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Public Health Microbiologist 1 (PCN 161021)

This Individual Position is Exempt from the Hiring Freeze. Qualified Applicants are Encouraged To Apply.


Welcome to the Department of Health! 

We’d be delighted to have you join our team. 

If you envision yourself in this role and are ready to start an exciting career with us, apply today!


This position is open to Alaskan Residents only.
Please check out the residency definition to determine if you qualify.


Do you want to join the fight against viral diseases, one of the biggest threats to public health in Alaska and beyond?

Apply for the Public Health Microbiologist 1 position at the Alaska State Virology Laboratory (ASVL) and work with a senior virologist and a team of technicians to perform and oversee tests on clinical samples for various viral infections. 

What you will be doing:
You will collaborate with partners to ensure the quality and accuracy of results and support the public health response. This is not just a routine lab job. This is an opportunity to make an impact for Alaskans and the world by using cutting-edge methods, learning from experts, and participating in research. You will also work with diverse viruses and molecular techniques, expanding your virology skills. If this sounds like you, don’t hesitate to apply and join our mission to protect and improve the health of Alaskans.

Our organization, mission, and culture:

The mission of the Division of Public Health is to protect and promote the health of Alaskans.

As a member of our team, you will contribute every day to the improvement of the health of Alaskans and their families.  


The Division of Public Health exemplifies these values: 

  • Accountability- We are committed to responsible use of human, financial, and environmental resources.

  • Respect- We provide services without discrimination or judgment. 

  • Human potential- We are committed to developing each Alaskan's potential as a healthy individual as well as fostering strong, healthy communities. 

  • Integrity- We are honest and ethical in all we do. 

  • Scientific Excellence- We are committed to adding to and contributing to the body of scientific knowledge and using the best available knowledge and data to set public health policy.

The benefits of joining our team:
You will become part of a dynamic, diverse, and high-performing team working in a state-of-the-art laboratory and receive guidance from experienced mentors who will help you develop your skills and network. You will also have the chance to progress your career within the Public Health Microbiologist class series and take on new roles and responsibilities. We care about your health and wellbeing and respect your work-life balance. That’s why we offer you a stable daytime schedule, breaks, paid holidays and leave, along with retirement benefits. You will also love working in a friendly and supportive environment that promotes collaboration and innovation.

The working environment you can expect:
We are located on the scenic University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) upper campus. You will benefit from the university perks, such as attending virology seminars, eating at campus cafes, and using the extensive 10-kilometer trail system for walking, running, or skiing. You will work with a group of professional staff who share your vision of protecting and improving the health and wellbeing of Alaskans. The division boasts a large and broad range of experienced, dedicated, and supportive staff. 
We take pride in our work and value every employee. Public health is essential to keeping communities safe, and we work with partners across Alaska and the nation to protect our population’s well-being.

Who we are looking for:
The ideal candidate will possess some or all of the following position-specific competencies in addition to the minimum qualifications listed below: 
  • Genetics: Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of genetics, including the biochemistry of DNA, gene interaction, gene expression, gene inheritance, population genetics, adaptation, and evolution.
  • Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for own actions and decisions. Complies with established control systems and rules.
  • Analytical Thinking/Problem Solving: Uses a logical, systematic, and sequential approach to address problems or opportunities or manage a situation by drawing on one's knowledge and experience base and calling on other references and resources as necessary.

Special Notice:
  • Requires demonstration of immunity via vaccination to hepatitis B virus and rabies virus (which will be provided if the applicant cannot demonstrate immunity).
  • Preferred candidates will meet the federal criteria for testing personnel in high complexity laboratories described in 42 CFR § 493.1489 – Standard; Testing personnel qualifications.

To view the general description and example of duties for this job class, please go to the following link and search for Public Health Microbiologist 1: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/Alaska/classspecs

Requirements

Competency-Based Minimum Qualifications Instructions
This job class uses competency-based minimum qualifications.  Please ensure your application (through work history, volunteer experience (duties summary), training, education, licenses, certifications, etc.) supports how you have gained the knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors (competencies) and that you possess the minimum required competencies for the job class.

Competency Description           
The competency description(s) listed below have been designed to promote a common understanding of the essential elements of the job class.  They highlight the more general and customary knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs), tasks, and behaviors used to describe the competency.  They typically list expectations rather than specific tasks and are to be used only as parameters and guidelines.   A competency’s description is not intended to exclusively define every KSA, task, and behavior needed to successfully meet the competency, but rather to provide the manager/agency with a broad reference of options as to how an applicant can meet the job expectation.

Please ensure your application (through work history, training, education, licenses, certifications, etc.) supports/demonstrates that you possess the minimum required competencies for the job class.  Any combination of education and/or experience that provides the applicant with competencies in:

 

  • Biology: Knowledge of the environment, plant and animal living tissue, cells, organisms, and entities, including their functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
  • Chemistry: Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of the composition, structure, and properties of substances, and of the chemical processes and transformations, including uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
  • Attention to Detail: Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
  • Evidence-Based Practice: Integrates best research practices with clinical expertise and patient values for optimum care and participates in learning and research activities to the extent feasible.
  • Public Health: Applies knowledge of the concepts, principles, theories, methods, and tools associated with protecting and improving the health of people and their communities, including promoting healthy lifestyles, researching disease and injury prevention, and detecting, preventing, and responding to infectious diseases.

equivalent to those typically gained by:

 

Bachelor of Science degree or higher from an accredited institution in Medical Technology, Microbiology, Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Biological Science, or Chemistry, with training and/or course work in Medical/Clinical Laboratory Sciences;
AND
Experience conducting, analyzing, and evaluating clinical microbiological tests.
 

