Overview

Position Overview
The Illinois Department of Public Health is seeking a highly motivated individual to perform the duties of Microbiologist 1. Under direct supervision, performs professional and specialized microbiological analyses on clinical and environmental specimens or samples submitted to the Springfield Public Health Laboratory. Follows established procedures to test samples and specimens.

Essential Functions

  • Performs professional and specialized microbiological analytical work and procedures for the isolation, identification, or enumeration of organisms from clinical and environmental specimens, which may include the practice of bacteriology, mycology and parasitology.
  • Provides assistance to other units.
  • Verifies accuracy of procedures through related quality control and proficiency testing programs.
  • Records and reports results of examinations accurately.
  • Performs routine and preventative maintenance, calibration and care of standard and specialized laboratory equipment.
  • Prepares special culture media, reagents, solutions, and stains for use in microbiological analyses.
  • Receives training in lab procedures and documents training.
  • Orders commodities used in the lab as needed; determines cost variables between suppliers of those commodities for use by supervisor in budgetary calculations.
  • Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.
Apply for job

About Illinois Department Public Health

In Illinois, if you have eaten at a restaurant ... required hospital or nursing home care ... vacationed at a campground or swam at a public beach or pool ... drank a glass of milk ... got married or divorced ... had a baby, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has touched your life in some important way.

Assuring the quality of our food, setting the standards for hospital and nursing home care, checking the safety of recreation areas, overseeing the inspection of milk producing farms and processing plants, maintaining the state's vital records and screening newborns for genetic diseases are just some of the duties of IDPH.

In fact, IDPH has 200 different programs that benefit each state resident and visitor, although its daily activities of maintaining the public's health are rarely noticed unless a breakdown in the system occurs. With the assistance of local public health agencies, these essential programs and services make up Illinois' public health system, a system that forms a frontline defense against disease through preventive measures and education. Public health has provided the foundation for remarkable gains in saving lives and reducing suffering. Today, life expectancy is 80 years for women and 74 years for men compared with fewer than 50 years at the at the beginning of the 20th century.

In the past, IDPH directed state efforts to control smallpox, cholera and typhoid, virtually eliminated polio, reduced dental decay through fluoridation of community water supplies, and corrected sanitary conditions that threatened water and food supplies.

Today, IDPH has programs to deal with persistent problems that require continued vigilance – infectious diseases, such as AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and meningococcal disease; foodborne and communicable diseases, such as E. coli 0157: H7, monkeypox, salmonella and West Nile virus; vaccine preventable diseases; lead poisoning; lack of health care in rural areas; health disparities among racial groups, breast, cervical and prostate cancer; Alzheimer's disease; and other health threats -- sexually transmitted diseases, tobacco use, violence, and other conditions associated with high-risk behaviors. In addition, IDPH has been charged with handling the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the threat of bioterrorism.

IDPH, which is one of the state's oldest agencies, was first organized in 1877 with a staff of three and a two-year budget of $5,000. IDPH, now has an annual budget of $2.9 billion in state and federal funds, headquarters in Springfield and Chicago, seven regional offices located around the state, three laboratories, and 1,200 employees.

IDPH is organized into 12 offices, each of which addresses a distinct area of public health. Each office operates and supports numerous ongoing programs and is prepared to respond to extraordinary situations as they arise.