South African fence corridor / Photo by ASM
 Consultant Description

ASM consultants come from a broad variety of clinical microbiology laboratories across the globe—specializing in bacteriology, mycobacteriology, human and health, clinical and public health, mycology, virology, and/or parasitology. The service component has been a rewarding experience for these individuals—clinical laboratory scientists, medical technologists, researchers, clinicians, virologists, and professors—both professionally and personally. ASM is continuously seeking highly qualified individuals to work as consultants for capacity building of clinical microbiology laboratories in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, Asia, Middle East, and the Caribbean. Experience is needed for hands-on clinical microbiology diagnostics, including bacteriology, mycobacteriology, parasitology, clinical and public health, and mycology. LabCap is also looking for experts fluent in French, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Arabic, and Vietnamese. These activities may require short or long-term (more than three months) travel and can develop with little notice. Technical experts are selected based on skills, availability, language proficiency, and demonstrated experience in comparable work.

Examples of GPHP opportunities include:

  • Providing onsite technical support (bench training) to the laboratory network
  • Mentoring of laboratory staff
  • Assisting with the strengthening of laboratory quality systems, including development of quality control procedures, quality assurance programs, and standard operating procedures (SOPs)
  • Assisting with the establishment of national public health/reference laboratories
  • Providing guidance for the standardization and selection of equipment and reagents
  • Supporting the development of specimen referral networks
  • Assisting with the coordination of infectious disease surveillance and outbreak response
  • Developing national strategic plans for public health laboratory networks
  • Guiding the development or optimization of national laboratory policies
  • Developing/organizing ASM workshops/training for clinical microbiology procedures
  • Conducting laboratory assessments

Consultants participating in the ASM program are compensated for their time and reimbursed for travel-related expenses.

Applicants should have a Bachelor's degree or similar in Medical Technology, Biology or other related science and at least five years' clinical microbiology laboratory experience. Preferred qualifications include:

  • Consultant must be an ASM member - Join ASM
  • International work experience in resource-limited countries
  • Minimum availability for travel of one-week per year
  • Expertise in international laboratory standards and accreditation
  • Experience with the implementation of laboratory quality systems
  • Experience with bench training of technical staff
  • Working knowledge of use and maintenance of laboratory equipment
  • Proven ability to work in a team environment and strong interpersonal skills
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Diplomacy and cultural sensitivity
  • Computer skills, primarily MS Office
  • Valid passport

Begin the consultant application process here.