Senior Fish Health Microbiologist - Microbiologist

Title- Senior Fish Health Microbiologist

Classification- Microbiologist 4

Job Status- Full-Time - Permanent
WDFW Program- Fish Program
Duty Station- Olympia, Washington – Thurston County

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW
!

Photo Caption:
Spring Chinook Smolts – Photo Credit: WDFW

Make a difference in fish conservation and fish health statewide.

In this role, you will lead a team of microbiology professionals, oversee critical laboratory, and provide essential fish health services supporting more than 80 hatchery facilities.

Your expertise will help identify and respond to viruses, bacteria, parasites, and other microbes affecting fish populations while directly contributing to the health and sustainability of the state’s fish resources.

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Senior Fish Health Microbiologist will,

• Plan, assign, prioritize, and evaluate the work of microbiology laboratory staff to ensure timely completion of diagnostic testing, surveillance activities, and research projects.
• Conduct performance evaluations, establish performance expectations, and provide ongoing feedback and corrective action when necessary.
• Lead regular staff meetings to communicate priorities, procedural updates, quality assurance findings, and organizational initiatives. This includes supervising all work of the microbiology staff at all subdisciplines (e.g., virology, bacteriology, microscopy, biochemistry, molecular genetics).
• Ensure laboratory activities meet established biosecurity and agency safety standards.
• Ensure all equipment is functioning to specification, maintains inventory of laboratory supplies, and is responsible for accounts payable database.
• Adapt existing technologies to address emergent problems and conducts quality analysis/control and final review of new protocols.
• Maintain continual surveillance over tests performed to assure adherence to proper technique and necessary standards of accuracy.

• Sample processing, plating, steaking, maintenance of cell culture and cell lines, culture isolation, and the cryopreservation of viral positives and cell lines.
• Conduct microscopy, RNA and DNA extractions, qPCR, PCR, RT-PCR, Sanger and genomic sequencing, viral cytopathic effect (CPE) identification of certifiable aquatic animal pathogens, biochemistry assays (e.g., ELISA), antibiotic sensitivity testing, API testing, necropsies, and maintaining logs.

• Write (or review and validate for staff), and distribute laboratory reports and data to WDFW management, WDFW fish health and hatchery staff, fish health co-managers and co-operators, including tribal, local, state, federal, and international fish health partners.

• May encounter exposure to the following:
  • Infectious aquatic animal pathogens (viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic) and biological specimens during laboratory testing and necropsies.
  • Biohazardous materials such as blood, tissues, bodily fluids, and contaminated laboratory waste.
  • Laboratory chemicals and reagents, including stains, preservatives, disinfectants, solvents, acids, bases, and molecular biology reagents.
  • Cryogenic materials (e.g., liquid nitrogen) and ultra-low temperature freezers during specimen preservation and storage.
  • Ultraviolet (UV) light, lasers, or other instrumentation used in molecular diagnostics.
  • Compressed…