CompGeo Salary Survey Benchmark Job Summary and Competencies

Microbiologists

The Benchmark Job Description below represents the specific Position Characteristics of the job used in the Salary Survey. Benchmark Job Descriptions should be inspected carefully to review the degree of matching between an organizations' Job and the Salary Survey Benchmark. Matching internal Jobs to Salary Survey Benchmark Jobs should not be done on Job Title alone. A thorough comparison of Salary Survey Benchmark to Internal Job Descriptions is recommended. A good overlap should exist on any comparisons used on critical Job Dimensions and Competencies.
 
CompGeo Occupation Group: Engineering/Scientific
Job Family: Scientist - Physical/Biologcal
Benchmark Title: Microbiologists
 
Summary Job Description Tasks
Investigate the growth, structure, development, and other characteristics of microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, algae, or fungi. Includes medical microbiologists who study the relationship between organisms and disease or the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms. Examine physiological, morphological, and cultural characteristics, using microscope, to identify and classify microorganisms in human, water, and food specimens.
 
Provide laboratory services for health departments, for community environmental health programs and for physicians needing information for diagnosis and treatment.
 
Observe action of microorganisms upon living tissues of plants, higher animals, and other microorganisms, and on dead organic matter.
 
Investigate the relationship between organisms and disease including the control of epidemics and the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms.
 
Supervise biological technologists and technicians and other scientists.
 
Study growth, structure, development, and general characteristics of bacteria and other microorganisms to understand their relationship to human, plant, and animal health.
 
Prepare technical reports and recommendations based upon research outcomes.
 
Study the structure and function of human, animal and plant tissues, cells, pathogens and toxins.
 
Use a variety of specialized equipment such as electron microscopes, gas chromatographs and high pressure liquid chromatographs, electrophoresis units, thermocyclers, fluorescence activated cell sorters and phosphoimagers.
 
Conduct chemical analyses of substances such as acids, alcohols, and enzymes.
 
Research use of bacteria and microorganisms to develop vitamins, antibiotics, amino acids, grain alcohol, sugars, and polymers.
 
Isolate and maintain cultures of bacteria or other microorganisms in prescribed or developed media, controlling moisture, aeration, temperature, and nutrition.
 
Monitor and perform tests on water, food, and the environment to detect harmful microorganisms or to obtain information about sources of pollution, contamination, or infection.
 
Develop new products and procedures for sterilization, food and pharmaceutical supply preservation, or microbial contamination detection.
 
 
CompGeo Occupation Group: Engineering/Scientific
Job Family: Scientist - Physical/Biologcal
Benchmark Title: Microbiologists
 
Important Knowledge Competencies Competency Description
Biology Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
 
English Language Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 
Chemistry Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
 
Mathematics Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 
Medicine and Dentistry Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
 
Education and Training Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 
Administration and Management Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 
Computers and Electronics Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 
 
CompGeo Occupation Group: Engineering/Scientific
Job Family: Scientist - Physical/Biologcal
Benchmark Title: Microbiologists
 
Important Skill Competencies Competency Description
Science Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
 
Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
 
Writing Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
 
Reading Comprehension Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
 
Active Listening Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
 
Active Learning Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
 
Speaking Talking to others to convey information effectively.
 
Learning Strategies Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
 
Monitoring Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
 
Judgment and Decision Making Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
 
Complex Problem Solving Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
 
Mathematics Using mathematics to solve problems.
 
Coordination Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
 
Instructing Teaching others how to do something.
 
Systems Analysis Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
 
Time Management Managing one's own time and the time of others.
 
Management of Personnel Resources Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
 
Systems Evaluation Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
 
Social Perceptiveness Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
 
Operations Analysis Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
 
Persuasion Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
 
Service Orientation Actively looking for ways to help people.
 
