Clinical Laboratory Scientist

OPEN UNTIL FILLED: You must meet the requirements of the job by 11:59 pm (Eastern Standard Time) of the cut-off date(s) as indicated below: The first Cut-off date for receipt/referral of applications to be considered for available vacant positions will be August 29, 2023, and every Tuesday thereafter. To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. BASIC REQUIREMENT(S): Individual Occupational Requirements Note: Employees currently assigned to positions in this occupational series as of September 2017 will be considered to have met the basic requirements for the position occupied. Education Bachelor’s or graduate/higher level degree from a regionally accredited college/university including courses in biological science, chemistry and mathematics, AND successful completion of a Medical Laboratory Scientist/Clinical Laboratory Scientist program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education(external link) at the time the degree was obtained. OR full 4-year course of study that included 12 months in a college or hospital-based medical technology program or medical technology school approved by a recognized accrediting organization. The professional medical technology curriculum may have consisted of a 1-year post- bachelor’s certificate program or the last 1 or 2 years of a 4-year program of study culminating in a bachelor’s in medical technology. OR Bachelor’s or graduate/higher level degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of biological science (with one semester in microbiology), 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of chemistry (with one semester in organic or biochemistry), one semester (one quarter) of mathematics, AND five years of full time acceptable clinical laboratory experience in Blood Banking, Chemistry, Hematology, microbiology, Immunology and Urinalysis/Body Fluids. This combination of education and experience must have provided knowledge of the theories, principles, and practices of medical technology equivalent to that provided by the full 4-year course of study described in A or B above. All science and mathematics courses must have been acceptable for credit toward meeting the requirements for a science major at an accredited college or university. Acceptable experience is responsible professional or technician experience in a hospital laboratory, health agency, industrial medical laboratory, or pharmaceutical house; or teaching, test development, or medical research program experience that provided an understanding of the methods and techniques applied in performing professional clinical laboratory work. Certification/licensure as a medical technologist (generalist) obtained through written examination by a nationally recognized credentialing agency or State licensing body is a good indication that the quality of experience is acceptable. Evaluation of Education and Experience: The major areas of clinical laboratory science are microbiology, clinical chemistry, hematology, and immunohematology (blood banking). Qualifying course work in these areas includes bacteriology, mycology, mycobacteriology, tissue culture, virology, parasitology, endocrinology, enzymology, toxicology, urinalysis, coagulation, hemostasis, cell morphology, immunology, serology, immunoserology, immuno-deficiency, hemolysis, histocompatibility, cytotechnology, and similar disciplines or areas of laboratory practice. Related fields include physiology, anatomy, molecular biology, cell biology, embryology, pathology, genetics, pharmacology, histology, cytology, nuclear medicine, epidemiology, biostatistics, infection control, physics, statistics, and similar areas of science where the work is directly related to the position to be filled For positions GS-7 through GS-15 (or equivalent), experience or graduate education must have been in (1) the general field of medical technology; (2) one of the disciplines or specialized areas of medical technology; or (3) a field directly related and applicable to medical technology or the position to be filled. Clinical laboratory intern (student medical technologist) experience in an education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs(external link) (CAAHEP) education program may be credited on a month-for-month basis toward meeting the GS-7 specialized experience requirement. Note: A typical program comprises 12 consecutive months of professional study, including didactic and practical instruction. Approximately 6 to 7 months are devoted to lectures, laboratory study, demonstrations, and seminars covering theory and technique in clinical laboratory science. The other 5 to 6 months are devoted to clinical laboratory rotations. It is the latter, i.e., the period(s) of supervised work experience in a service laboratory that may be credited as work study experience. In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: GS-07: 1 year of graduate-level education or superior academic achievement OR 1 year of Specialized Experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 Grade Level GS-09: 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master’s degree or master’s or equivalent graduate degree OR 1 year of Specialized Experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 Grade Level. GS-11: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 1 year of Specialized Experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 Grade Level Examples of Specialized Experience: GS-07: Assist senior technologist in preparing reagents; assist with performance of routine laboratory tests; follow procedures to ensure quality control; and use basic laboratory equipment and instruments. GS-09: Perform procedures of a routine and complex nature in all clinical laboratory sections; standardize and/or calibrate section instruments; Prepare and maintain quality controls and reagents; perform analysis which is reviewed by senior staff; perform electronic standardization procedures for laboratory instrumentation function. GS-11: Monitor routine tests, perform specialized tests and/or non-routine procedures; identify and resolve inconsistent test results; perform complex and unusual tests in areas of microbiology AST, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and whole blood cellular component; report test result and consult with physician; develop backup analysis procedures during instrument malfunction with input from medical staff. Time In Grade Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP).
This position is a Clinical Laboratory Scientist located at the White Earth Health Center (WEHC) with duty station located at the Naytahwaush Health Center, Naytahwaush, Minnesota. This position reports to the Clinical Service Administrator or Designee. This is an Open Until Filled Announcement and applications will be referred when vacancies occur.