New York City DEPT OF HEALTH/MENTAL HYGIENE
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) is a world-renowned agency with a long tradition of protecting and promoting health in the nation’s most culturally and ethnically diverse city. Since its creation as the Board of Health in 1805, the DOHMH has been recognized for its innovative and groundbreaking work to protect and promote the health of over 8 million residents. Established in 1892, the New York City (NYC) Public Health Laboratory (PHL) was the world’s first Municipal Bacteriological Laboratory. In the century since its first campaign to control diphtheria in NYC, the PHL has expanded services using state-of the-art technology and testing methods to rapidly and accurately provide results necessary for effective public health intervention, focusing on communicable/infectious diseases and emerging pathogens The mission of the PHL is to safeguard the health all New York City residents by providing quality laboratory testing services that address the needs of the NYC DOHMH and its community partners to prevent and respond to food, clinical and environmental public health concerns.. Hence, PHL responds to essential and emergency public health issues and outbreaks, develops and validates new tests and technologies, performs testing on more than 200,000 clinical specimens annually, and is an essential public health hub for more than 150 laboratory professionals, research scientists, safety experts, fellows, trainers, interns and volunteers. The Public Health Laboratory is currently seeking a public health professional to serve as an Associate Laboratory Microbiologist, Level I.
-DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
Participate in whole genome sequencing for PulseNet and CARB initiatives.
Assist in providing information to compile SOP’s, train new staff at PHL as necessary, extract information from BioNumerics databases for reports, track turnaround times and other required performance metrics.
Assist with setting up new molecular assays for the detection and characterization of genetic determinants of CRE, CRPA, and other CARB organisms. Once the assays are validated, the ALM I will perform the assays on a routine basis.
Learn to perform Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) and analyze the PFGE data to determine genetic relatedness of CARB species. The ALM I will carry out culture based MIC antibiotic susceptibility testing, archive cultures for long term storage, and send cultures to reference laboratories such as the CDC and PHRI.
Carry out culture based MIC antibiotic susceptibility testing, archive cultures for long term storage, and send cultures to reference laboratories such as the CDC and PHRI.
Minimum Qual Requirements
1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in medical technology or in one of the chemical, physical, or biological sciences, and one year of laboratory experience at the technologist level in the appropriate laboratory specialty or specialties; or
2. Ninety college credits from an accredited college or university including or supplemented by either (a) or (b) below, and one year of laboratory experience at the technologist level in the appropriate laboratory specialty or specialties.
(a) For those whose training was completed prior to September 15, 1963: a total of at least 24 credits in chemistry and biology courses combined, including at least nine credits in chemistry, of which six credits must be in inorganic chemistry; and including at least 12 credits in biology courses
pertinent to the medical sciences.
(b) For those whose training was completed after September 15, 1963: 16 credits in chemistry courses acceptable towards a major in chemistry, including at least six credits in inorganic chemistry; and 16 credits in biology courses acceptable towards a major in biology; and three credits in mathematics.
Preferred Skills
Applicant must possess or be eligible for a New York State Clinical Laboratory Technologist License as described in Article 165 of the New York State Education Law effective September 7, 2008. Possess clinical laboratory experience; knowledge of standard infection precaution procedures and clinical testing experience.
Background and experience working with pathogenic organisms of clinical and public health significance; familiarity with working in a BSL2 environment and performing PCR and other molecular biology assays.
Experience with 1st and/or 2nd generation sequencing methods including, WGS and metagenomics; clinical and environmental sampling and testing.
Knowledge of generally accepted standards of laboratory performance and testing method requirements such as those from FDA, EPA, NYS Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP) or NYS Clinical Laboratory Evaluation Program (CLEP).
Strong analytical and organizational skills; Excellent oral, inter-personal and written communication skills.
Ability to work well in a team environment.
Additional Information
**IMPORTANT NOTES TO ALL CANDIDATES:
Please note: If you are called for an interview you will be required to bring to your interview copies of original documentation, such as:
A document that establishes identity for employment eligibility, such as: A Valid U.S. Passport, Permanent Resident Card/Green Card, or Driver’s license.
Proof of Education according to the education requirements of the civil service title.
Current Resume
Additional documentation may be required to evaluate your qualification as outlined in this posting’s “Minimum Qualification Requirements” section. Examples of additional documentation may be, but not limited to: college transcript, experience verification or professional trade licenses.
If after your interview you are the selected candidate you will be contacted to schedule an on-boarding appointment. By the time of this appointment you will be asked to produce the originals of the above documents along with your original Social Security card.
**LOAN FORGIVENESS
The federal government provides student loan forgiveness through its Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) to all qualifying public service employees. Working with the DOHMH qualifies you as a public service employee and you may be able to take advantage of this program while working full-time and meeting the program’s other requirements.
Please visit the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program site to view the eligibility requirements:
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service
“FINAL APPOINTMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT & BUDGET APPROVAL”
To Apply
Apply online with a cover letter to https://a127-jobs.nyc.gov/. In the Job ID search bar, enter: job ID#: 441395.
We appreciate the interest and thank all applicants who apply, but only those candidates under consideration will be contacted.
The NYC Health Department is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and culturally responsive workforce. We strongly encourage people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, women, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender and gender non-conforming persons to apply.
All applicants will be considered without regard to actual or perceived race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, age, prior record of arrest; or any other basis prohibited by law.
NOTE: This position is open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate in your resume that you would like to be considered for the position under the 55-a Program.
Residency Requirement
New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.