Operation Monitoring Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
 
Quality Control Analysis Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
 
 
CompGeo Occupation Group: Engineering/Scientific
Job Family: Scientist - Physical/Biologcal
Benchmark Title: Microbiologists
 
Important Ability Competencies Competency Description
Inductive Reasoning The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
 
Written Comprehension The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
 
Deductive Reasoning The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
 
Information Ordering The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
 
Category Flexibility The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
 
Written Expression The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
 
Problem Sensitivity The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
 
Oral Comprehension The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
 
Oral Expression The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
 
Flexibility of Closure The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
 
Near Vision The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
 
Fluency of Ideas The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
 
Selective Attention The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
 
Speech Recognition The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
 
Originality The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
 
Mathematical Reasoning The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
 
Number Facility The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
 
Perceptual Speed The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
 
Finger Dexterity The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
 
Visualization The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
 
Speech Clarity The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
 
Visual Color Discrimination The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
 
Speed of Closure The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
 
Arm-Hand Steadiness The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
 
Far Vision The ability to see details at a distance.
 
Memorization The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
 
Manual Dexterity The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
 
Control Precision The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
 
 
CompGeo Occupation Group: Engineering/Scientific
Job Family: Scientist - Physical/Biologcal
Benchmark Title: Microbiologists
 
Tools/Technology Example Product Category
Assistant Software for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Interpretation ASASI Analytical or scientific software
 
BD Biosciences CellQuest Analytical or scientific software
 
BD Biosciences CloneCyt Analytical or scientific software
 
Basic Local Alignment Search Tool BLAST Analytical or scientific software
 
Bruker Optics OPUS Analytical or scientific software
 
BtB Software Mycobacteriology Lab Analytical or scientific software
 
Codon Usage Database Analytical or scientific software
 
ComBase Information retrieval or search software
 
Computer Service & Support CLS-2000 Laboratory System Medical software
 
Computing Solutions LabSoft LIMS Micro Analytical or scientific software
 
DNA sequence analysis software Analytical or scientific software
 
Database management software Data base user interface and query software
 
Email software Electronic mail software
 
FindTarget Analytical or scientific software
 
FramePlot Analytical or scientific software
 
Gene Finder Analytical or scientific software
 
Gene recognition software Analytical or scientific software
 
Genie Interactive Analytical or scientific software
 
Image capture and analysis software Analytical or scientific software
 
Laboratory information management system LIMS software Analytical or scientific software
 
Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet software
 
Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation software
 
Microsoft Word Word processing software
 
NetLims AutoLims Analytical or scientific software
 
Orchard Software Orchard Harvest LIS Medical software
 
PHYLIP Analytical or scientific software
 
PIBWin Analytical or scientific software
 
Pathogen Modeling Program PMP Analytical or scientific software
 
PredictProtein Analytical or scientific software
 
Proscan Analytical or scientific software
 
ProtScale Analytical or scientific software
 
Protein Explorer Analytical or scientific software
 
Protein databases Analytical or scientific software
 
STARLIMS Analytical or scientific software
 
Statistical software Analytical or scientific software
 
TreeView Analytical or scientific software
 
Verity Software House ModFit LT Analytical or scientific software
 
WHONET Data base user interface and query software
 
Web browser software Internet browser software
 
Word processing software Word processing software
 
8-channel electronic pipettes Electronic multichannel pipetters
 
Alcohol lamps Spirit burners
 
Anaerobic growth chambers Anaerobic chamber
 
Analytical balances Analytical balances
 
Argon lasers Lasers
 
Autoclaves Steam autoclaves or sterilizers
 
Automated gram stainers Microbiology slide stainers
 
Automated microbial identification systems Microbiology analyzers
 
Automatic cell sorters Manual or electronic hematology differential cell counters
 
Automatic coverslipper Automated cover slipping equipment
 
Automatic pipetters Robotic or automated liquid handling systems
 
Bacteriological incubators Forced air or mechanical convection general purpose incubators
 
Bacticinerators Dry heat or hot air sterilizers
 
Bioaerosol impactors Air samplers or collectors
 
Biological safety hoods Safety hoods
 
Bioreactors Microbiology fermentation equipment
 
Bright field light microscopes Binocular light compound microscopes
 
Bubble counters Counters
 
Charge coupled device CCD color digital cameras Digital cameras
 
Chemical safety showers Decontamination shower
 
Colony counters Electronic counters
 
Compound binocular light microscopes Binocular light compound microscopes
 
Conductivity meters Conductivity meters
 
Coplin jars Laboratory staining dishes or jars
 
Culture bottles Tissue culture flasks
 
Culture tubes Culture tubes
 
Darkroom developing tanks Developing tanks
 
Deionized DI water systems Ultra pure water systems
 
Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA sequencers Deoxyribonucleic sequence analyzers
 
