Microbiologist

Job Details

Shrimp Improvement Systems operates a disease lab in Miami which handles many commercially significant shrimp pathogens. As the primary R&D branch for the company, the Miami Disease Lab (MDL) operates to provide valuable data to guide the company’s decisions for future product generation. The microbiologist position will aid in bioassays involving bacteria, viruses, and microsporidia, as well as provide technical assistance in the varying projects at MDL. This includes PCR, qPCR, bacteriology, water quality, genomics, and data analysis. Additionally, the microbiologist will assist in day to day operations of the facility. Responsibilities include oversight of the health and quality the animals in the assigned area, constantly ensuring that they have a clean and safe environment to provide the optimum conditions for reproduction and development. The Microbiologist position is responsible for all day-to-day operations and staffing assigned to them and must ensure that animals are safe and secured between shifts.

Supervisory Duties:

Responsible for Assistant Technicians, laborers, and casual staff as assigned.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties:

• Perform all duties accurately and according to Production and R&D Department protocols, providing optimal quality and care to the animals and organization property at all times.
• Ability to handle the animals with care as required in performing all husbandry duties.
• Calculate and monitor feed rates and feed animals properly and according to schedule.
• Monitor tank water quality and amount; adjust or clean as required; monitor parameters, and algae.
• Oversee and/or conduct daily tank flushing, water exchanges and treatments as required.
• Oversee and/or perform trial stocking, selection, measuring, tagging and take down duties as required.
• Assist with updating and monitoring supply inventory.
• Monitor and/or perform data entry as required.
• Continuously improve operations with respect to staff performance, quality, safety and inventory levels.
• Perform disease bioassay’s in coordination with supervisor and staff.
• Design and complete custom PCR/qPCR runs including applicable quality control steps. (machine setup, master-mix prep, pipetting, operating thermocyclers, creating and loading gels, and gel electrophoresis)
• Pour agar plates and perform bacteriological studies as well as water quality measurements.
• Assist the Supervisor in the maintenance of data and records.
• Assist in maintaining a clean environment on the campus, following all health and safety guidelines and all biosecurity protocols
• Maintain confidentiality of company proprietary information.
• Perform other duties as needed or directed by the Supervisor.

Requirements

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s / Masters degree in biology, microbiology, chemistry, marine science, or other related field is heavily preferred.
• Commitment to quality work in a fast paced environment is a must.
• Note: for highly qualified candidates, there is a possibility of an increased pay range.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• 1 -3 years of microbiology experience is preferred but not required.
• PCR / genomics experience is preferred but not required.
• Experience in Cloning and Genomics is preferred but not required
• Any aquaculture experience is a plus!
• Good math skills.
• Good computer and data entry skills.
• Good writing skills

Contact Information

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