RESEARCH SCIENTIST 1, MICROBIOLOGY
Microbiology
Career Family: RESEARCH SCIENTIST
There is no civil service exam for Research Scientist 1, Microbiology. As a non-competitive state title, it is filled on the strength of meeting the listed qualifications.
To be eligible you bring a master's degree and 4 years of relevant experience. The FY 2027 range lands between $100,498 and $148,187, and state payroll currently lists about 129 people in the title, led by Health and Senior Services.
How to apply
This title is not filled by examination — agencies appoint directly.
See every real route in, and where to apply. 13 agencies employ it. We don't track live vacancies.
See all 13 employers and how to apply →Who employs this title
Research Scientist 1, Microbiology appears on the State payroll at 13 departments, most of them at Department of Health.
State departments
Showing the largest 8 of 13 departments. All agencies.
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Pay ladder: Research Scientist series
- Research Scientist 3 — $79,844 – $117,228
- Research Scientist 2 — $91,628 – $134,900
- Research Scientist 1 — $100,498 – $148,187
Its top salary lands around the 88th percentile of all NJ civil service titles that publish a range.
Rungs are ordered by FY 2027 pay. NJ level numbers are not always sequential, so ordering follows salary rather than the title number.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 129 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $138,568. The agencies employing the most are:
- Health and Senior Services (61)
- Environmental Protection (37)
- Human Services (8)
- Children and Families (6)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under the direction of a division director or other supervisory official in a State department, institution, or agency, supervises and independently initiates, designs, coordinates, and implements highly-complex microbiological or molecular biological-based research projects; supervises highly-complex microbiological or molecular biology-based tests and analyses primarily in a laboratory setting, and may include related field and/or office work; supervises staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
- Develops appropriate microbiological or molecular biology-based research protocols and designs, including preparation of project scope and budget, determination of sampling design and schedules, collection and analysis of data, and preparation of reports suitable for submission to scholarly publications.
- Presents research findings and participates in technical meetings and conferences.
- Reviews, modifies, approves, or disapproves studies proposed by subordinate staff to ensure compliance with appropriate research methodology and statistical techniques.
- Develops, reviews, and analyzes publications and other documents pertaining to current microbiological or molecular biology-based research developments; disseminates information to internal and external professional staff.
- Supervises the ongoing evaluation of laboratory automation systems to maximize analytical efficiency.
- Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees.
- Provides technical and functional leadership in the operation, repair, and implementation of highly-sophisticated analytical instrumentation utilized in microbiological or molecular biology-based testing.
- Initiates, designs, and implements new immunological, microbiological, and molecular biology-based testing techniques such as direct and indirect fluorescent antibody procedures, specific methods development, and other analytical microbiological tools.
- Provides supervision and technical training to laboratory personnel in instrument utilization, procedure development, and research.
- Functions as a scientific consultant in areas pertaining to specific expertise; provides responses to scientific inquiries.
- May serve as an active member or chair on scientific boards, committees, or task forces.
- Supervises and develops survey research instruments to identify at-risk or underserved populations.
- Supervises the collection and analyses of data applying statistical or econometric models; supervises others in analyzing or interpreting data regarding health trends.
- Develops and maintains liaison with State, federal, academic, and other individuals to discuss and resolve issues of mutual concern.
- Prepares and/or supervises the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
- Prepares detailed correspondence.
- Supervises the maintenance of essential records, reports, and files.
- Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Education
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master of Science degree in microbiology, molecular biology or other appropriate biological discipline.
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology or other appropriate biological discipline.
Experience
Four (4) years of experience in microbiological or molecular biological analysis or research.
Five (5) years of experience in microbiological analysis or research; one (1) year of which must be in the operation of technical and complex instrumentation used in microbiological or molecular biology-based analysis including but not limited to Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight mass spectrometry ((MALDI-TOF MS); Real-Time-PCR instruments; Next Generation Sequencing instruments; fluorescent microscopes; high-throughput ELISA or NAAT instrumentation..
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of research methods including research design, data collection, and data evaluation techniques.
- Knowledge of statistical techniques and methods.
- Knowledge of the laboratory automation systems, methodology, and procedures pertaining to the area of specific research in microbiology.
- Knowledge of the specialty area assigned, including the most current analytical instrumentation utilized in microbiological or molecular biology-based testing.
- Knowledge of appropriate federal regulations and procedural methods requirements.
- Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret scientific data.
- Ability to operate and maintain scientific instruments utilized for microbiological analyses.
- Ability to provide supervision and technical training to laboratory personnel and other staff.
- Ability to initiate, design, coordinate, and implement microbiological research projects.
- Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit.
- Ability to exercise good judgment in evaluating situations and in making decisions concerning research problems.
- Ability to maintain cooperative working relationships with personnel assigned to other units within the department and division, and with external stakeholders.
- Ability to prepare and/or supervise the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
- Ability to write scientific articles, reports, and/or peer-reviewed scientific publications.
- Ability to present research findings and participate in technical meetings and conferences.
- Ability to prepare detailed correspondence.
- Ability to supervise the maintenance of essential records, reports, and files.
- Ability to learn how to utilize various type of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
- Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
- Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.
A Doctorate in a microbiological or molecular biological discipline may be substituted for two (2) years of experience indicated above.
<b>OR</b>
Appointees may be required to perform physical activities such as lifting, carrying, and standing for an extended period of time.
Appointees may be required to get vaccinations or submit vaccination records.
Appointees may be required to wear Personal Protective Equipment.