Medical Lab Scientist, Advanced - HLA - Day/Evening, Swing Shift

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

About Duke University Health System Clinical Laboratories

Pursue your passion for caring and innovation as a team member in the state-of-the-art Duke Health laboratories. Duke Health laboratories are College of American Pathologists accredited and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments certified. The multidisciplinary team is committed to serving the rare and complex testing needs of Duke Health's diverse patient population by providing timely and accurate results, educating the next generation of laboratorians, scientists and physicians, and researching and developing the cutting-edge diagnostics of tomorrow.

Occupational Summary

This position will be responsible for performing, analyzing, and evaluating results for patients receiving solid organ and/or bone marrow transplants. Individuals will work closely with HLA Technical Specialist, Analytical Specialist, and Lab Medical directors to evaluate patient results used in transplant decision making, rejection monitoring, and clinical trials to provide optimal patient outcomes. A strong background in Flow Cytometry, Immunohematology, Immunology, and/or Molecular Biology techniques is preferred.

Work Performed

• Testing performed: HLA Flow PRA screen; Luminex Single Antigen (LSA) HLA Class I & II; Flow cross-matching; ELISA; cell isolation and preservation from peripheral blood and donor tissue specimen; DNA extraction, purification, and quantitation; various molecular typing techniques to include Next-generation sequencing (NGS), RT-PCR, and low to intermediate resolution SSO/SSP typing.
• Participate in equipment maintenance, instrument calibration, quality control and documentation, and monitor reagent inventory.
• Perform sample processing to include cell isolation, preservation, and specimen storage for future testing.
• Organize test worklists, order, and perform necessary sample treatments and/or reflex testing.
• Analyze specimens and evaluate result validity against historical results in conjunction with patient co-morbidities and effect of treatment regimens.
• Serve as a technical resource for less experienced technologist and support staff. Train and mentor other HLA technologist and participate in annual procedure review to articulate procedure/policy changes to ensure SOPs are clearly and concisely worded.
• Participate in quality assurance and quality control data. Uses knowledge of various complex laboratory techniques and procedures to generate quantitative and qualitative observations and initiate problem-solving processes if indicated.
• Position requires limited on-call assignment to include nights, holidays, and weekends on a rotating basis.
• Swing shift with flexible options.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Level Characteristics

Within the clinical laboratories we embrace Duke's purpose, placing the patient at the center of everything we do. We do this by demonstrating behaviors that focus on delivering patient and family centered care and embodying the values that promote a positive work culture. We expect every team member to commit to these values and hold each other accountable in the spirit of mutual respect and belonging.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's degree in Medical Technology, Chemistry or Biological Sciences from an accredited institution.

Experience

Two years of work experience as Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS)/Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT), previous HLA experience, and/or comparable Immunology, genetics, or molecular diagnostics research.

Degrees, Licensures, Certifications

Certification by one of the following accrediting agencies: CHT (ABHI), CHS (ABHI), MB (ASCP), MLS/MLT (ASCP) or categorical MT (NCA), MT (AMT), MT (HHS or HEW).

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.