Are you passionate about science and public health? The Lee County Mosquito Control District is seeking a dedicated Biologist to help protect our community through innovative mosquito management strategies.
As a Field Validation (FVAL) Biologist II, you’ll play a key role in advancing the District’s FVAL program—designing and conducting experiments, performing laboratory and field bioassays, analyzing data, and collaborating with industry and research partners to evaluate new control technologies.
If you’re ready to make a measurable impact through fieldwork, laboratory science, and collaborative research, we invite you to apply and join our commitment to evidence-based mosquito control and public health innovation.
Essential Functions:
- Develop experimental designs to validate present technology and investigate the benefit of alternative mechanisms to the FVAL program
- Identify program needs in field validation with the assistance of the Mosquito Control and Applied Science Technology teams, develop experimental design, carry out the study and analyze the results
- Monitors laboratory and field tests, records data, and enters data in project databases
- Assists the FVAL Manager in developing effective responses to changes in susceptibility to pesticides
- Works with industry partners and other collaborators to validate novel technologies
- Assists with maintenance of mosquito colonies for use in bioassays of new products and formulations
- Collects and maintains larvae from field for larval and adult bioassays following established protocols
- Performs larval bioassays on collected larvae
- Raises larvae not used in larval bioassays to adulthood and performs CDC bottle bioassays on adults
- Collects mosquito pupae from treatment areas to evaluate effectiveness of application in accordance with approved protocols
- Analyzes and communicates results of bioassays and identified trends in susceptibility to FVAL Manager
- Prepares and maintains stock solutions of insecticides to be used in bioassays
- Assists with processing requests from School Mosquito Education program administrator for requested number of larvae
- Assists with maintenance of mosquito fish, including cleaning tanks, feeding fish, and restocking the population as needed
- Performs a variety of maintenance duties as needed to keep laboratory spaces and insectary operational
- Assists the FVAL Manager in the performance of her/his duties
- Represents the District at conferences, science fairs and public meetings as needed
- Conducts presentations at professional meetings and to the public on mosquito control and scientific intelligence as needed
- Present validation studies and results at state and national meetings and publish field validation results in scientific journals if warranted
- Responsible for completing his/her timecard daily
- Responsible for submitting all Time-Off Requests as soon as he/she knows they will be absent, late or leaving early
- Responsible for ensuring timecard is correct and approved by 8:00 a.m. on payroll Mondays
- Works closely with the Public Information Officer in assisting with the response to public, media and government agency inquiries as needed
- Communicate with the public in a professional and courteous manner and refer all inquiries outside area of expertise back to the appropriate person at the District
- Responsible for wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Always Follow all District’s Safety policies and procedures
- Responsible for ensuring all assigned equipment is maintained and repaired as needed
- Other duties and projects assigned
Qualifications:
- Bachelors degree in Natural Sciences, Entomology or related field from an accredited college or university is required
Work Environment/Physical Requirements:
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Physical Requirements: Moderate physical activity is required on a regular basis including lifting, reaching for, pulling and carrying up to fifty pounds, reaching and pulling with arms, stooping, bending frequently, standing, sitting, walking for long distances and climbing over and around natural obstacles and in and out of vehicles and a variety of other equipment. Must be able to use hands and fingers to grip and operate a variety of hand tools and other equipment. Excellent vision, both close and distance, is frequently required.
Work Environment: The work environment varies but normally is outdoors or in a vehicle but may include warehouses, office buildings, helicopters, boats, heliports, mangroves, fields, islands, open water, laboratories and animal rearing/storage facilities. Exposure to all types of weather is required as the position is required to work outside, exposed to high temperatures and humidity, sun, rain, wind, mud and insects. Frequent local travel and out of town travel is required. Exposure to loud and moderate noise levels will occur on a regular basis when around aircraft, helicopters, tanker trucks, pony motors and a variety of other equipment, motors and engines. Working with and around chemicals, which are stored, handled, applied/used and disposed of according to exact labeling instructions, is required frequently.
Pre-employment background check and drug screen required
All interested candidates must apply through our careers page at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lcmcd.
Equal Opportunity Employer; Drug Free Workplace; Veterans Preference to those who qualify. We are an E-VERIFY employer. Please visit our careers page at lcmcd.org or lchcd.org for more information.