Desktop centrifuges Benchtop centrifuges
 
Desktop computers Desktop computers
 
Dichotomous particulate matter samplers Air samplers or collectors
 
Direct heat dry wall carbon dioxide CO2 incubators Dry wall single chamber carbon dioxide incubators
 
Dissecting microscopes Stereo or dissecting light microscopes
 
Dissolved oxygen meters Dissolved oxygen meters
 
Dropping pipettes Dropping pipettes
 
Dry bath incubators Dry baths or heating blocks
 
Drying ovens Drying cabinets or ovens
 
Electronic sterilizers Steam autoclaves or sterilizers
 
Electronic toploading balances Electronic toploading balances
 
Electroporators Electroporation cuvettes
 
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ELISA plate readers Microplate readers
 
Erlenmeyer flask clamps Laboratory adapters or connectors or fittings
 
Erlenmeyer flasks Laboratory flasks
 
Eyewash fountains Eyewashers or eye wash stations
 
Fecal coliform water baths Circulating baths
 
Fire extinguishers Fire extinguishers
 
Floor shakers Rotating shakers
 
Flow cytometers Microbiology analyzers
 
Fluorescence activated cell sorters Microbiology analyzers
 
Fluorescent microscopes Fluorescent microscopes
 
Fourier transform infrared FTIR spectrometers Infrared spectrometers
 
Freeze dryers Freeze dryers or lyopholizers
 
French presses French pressure cells
 
Gas chromatographs GC Gas chromatographs
 
Gas-powered generators Gas generators
 
Gel documentation systems Gel documentation systems
 
Gel electrophoresis boxes Gel boxes
 
Gel support frames Gel boxes
 
Gel transfer apparatus Blotting or transfer apparatus
 
Graduated glass laboratory cylinders Laboratory graduated cylinders
 
HEPA filtered biosafety cabinets HEPA filtered enclosures
 
Hardy Diagnostics HUGO Electronic encyclopedias
 
Heat blocks Dry baths or heating blocks
 
Heating stirplates Laboratory hotplates
 
Helium-neon lasers Lasers
 
High pressure liquid chromatographs HPLC High pressure liquid chromatograph chromatography
 
