Senior Zoonotic and Vector-borne Diseases Research Scientist Con

Position: Senior Zoonotic and Vector-borne Diseases Research Scientist at Department of Public Health Con[...]
Location: California

Job Description and Duties

Incumbents 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 Research Scientist (RS) III position supports the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) mission and strategic plan by planning, organizing, and directing highly specialized and large-scale molecular scientific research studies to improve diagnostics and laboratory surveillance tools for viral and rickettsial pathogens in support of outbreak investigations, including response to global public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The incumbent will lead applied research studies to develop detailed pathogen characterization tools using a variety of specialized, complex methods that may include, but are not limited to, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), amplicon-based sequencing, and whole genome sequencing (WGS) and commensurate bioinformatic and phylogenetic data analyses to support epidemiological investigations of emerging zoonotic and vector-borne disease pathogens.

The RS III will serve as a scientific advisor and provide technical scientific consultation to other research scientists on high‑complexity classical and molecular virological methods to support larger research studies and will serve as the technical advisor to communicate scientific findings with other public health professionals, including CDPH laboratorians, epidemiologists, and other partner organizations on public health investigations and scientific studies.

The RS III will coordinate and collaborate with other scientists and public health professionals from CDPH, other public health laboratories, and with the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The incumbent will present on scientific research and results of major studies to the public health community and publish major findings in scientific reports and journals.

The RS III works under the general supervision of the Research Scientist Supervisor I in the Zoonotic and Vectorborne Diseases Genotyping Unit.

Please let us know how you heard about our position by taking this brief survey:

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

Telework Information

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework permitted is at the discretion of the Department and is subject to change, consistent with CDPH’s Telework Program. All employees who telework are required to be California residents in accordance with Government Code 14200. Candidates who reside outside of the state of California may be interviewed; however, the selected candidate must have a primary residency in the state of California prior to appointment (and continue to maintain California residency) as a condition of employment.

Failure to meet this requirement may result in the job offer being rescinded. Travel may be required for this position. Reimbursement for travel takes into consideration an employee’s designated headquarters, as reflected in the duty statement, and is subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the designated headquarters office will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

The headquarters office location for this position is identified in the attached duty statement.

Special Requirements

In order to be considered for this position, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts official or un-official and/or Degree for education verification.

For experience/education to qualify during the application screening process, and to ensure that minimum qualifications can be determined, applicants should include all employment history on the Employment Application (STD 678) and/or Resume, including…