Special Note: 
 Positions in this class may require a background investigation. Applies only to work covered under the Public Health Security and Bio-terrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 or other relevant state or federal law.
 
Positions in this class require the incumbent to be immunized against infectious diseases.

 

“Training” and “education” in this guidance are synonyms for the process of acquiring knowledge and skills through instruction. It includes instruction through formal and informal methods (such as classroom, on-line, self-study, and on-the-job), from accredited and unaccredited sources, and long-duration (such as a post-secondary degree) and short-duration (such as a seminar) programs.


“Professional experience” means work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the power or right to decide or act according to one's own judgment.


“Progressively responsible” means indicating growth and/or advancement in complexity, difficulty, or level of responsibility.


Qualifications

At the time of the interview, please provide the following:
  1. Three (3) professional references, whom we may contact by phone, are required. One (1) of these references must be your current or most recent supervisor, if not already provided in the application. 
  2. Current performance evaluation, if available.
  3. A copy of academic transcripts (unofficial is okay; please ensure that the institution name/URL is listed on the transcripts) is used to support that you meet the minimum qualifications competencies.
  4. Copies of professional licenses, if available


If chosen for the position, the candidate will be required to provide the following items before employment:

  1. Proof of Hepatitis B (immunity or a signed declination statement)
  2. The incumbent must meet requirements set forth in 42 CFR 493 Subpart M
  3. Valid Driver's License

Please read the information below carefully. This applies to your application submission.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS
For your application to be evaluated, you must answer the Supplemental Questions. 
The State of Alaska uses four proficiency levels to measure and describe an applicant's competence in applying specific behaviors, knowledge, skills, and abilities to accomplish a specific task. The four proficiency levels are Mastery, Fluency, Literacy, and Discovery. You must rate your proficiency level for each competency listed in the supplemental questions.

EDUCATION
To verify education is being used to meet and/or support the required minimum qualifications/competencies, you must fill in the Education section of the application  If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed  Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials used to meet or support the minimum qualifications/competencies for a position and are required with each application  (Unofficial is okay; please ensure the institution/URL name is listed on the transcripts)  Transcripts can be attached at the time of application or provided at the time of interview; if not, transcripts will be required before employment.
 
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION
If education is completed in a foreign college or university, it may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education, you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. The omission of the required documentation listed will result in an incomplete application, and you will not receive further consideration. 
 
WORK EXPERIENCE
When using work experience not documented in your application, please provide the employer's name, job title, employment dates, and whether you worked full-time or part-time Applications will be reviewed to determine if the responses are supported and if minimum qualifications are met Work experience needed to meet the minimum qualifications must be documented in the application If the application does not support minimum qualifications, the applicant may not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment A resume will not be used to determine that minimum qualifications have been met for the position you are applying for.

If you have currently or previously been appointed to a flexibly staffed position, please ensure your work experience within a flexibly staffed position indicates the actual dates employed at each level  Ensure your time and any subsequent flex promotion(s) are documented as a separate position  This is required as minimum qualifications require experience at a particular level in which the lower level may not be considered  If this information is not accurately reflected in your application, this may cause the processing of your application for consideration to be delayed.
 
NOTE: Attaching a resume or curriculum vitae is not an alternative to filling out the application. Noting "see resume or CV" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination that your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.
 
The State of Alaska does not provide VISA Employer sponsorships.

MULTIPLE VACANCIES
This recruitment may be used for more than one (1) vacancy. The applicant pool acquired during this recruitment may be used for future vacancies for up to ninety (90) days after this recruitment closes. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply to each recruitment notice to ensure consideration for all vacancies.

APPLICATION NOTICE
You can ONLY apply for this position through the Workplace Alaska website or via a hard copy application. If you accessed this recruitment bulletin through a job search portal such as AlaskaJobs or another database, you MUST use a Workplace Alaska online or hard-copy application to apply successfully. Instructions on how to apply with Workplace Alaska may be found on the Workplace Alaska "How to Apply" webpage, found here: http://doa.alaska.gov/dop/workplace/help/.

NOTICE
Questions regarding the application process can be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 800-587-0430 (toll-free) or (907) 465- 4095. If you choose to be contacted by email, please ensure that your email address is correct on your application and that your spam filter will permit emails from the 'governmentjobs.com' domain. For information on allowing emails from the 'governmentjobs.com' domain, visit the Lost Password Help page at: https://www.governmentjobs.com/OnlineApplication/User/ResetPassword.

EEO STATEMENT
The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities who require accommodations, auxiliary aids, or services, or alternative communication formats, please call 1-800-587-4095 in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at P.O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal-opportunity employer.

WORKPLACE ALASKA APPLICATION QUESTIONS & ASSISTANCE
Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll-free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to recruitment.services@alaska.gov.

For assistance with applying for a password, please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/OnlineApplication/User/ResetPassword.
For specific information in reference to the position, feel free to contact the hiring manager at:
 
Nisha Fowler, Public Health Microbiologist 3
Phone: 907-371-1003

Date Posted
07/28/2026
Job Reference
54223
Organization
Health, Public Health
Location
Fairbanks, AK 99811
Category
Biology
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