High-speed centrifuges Benchtop centrifuges
 
Hybridization ovens Hybridization ovens or incubators
 
Impedance meters Impedance meters
 
Infrared IR spectrometers Infrared spectrometers
 
Infrared gas analyzers Infra red or ultra violet absorption analyzers
 
Inoculating loops Microbiology inoculation loops or needles
 
Inverted microscopes Inverted microscopes
 
Laboratory beakers Laboratory beakers
 
Laboratory funnels Laboratory funnels
 
Laboratory gas burners Gas burners
 
Laboratory glassware washers Laboratory washing machines
 
Laboratory heat exchange condensing devices Laboratory heat exchange condensers
 
Laboratory membrane filtering devices Laboratory membrane filters
 
Laboratory refrigerators General purpose refrigerators or refrigerator freezers
 
Laboratory test tubes Multipurpose or general test tubes
 
Laboratory vacuum pumps Laboratory vacuum pumps
 
Laminar flow cabinets Laminar flow cabinets or stations
 
Laser printers Laser printers
 
Liquid chromatograph devices Liquid chromatographs
 
Liquid impingers Air samplers or collectors
 
Liquid nitrogen storage equipment Cryogenic or liquid nitrogen freezers
 
Magnetic laboratory stirrers Magnetic stirrers
 
Mass spectrometers Mass spectrometers
 
Membrane filtration systems Laboratory membrane filters
 
Micro balances Laboratory balances
 
Microcalorimeters Calorimeters
 
Microcentrifuges Microcentrifuges
 
Micromanipulators Automated microscope stages
 
Micropipettes Dropping pipettes
 
Microscope slides Microscope slides
 
Mid-infrared spectrometers Infrared spectrometers
 
Multiplate readers Microplate readers
 
Multistage agar impactors Air samplers or collectors
 
Multiwell trays General purpose trays
 
Notebook computers Notebook computers
 
Oil-immersion microscope lenses Microscope objectives
 
Orbital shaking incubators Shaking incubators
 
Orbital shaking water baths Orbital shaking water baths
 
Osmometers Osmometers
 
Peristaltic pumps Peristaltic pumps
 
Personal computers Personal computers
 
Petri dishes Petri plates or dishes
 
Phase contrast microscopes Darkfield microscopes
 
Photomicroscopes Photo attachments for microscopes
 
Pipette pumps Pipette pumps
 
Precision pan balances Laboratory balances
 
Prepared agar plates Specialty plates for bacteria
 
Protective gloves Protective gloves
 
Protective laboratory coats Protective coats
 
Raman spectrometers Spectrometers
 
Rechargeable electronic pipette fillers Pipetter inserts or accessories
 
Recording thermometers Laboratory incubator thermometers
 
Refrigerated benchtop centrifuges Refrigerated benchtop centrifuges
 
Refrigerated recirculating water baths Refrigerated baths
 
Respirators Respirators
 
Rotator mixers Laboratory mixers
 
Safety glasses Safety glasses
 
Safety shoes Safety shoes
 
Scanning electron microscopes SEM Scanning electron microscopes
 
Sectioned petri plates Petri plates or dishes
 
Semidry blotting apparatus Blotting or transfer apparatus
 
Serology rotators Laboratory mixers
 
Shaking incubators Shaking incubators
 
Sonicators Ultrasonic disintegrators
 
Staining dishes Laboratory staining dishes or jars
 
Steroclaves Steam autoclaves or sterilizers
 
Test tube racks Test tube racks
 
Thermocyclers Temperature cycling chambers or thermal cyclers
 
Tissue homogenizers Homogenizers
 
Transilluminators Transilluminators
 
Transmission electron microscopes TEM Transmission electron microscopes
 
Ultra cold biological freezers Ultra cold or ultralow upright cabinets or freezers
 
Ultracentrifuges Ultracentrifuges
 
Ultraviolet UV lamps Ultraviolet UV lamps
 
Visible spectrometers Spectrometers
 
Visible/UV light scanning spectrophotometers Spectrophotometers
 
Vortex mixers Vortex mixers
 
Water purification systems Ultra pure water systems
 
Water sample collection containers Specimen collectors
 
X ray diffractometers X ray diffraction equipment
 
pH meters pH meters
 
 
CompGeo Occupation Group: Engineering/Scientific
Job Family: Scientist - Physical/Biologcal
Benchmark Title: Microbiologists
 
Prerequisite Qualification Category Education and Experience Level
Required Level of Education Bachelor's Degree
Required Level of Education Post-Doctoral Training
 
 
CompGeo Occupation Group: Engineering/Scientific
Job Family: Scientist - Physical/Biologcal
Benchmark Title: Microbiologists
 
Alternate Job Title(s)
Bacteriologist
Chemist
Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Clinical Microbiologist
Cytologist
Electron Microscopist
Medical Laboratory Technician
Medical Microbiologist
Medical Technologist
Microbiological Analyst
Microbiological Laboratory Technician
Microbiologist
Microbiology Analyst
Microbiology Laboratory Director
Microbiology Laboratory Manager
Microscopist
Mycobacteria and Brucella Laboratory Head
Physical Scientist
Professor of Microbiology
Public Health Microbiologist
Public Health Microbiology Laboratory Director
Quality Control Microbiologist (QC Microbiologist)
Study Director
Virologist
Virology Director
 
CompGeo Occupation Group: Engineering/Scientific
Job Family: Scientist - Physical/Biologcal
Benchmark Title: Microbiologists
 
 
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