Anatomical Pathologist
Anatomical pathologists are medical specialists with more than 10 years of training who inform diagnosis, disease progression and prognosis. They can also help identify the cause of death in deceased patients.
Day in the life Career
Molecular Scientist
Molecular scientists work in our various departments using specialised equipment and techniques to detect and interpret genetic information for haematological malignancies, cancer, chromosomal abnormalities, pathogen genomics and more.
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About the opportunity
NSW Health Pathology is the largest single genetic service provider in Australia, providing services to all NSW public hospitals and many private hospitals.
You’ll have the opportunity to work with state-of-the-art methods and equipment in the field of genetic testing, and with leading scientists and the clinical experts who rely on these results to make decisions on patient management.
We play a key role in PrOSPeCT (Precision Oncology Screening Platform enabling Clinical Trials) aimed at opening up new, potentially life-saving treatment pathways for more than 23,000 Australians with rare and difficult-to-treat or incurable cancers.
One of the things I value most about working as a NSW Health Pathology molecular scientist is the opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of patients and their families across the state.
Once a diagnosis has been established, we often end up providing genetic testing for multiple generations within that known family. Although we may often be behind-the-scenes, the information generated from our work is vital in decision-making processes for these individuals and their clinicians.
– Judith Wong, Scientific Officer, Molecular Medicine Laboratory, NSWHP Concord
What you’ll be doing
Molecular Scientists perform a range of investigations on DNA and RNA and use methods such as probe-based polymerase-chain reaction, next generation sequencing, and digital droplet PCR. They are helping develop groundbreaking methods to revolutionise how we detect cancer and other genes that cause disease.
About you
You’ll have the following expertise and qualities:
- A minimum relevant tertiary degree qualification (or equivalent degree) in Medical Laboratory Science, Microbiology, Molecular biology or a related discipline.
- Be involved and maintain competencies in routine MDU testing benches.
- Have a thorough understanding of the functions of a PCR suite to prevent and minimise amplicon contamination.
- Specialised technical knowledge, skill and expertise in performing contemporary infectious diseases molecular diagnostic assays and managing daily technical operations and resource allocation.
- Good communication skills, effective interpersonal skills, and the ability to work collaboratively as a leader and a team member under the direction of more senior practitioners, producing an effective work output and quality.
What do Molecular Scientists do?
Want to work on the frontline of disease diagnosis? A career in molecular science could be for you.
Molecular Scientists are qualified Medical Laboratory Scientists.
They work in our Chemistry, Haematology, Genetics and Cytogenetics, Microbiology, and Anatomical Pathology laboratories using a wide range of methods and techniques to perform scientific testing to detect and identify genetic material of interest, helping doctors diagnose various diseases such as cancer, leukaemia, and cystic fibrosis.
As personalised medicine expands and starts to become routine care, we are seeing increasing demands for these services.
Improvements in nucleic acid sequencing technology allow us to uncover more novel genetic variants than ever before. As a genetic scientist, I find it rewarding to be able to interpret and bring these new discoveries to the clinical setting. This improves diagnosis and clinical management in patients afflicted by rare genetic diseases.
– Stipe Zekanovic, Hospital Scientist, Medical Genomics, NSWHP Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
What we can offer you
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Accrued days off in addition to annual leave
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Generous salary packaging options and other fringe benefits, particularly for those who choose to work in regional or rural NSW
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Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme – up to $10,000 a year plus super for eligible positions
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Employee Assistance Program – confidential, professional, free counselling for employees and their household members
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Corporate wellbeing programs, including the Fitness Passport
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Learning and development opportunities, including in-house training with RTO My Health Learning
Position Classification: Staff Specialist
Hours Per Week 40
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