Ops Biological Scientist

Requisition No:865330

Agency:
Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title:

OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST I -

Pay Plan:
Temp

Position Number:

Salary: $23.78/Hourly

Posting Closing Date: 01/21/2026

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Dr. Lijuan Zhou,

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in biological, physical, natural, or agricultural sciences.

Certain positions within this class require individuals to meet specific federal or state regulations as identified by the employing agency.

Requires possession of a valid Class E driver license.

• All fields in the Candidate Profile must be completed (an attached resume is not a substitution for the information required on the candidate profile).
• Work history, duties and responsibilities, hours worked, supervisor, and formal education fields, etc. must be filled out to determine qualifications for this position.
• Responses to Qualifying Questions must be verifiable in the Candidate Profile.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services values and supports employment of individuals with disabilities. Qualified individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Occasional travel required.

The incumbent must pass a pulmonary function test with a medical evaluation and pass regular respirator fit‑testing. The incumbent is required to wear a respirator when necessary and will be subject to all requirements governing its proper use.

The incumbent must wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), which includes a lab coat, gloves, and a respiratory mask (if required by the task).

To maintain fairness and integrity in our hiring process, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to answer qualifying questions or participate in interviews is strictly prohibited. Applicants must provide their own, authentic responses during all stages of the evaluation and recruitment process. Any candidate found using AI to assist in their answers will be disqualified from consideration.

Some alternate work hours are required to accomplish duties and responsibilities.

The incumbent will perform Quantitative Real-time PCR (qPCR), traditional Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and sequencing. These duties will primarily be conducted in a Bio‑Safety Level 2 (BSL2) containment facility and, when necessary, in a BSL3 facility. This responsibility encompasses a broad range of procedures, including:

• Extraction and purification of nucleic acids using various methods.
• Amplification of specified DNA/RNA sequences using PCR, reverse transcription‑PCR (RT‑PCR), or combinations like nested‑PCR.
• Performing agarose/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis (when necessary) or preparing libraries for sequencing.
• Identifying PCR amplicons using various techniques when requested.
• Use the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) to order tests, enter test results, and coordinate with the Section Head for timely reporting of test results to the clients through LIMS.

The incumbent is responsible for ensuring the quality and validity of tests, which includes:

• Setting up controls to validate test efficacy.
• Periodically performing checking tests to substantiate continued proficiency.
• Maintaining stringent quality assurance records for all section activities, including sample analysis, supply purchasing, and handling quality assurance paperwork involved in Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Assuring that laboratory instruments (PCR instruments, centrifuges, balances, pipettes, and similar items) are calibrated and maintained in compliance with Quality Assurance guidelines.

The incumbent is expected to maintain close communication and coordination with supervisors and co‑workers to ensure an efficient and smooth workflow and meet turnaround times.

• The incumbent will…