply" button.
• If you are viewing this position on a site other than the ASRT Career page, you may use the "click to apply" link, or you may apply by visiting our Career page and searching for the job title and position number listed at the top of this job posting.
• To view all of our open positions and to apply to job openings in which you may be interested, please visit our Career page at https://www.asrtinc.com/careers.

ASRT, INC. IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER. It is the policy of ASRT, Inc. to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, citizenship, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, veteran or disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law, and to take affirmative action in accordance with applicable laws and Executive Orders.

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