The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) works to protect the public's health in California, and helps shape positive health outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.

The Center for Laboratory Sciences (CLS) is based on the Richmond Campus which employs more than 1,200 people. The Richmond Campus is a flat, 29-acre property located in Richmond's Marina Bay. The CLS serves to protect and promote the health of all Californians through innovative and collaborative infectious disease and environmental testing, including provision of investigation and surveillance activities which form the basis of disease response and prevention. The CLS works to bring together emerging scientific capabilities in testing, analytics, and communications reflecting a new level of coordination, support, and leadership for the public health laboratory system at the state, local and national level. In addition, the Center relies on a continuous improvement infrastructure as a core value in developing solutions that emphasize a culture of quality and performance through performance management success.

The Drinking Water & Radiation Laboratory Branch (DWRLB) has two Sections, Microbiology & Biomonitoring Section (MBS) and Chemistry & Radiochemistry Section (CRS). DWRLB is staffed with approximately 35 professional scientists, technicians, and admin support personnel who support a variety of Public Health programs by conducting special studies and by providing scientific expertise and laboratory services.  DWRLB provides environmental radiation/radiochemistry measurements, testing marine biotoxins in shellfish, researching emerging chemical contaminants of public health concerns, testing of opioids and illicit drug residues, and is an accredited clinical laboratory for testing toxic substances and their metabolites in human specimens.  DWRLB conducts wastewater surveillance to detect viral and bacterial pathogens to protect, maintain and advance public health readiness against known and emerging infectious disease threats and does water testing for microbial pathogens and indicator organisms.  DWRLB is located in a state-of-the-art, 500,000 square foot facility located a few blocks from the San Francisco Bay at the CDPH Richmond Campus.

New to State candidates will be hired at the minimum salary of the classification or alternate range, as applicable.

*The salary information listed on this advertisement may not reflect recent salary increases from salary adjustments or changes in the fiscal year.

*The CDPH is not currently an E-Verify employer.

Candidates in one of these classifications, where a Master’s Degree is required to meet the minimum qualifications, shall receive an educational pay differential equivalent to 2% of their monthly base pay. Those where a Doctoral Degree is required to meet the minimum qualifications, shall receive an educational pay differential equivalent to 3% of their monthly base pay. Individuals with both a Master’s and Doctoral Degree will be given the best benefit in relation to salary shall only be eligible for only one amount.

This position supports CDPH Center for Laboratory Sciences (CLS)’s mission and strategic plan by leveraging technology to enhance laboratory services, increase timeliness and efficiency of laboratory procedures, supports the quality of regulatory functions through high quality data and methodologies required for new regulations, and contributes to advanced protective measures and risk reduction.  All of these contribute to CDPH’s Mission to advance the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities.

The Research Scientist II (Microbiological Sciences) (RS II (MS)) will work to support environmental microbiological testing for the Drinking Water and Radiation Laboratory Branch (DWRLB), the Microbiology and Biomonitoring Section. The RS II (MS) focuses on wastewater surveillance testing of the SAR CoV-2 virus and other infectious pathogens (including but not limited to influenza, respiratory syncytial and monkeypox viruses) of public health importance. The RS II plans, organizes, and directs scientific research studies of a highly developed scope and complexity, related to molecular detection of infectious pathogens in water and wastewater, performs routine laboratory testing for surveillance and outbreak detection, and assists Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) development and improvement. The RS II works closely with the CDPH wastewater surveillance epidemiology team as well as with external partners including CDC, local public health laboratories (PHL) and academic researchers. This position will support other jurisdictions by providing training and technical consultation on wastewater surveillance testing.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• RESEARCH SCIENTIST II (MICROBIOLOGICAL SCIENCES)

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Knowledge and extensive experience with laboratory work environments, sterile technique, and PCR-based molecular methods is highly desirable.
• Experience with standard precautions for working with potentially infectious environmental specimens in a BSL2 environment.
• Possession of a Public Health Microbiologist certificate preferred but not required.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included.

https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=480392

At the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the core of our mission to advance the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities. We are genuinely and strongly committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness where we can grow and learn together with a diverse team of employees. In recruiting for team members, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring to us and the work we do.

About California Department of Public Health

At the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the core of our mission to advance the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities. We are genuinely and strongly committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness where we can grow and learn together with a diverse team of employees. In recruiting for team members, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring to us and the work we do.The Human Resources Division (HRD) partners with CDPH’s programs and management to provide guidance and consultative services on HR matters that are necessary for the Department to carry out its mission to deliver quality public health services.

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