BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST II - 42005985 (FOR INTERNAL EMPLOYEES ONLY) 1

Requisition No: 884489 

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST II - 42005985 (FOR INTERNAL EMPLOYEES ONLY) 1

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 42005985 

Salary:  $54,000.00 - $58,000.00 

Posting Closing Date: 10/06/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST II

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DIVISION OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY

***INTERNAL AGENCY OPPORTUNITY--
ONLY CURRENT EMPLOYEES OF THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES WILL BE CONSIDERED.***

CONTACT:

 Prithvi Karki ,(321) 697-1443

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in biological, physical, natural, or agricultural sciences and one (1) year of related professional experience; or

A master’s degree from an accredited college or university as described above. 

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 driver license.

EDUCATIONAL NOTE: Graduates utilizing education attained in the United States to meet the minimum requirements of a position will not be appointed until verification of the applicable degree has been obtained. Foreign trained graduates utilizing a degree attained outside of the United States to meet the minimum requirements of a position must be prepared to provide a copy of a credential evaluation conducted by an Approved Credential Evaluation Agency.  A list of approved agencies can be viewed at “Approved Credential Evaluation Agencies, Florida Department of Education.” Approved Credential Evaluation Agencies (fldoe.org)

***ATTENTION CANDIDATES***

To be considered for a position with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services:

• 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.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Incumbent may be required to pass a pulmonary function test with medical evaluation, undergo and pass regular fit-testing, and wear a respirator when required. In order to be fit tested and wear a respirator, no facial hair will be permitted between the respirator face seal and the wearer’s face.

Incumbent is required to get Rabies shot and titers, since this position required working in the Rabies Laboratory.

Occasional travel required.

NOTES:

To maintain fairness and integrity, applicants are required to provide honest and authentic responses during all stages of the evaluation and selection process. Applicants must rely on their own personal knowledge, thoughts, and impressions. A candidate’s use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to answer qualifying questions or participate in interviews will be taken into consideration when determining qualification for the position.

JOB DUTIES:

The Biological Scientist II provides high quality analysis on a variety of virological diagnostic procedures. These responsibilities require competence, technical judgement, and a high degree of independence in performing various analytical techniques. As Biological Scientist II, the incumbent is responsible for performing various tests performed in virology section such as Virus neutralization, fluorescent antibody tests for viruses and bacteria, Rabies-Fluorescent antibody testing, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA) and qPCR.

The Biological scientist II is responsible for the preparation of materials for electron microscopy by the negative staining technique, the operation and the use of the electron microscope to properly identify viruses based on the established standards.

Responsible for maintenance of cell lines used in virus isolation and virology tests. Perform isolation and identification of viruses by processing clinical, and samples received from necropsy.  Responsible for preparation of reagents, stains and solutions used in the various viral diagnostic procedures. Responsible for maintaining the stock virus and cell cultures used in virology section and perform the quality control on the cell lines and viruses used in the section following the established procedures.

The incumbent maintains comprehensive Quality Assurance records and monitors all departmental activities, including sample receipt and processing, supply procurement, assay control performance, reagent variability, and equipment maintenance and promptly report  any abnormalities to the Section head. The incumbent is also responsible for ordering tests, entering results, and coordinating case reports within the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) to ensure accurate and timely report generation for clients.

The incumbent is expected to maintain a laboratory that can pass a rigorous audit at all times this includes but not limited to Maintaining QA/QC records for instruments, equipment, and test systems; assist in arranging preventative maintenance and calibration with minimal supervision. Maintain Levey‑Jennings charts for quantitative assays and identify deviations or trends requiring corrective action. Assist senior scientists and the Section Head in drafting and revising SOPs, updating forms, and ensuring QA documents remain current and compliant with AAVLD standards. Contribute to validation studies for new assays, including RT‑qPCR and other virology tests introduced to the section.

Successfully completes the proficiency check tests as required for the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD), National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) and International Veterinary proficiency testing center (IVPTC). Incumbent determines the supplies that are necessary for full laboratory function, and co-ordinates with the supervisor for ordering the supplies. 

Provide guidance and training to new personnel on established virology procedures. Train new employee and cross section employees in virology tests.   Assist in evaluating new testing procedures or techniques and recommend workflow improvements when appropriate.

Perform Holiday duties as assigned by supervisor or the Microbiology Department head.

Responsible for general upkeep and orderliness of workstations of the virology section. Is responsible for the disposal of all contaminated lab ware and used viral cultures to assure that the methods of disposal of such contaminated materials is in accordance with standard laboratory safety procedures.

Performs other duties as required.   

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Proficient in Microsoft word and excel
• Proficient in Liquid handling using micropipettes and serological pipettes
• Ability to perform calculations for unit conversions and dilutions
• Ability to demonstrate and understand the technical instructions
• Proficient to handle and maintain various kinds of microscopes used in the section (light microscope Inverted microscope, fluorescent microscope)

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck.  The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please visit www.myfrs.com;)
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

For an estimate of the total compensation package for this position, please visit the “Total Compensation Estimator Tool” located above under the “Posting Closing Date.”

SPECIAL NOTES:

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.