BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST III - 42000950 (FOR INTERNAL AGENCY EMPLOYEES ONLY)

Requisition No: 862532 

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST III - 42000950 (FOR INTERNAL AGENCY EMPLOYEES ONLY)

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 42000950 

Salary:  $59,000.24 - $60,000.20 

Posting Closing Date: 10/13/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST III

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 two (2) years of related professional experience; or

A master’s degree from an accredited college or university as described above and one (1) year of related professional experience as described above; or

A doctorate 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.

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) 

Requires possession of a valid driver license.

***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:

Occasional travel required.

Incumbent must pass a pulmonary function test with medical evaluation, must undergo and pass regular respirator fit-testing, and must wear a respirator when required.  Will be subject to the requirements of the proper use of appropriate respirator.

NOTES:

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 required to accomplish duties and responsibilities.

JOB DUTIES:

As a senior biologist of the virology section, the incumbent is responsible for performing  high-quality analysis on a variety of virology tests, including but not limited to: Equine Viral Arteritis Virus Neutralization (EVA-VM), Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Neutralization (VS-VN), Bovine Viral  Diarrhea (BVD) virus neutralization, Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus neutralization,  Parainfluenza 3 (PI3) virus neutralization,  and other Virus Neutralization tests on samples received in the section. This involves maintenance of virus stocks and working batches, including titration and back titration to determine optimal working dilutions.

Incumbent is responsible for  performing Direct fluorescent antibody, Rabies-Fluorescent antibody testing, Indirect fluorescent antibody testing and ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays) and qPCR (qualitative real time PCR) performed in the section. This includes preparation of reagents, controls following the established procedures in the section. Incumbent is also responsible for maintenance of mammalian and aquatic cell lines, revival and cryopreservation of cell lines. This includes but not limited to quality check of the cell lines, reagent preparation etc. following the established standards in the section.  Perform isolation and identification of viruses by processing clinical material and inoculating such processed material into  tissue culture.

The above responsibilities require considerable competence, technical judgment,  a high degree of independence and strict adherence of the quality assurance standards established in the laboratory.

Responsible for managing quality assurance documentation within the Section in accordance with American Association of Veterinarian Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) standards as assigned. This includes, but is not limited to, standard operating procedures (SOPs), forms, equipment records, and related materials. Supports the Section Head in drafting new SOPs and revising existing ones, ensuring all QA documents are current and compliant.

Participates in the validation of new diagnostic tests and assists with routine maintenance and calibration of laboratory equipment. Successfully completes proficiency testing as required by AAVLD, the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL), and the International Veterinary Proficiency Testing Center (IVPTC).

Determines necessary laboratory supplies and coordinates procurement with the section head to maintain uninterrupted operations. Manages case accessions in the USA Laboratory Information Management System (USALIMS), including tests ordering data entry, and timely report generation to meet turnaround expectations.

Maintains and reviews Levey-Jennings charts for the Section, ensuring adherence to established quality assurance protocols.

The incumbent serves as a laboratory professional responsible for performing Transmission electron microscopy on various clinical samples submitted. Primary duties include but are not limited to performing a wide range of techniques like processing tissue, fecal samples, and viral cultures for Negative Staining. The incumbent will analyze, resolve, and troubleshoot day-to-day laboratory tasks as needed, as well as facilitate troubleshooting and resolution of routine technical issues concerning Electron microscopy.

Ensures the cleanliness, organization, and operational readiness of all workstations within the Virology Section. Responsible for the safe and compliant disposal of contaminated laboratory materials and used viral cultures, strictly adhering to established laboratory biosafety protocols.

Maintains adequate inventory of test reagents and routinely monitors supply levels. Submits timely order request to replenish stock and prevent disruptions to laboratory operations.

Regularly reviews current scientific literature  to stay informed on emerging virological techniques and advancements. Recommends new procedures that may enhance laboratory efficiency, accuracy, or service quality. As needed, evaluates and implements novel methodologies and assists in training new personnel to ensure consistent performance and adherence to laboratory standards.

Performs other duties as required. 

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of Mammalian cell culture.
• Knowledge of Light inverted microscopy.
• Knowledge of fluorescent microscopy.
• Knowledge of Transmission electron microscopy.
• Knowledge of Q-pulse.
• Knowledge of USA Laboratory Information Management System (USALIMS).
• Knowledge of Microsoft excel and word.

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:

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

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.