Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Summary

This position is located in the Transfusion Services Laboratory (TSL), within the Laboratory Services Section of the Department of Transfusion Medicine (DTM) with the Clinical Center. The Transfusion Services Laboratory (blood bank) addresses the diverse needs at NIH by offering specialized and technically demanding serologic and molecular procedures for clinical diagnostic transfusion support and research purposes.

Duties

• The NIH Clinical Center Department of Transfusion Medicine (DTM) located in Bethesda, MD is hiring for four Clinical Laboratory Scientists. As a GS-0644-09/11 Clinical Laboratory Scientist, your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following: Receive, evaluate, and process clinical immunohematology specimens, ensuring specimen integrity prior to testing. Perform compatibility testing of donor and patient-recipient samples and use automated and manual methods to resolve moderately complex antibody problems. Use laboratory computer applications to record test results, document equipment maintenance, label blood components, and track the final disposition of blood components. Manufacture and process whole blood and blood components, including applying pathogen-reduction technology as appropriate. Review donor testing results, label blood components in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices and regulatory requirements, and monitor reagent and blood inventories to maintain adequate supply levels. Perform quality assurance functions, evaluate new procedures for accuracy and clinical suitability, identify and report deficiencies, recommend corrective actions, and train assigned personnel in laboratory procedures.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements Education A Bachelor's or graduate higher-level degree from a regionally accredited college university including courses in biological science, chemistry and mathematics, AND successful completion of a Medical Laboratory Scientist Clinical Laboratory Scientist program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. OR A full 4-year course of study that included 12 months in a college or hospital-based medical technology program or medical technology school approved by a recognized accrediting organization. The professional medical technology curriculum may have consisted of a 1-year post- bachelor's certificate program or the last 1 or 2 years of a 4-year program of study culminating in a bachelor's in medical technology. OR A bachelor's or graduate higher level degree from an accredited college university, including 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of biological science (with one semester in microbiology), 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of chemistry (with one semester in organic or biochemistry), one semester (one quarter) of mathematics, AND five years of full time acceptable clinical laboratory experience in Blood Banking, Chemistry, Hematology, microbiology, Immunology and Urinalysis Body Fluids. This combination of education and experience must have provided knowledge of the theories, principles, and practices of medical technology equivalent to that provided by the full 4-year course of study described in 1 or 2 above. All science and mathematics courses must have been acceptable for credit toward meeting the requirements for a science major at an accredited college or university. Acceptable experience is responsible professional or technician experience in a hospital laboratory, health agency, industrial medical laboratory, or pharmaceutical house; or teaching, test development, or medical research program experience that provided an understanding of the methods and techniques applied in performing professional clinical laboratory work. Certification licensure as a medical technologist (generalist) obtained through written examination by a nationally recognized credentialing agency or State licensing body is a good indication that the quality of experience is acceptable. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS To qualify for the GS-09 position: You must have completed two (2) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree that is directly related to the duties of this position. OR You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following tasks: 1) reviewing and evaluating clinical laboratory procedures and recognizing problems such as interfering substances and new organisms; 2) performing specialized and technically demanding analytical procedures for diagnostic and research purposes; 3) performing immunohematology testing, such as blood group typing, direct antiglobulin testing, antibody screening and identification, and Red Blood Cell phenotyping; 4) performing advanced blood bank testing, such as elutions, crossmatches, and isohemagglutinin titers; and 5) recognizing laboratory deficiencies, proposing solutions, and participating in laboratory proficiency testing programs. OR You must have a combination of post-baccalaureate education and experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position. To qualify for the GS-11 position: You must have completed three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctorate degree that is directly related to the duties of this position. OR You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following tasks: 1) performing specialized and technically demanding immunohematology procedures for diagnostic and research purposes, such as blood group typing, direct antiglobulin testing, antibody screening and identification, Red Blood Cell phenotyping, elutions, crossmatches, and isohemagglutinin titers; 2) identifying and addressing issues in laboratory testing that may affect results, such as interfering substances, disease conditions, limitations of test procedures, or other problems in the test system; 3) applying good manufacturing practices (GMP) in the further manufacture of blood components; 4) operating and maintaining complex clinical laboratory processes and instruments; and 5) creating and updating written standard operating procedures and training laboratory personnel in laboratory procedures. OR You must have a combination of post-baccalaureate education and experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position. Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the vacancy questionnaire. Ensure you support your self-ratings with the information you provide in your application. We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as knowing your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin before receiving an offer. Preview application questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13046269

Education

This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts (or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed and grades). Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Click here for information on Foreign Education.

How to apply

To apply for this position, please read and follow all instructions in this announcement, complete the online application, and submit the documentation specified in the "Required Documents" section. Your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) on 09/21/2026 to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. See the "Required Documents" section for any additional forms and/or supplemental materials required. Read all Eligibility questions and respond accordingly to any Eligibility you wish to claim. You will only be considered for those Eligibility questions (Status Applicant, Reinstatement, Schedule A, etc.) you respond in the affirmative to, regardless of what documentation you submit. We cannot assume you intended to respond differently to a question based on other information in your application package. Complete the application questionnaire. Applicants are asked all questions regardless of their consideration preferences. We will only consider you for the grades, series, locations, specialties, and other considerations that you self-identify as being qualified for or interested in. Preview application questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13046269 Verify all required documentation is included in your application package, review your responses to the assessment questionnaire for accuracy, and then submit your application. In addition to the required documents, we encourage you to submit a cover letter, copy of your transcripts, and any applicable certifications or licenses. Even though this information is not required at the time of application, we may request this information later. We cannot assume responsibility or grant extensions for personal issues (e.g., troubles navigating the application process, loss of internet, not understanding a question) when applying to our announcements. For technical difficulties, contact HR Systems Support between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM ET Monday through Friday at [email protected]. If you need any other accommodation or assistance with applying, please contact NIH HR Service Desk Branch E at [email protected]. Requests for reasonable accommodations must be made before the announcement closing date. Visit our site for information on NIH's EEO program, Reasonable accommodation procedures, laws, policy statements, and the operation of the EEO complaint process.