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Position Title:Diagnostic Associate I

Job Group:Professional & Scientific

Required Minimum Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree

Preferred Qualifications:Experience that demonstrates knowledge of general laboratory and facility maintenance, including biosafety and bio-security principles, practices and regulations.

Experience that demonstrates knowledge of animal anatomy and veterinary medical terminology.

Work experience in a veterinary diagnostic laboratory or industrial biological laboratory.

Experience handling animals primarily within the livestock industry or food animal production.

Experience teaching or training others.

Job Description:

• Launch Your Career in Veterinary Diagnostics

Are you eager to start a meaningful career in animal health and diagnostics? Iowa State University's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) is seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented individual to join our Necropsy Lab team as a Diagnostic Associate I. This entry-level position offers hands-on experience in veterinary diagnostics, providing essential support to veterinarians and researchers in understanding and preventing animal diseases.

• What You’ll Do

+ Assist in Necropsy Procedures: Support pathologists in postmortem examinations, including sample collection, documentation, and rabies testing.

+ Manage Diagnostic Cases: Coordinate case assignments, maintain detailed logs, manage tissue archives, and oversee private cremation coolers.

+ Maintain Laboratory Facilities: Ensure cleanliness and functionality of necropsy tools, equipment, and facilities; manage PPE inventory and sanitization.

+ Educate and Train: Assist in teaching VM4 professional students, graduate students, and visiting scientists on diagnostic laboratory medicine, including euthanasia methods, necropsy techniques, and sample selection.

+ Client Interaction: Communicate with clients and external labs, addressing inquiries and facilitating case submissions.

• Why This Role Is a Great Opportunity

+ Hands-On Experience: Gain practical experience in a state-of-the-art veterinary diagnostic laboratory.

+ Career Growth: Develop skills and knowledge that can lead to advancement in veterinary diagnostics or related fields.

+ Impactful Work: Contribute to the health and safety of animals, supporting Iowa’s $32 billion animal agriculture industry.

+ Educational Environment: Work alongside experts and educators, enhancing your learning and professional development.

• About the Department

The VDL is a full-service veterinary diagnostic laboratory engaged daily in missions of service, teaching, and research. The laboratory processes over 125,000 submissions from veterinarians and researchers annually. The Pathology Section offers necropsy services, gross examination, and histopathological evaluation of tissue samples, contributing to advancements in animal health diagnostics.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an on-going basis without sponsorship.

Example of Duties• Performs a variety of diagnostic tests within a specific specialty area.• Acts as a liaison between pathologists and laboratory personnel for research or case series submissions.• Develops, validates and implements new assays for diagnostic and research purposes.• Evaluates current protocols for effectiveness of tests and uses independent judgement to determine when adjustments to procedures are necessary.• Assists in training staff and students.• Works with clients to assist diagnosticians in communicating and troubleshooting testing needs and results.Level Guidelines• Individual contributor position with developing professional and/or technical skills working under immediate to general supervision• Grasps professional-level knowledge and concepts of field while working in a progressive learning mode• Works on problems and issues of somewhat limited scope• Follows standard practices and procedures in analyzing situations or data for which answers are available or can be obtained• Responds to inquiries and issues, escalating to manager or higher level workers as appropriate• May lead projects of limited scope and complexity• May provide guidance to students

Appointment Type:Regular

Number of Months Employed Per Year:12 Month Work Period

Time Type:Full time

Pay Grade:PS806

Application Instructions:To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following: 1) Resume/Curriculum Vitae 2) Letter of Application/Cover Letter If you have questions regarding this application process, please email [email protected] or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485. Why Choose ISU? Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as: • Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans • Generous vacation, holiday and sick time and leave plans • Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa) • Life insurance and long-term disability • Flexible Spending Accounts • Various voluntary benefits and discounts • Employee Assistance Program • Wellbeing program • Iowa State offers WorkFlex options for some positions. WorkFlex offers flexibility on when, where, and how you do your work. For more information, please speak with the Hiring Manager.

Original Posting Date: May 21, 2025

Posting Close Date:June 3, 2025

Job Requisition Number:R17091

By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State attracts students and faculty who want to make a difference. With a comprehensive land-grant mission of education, research, extension and outreach, we produce scholars whose ideas change the world. And through Innovate at Iowa State , we provide innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the city of Ames was recently named one of the Top 10 cities in the U.S. for campus life and career opportunities.

Iowa State University is a welcoming community of students, faculty, and staff. Campus community members have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and are committed to engaging with each other respectfully as outlined in the university's Principles of Community (https://www.iastate.edu/diversity-and-inclusion/principles-community) . Iowa State recognizes that diverse intellectual and philosophical perspectives are vital to innovation, critical thinking skills, and a dynamic academic community that fosters the land-grant ideals of putting science, technology, and human creativity to work.

All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check.

Iowa State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, marital status, disability, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against. Inquiries can be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, 515 294-7612, email [email protected] .

If you have questions about the application process please email [email protected] or call 515-294-4800 or Toll-Free at 1-877-477-7485 . Iowa State University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should email [email protected] or call (515) 294-4800 or Toll-Free: (877) 477-7485 . TTY users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2942 .

General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources (https://www.hr.iastate.edu/careers/compensation) website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.