Jobs › Abbott

Sr. Clinical Laboratory Scientist - 3rd Shift

Abbott · WI · $26.50–$53.00 an hour · Full time

Posted Aug 24, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

Apply at Abbott

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a quality improvement you led in a lab. How did you measure whether it worked?

What they are checking: Whether they drive real improvements and prove them with data, not just suggest ideas.

How do you train a new scientist so they are both fast and careful?

What they are checking: Whether they can teach procedures and the reasoning behind them, since training staff is part of this role.

Tell me about a time you contributed to a project outside of routine testing.

What they are checking: Whether they show the initiative the posting asks for beyond daily bench work.

How do you keep safety habits strong on an overnight shift?

What they are checking: Whether they model safe practice with chemicals and biological samples when fewer people are watching.

How do you stay sharp and keep your energy steady over a 10 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. schedule?

What they are checking: Whether they have a sustainable approach to overnight work that protects accuracy.

What would you do

On a third shift Tuesday through Friday, you may be the most senior scientist in the room. How do you handle a technical problem with no lead on site?

What they are checking: Whether they can make sound decisions independently and know when a call to leadership is required.

You see a peer cut a corner on documentation during a busy night. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they hold peers to standards as a senior scientist without becoming adversarial.

About the work

Walk me through how you troubleshoot an instrument that is producing inconsistent results.

What they are checking: Whether they troubleshoot systematically across reagents, calibration and hardware, which the posting calls out as senior leadership.

How do you decide whether a patient result is ready to report or needs more review?

What they are checking: Their judgment in interpreting results and knowing what patterns call for repeat testing.

What do CLIA and CAP require that most affects your daily work?

What they are checking: Whether they understand regulatory requirements as daily practice, not just inspection preparation.

How do you handle a quality control failure that might affect results already reported?

What they are checking: Whether they know how to look back, assess impact and escalate for possible corrected reports.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Abbott from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Abbott.

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries. JOB DESCRIPTION: Position Overview The Senior Clinical Laboratory Scientist will be responsible for performing moderate and high complexity laboratory testing on patient specimens, interpreting and reporting patient results, performing quality control and quality assurance procedures, assisting Laboratory Leadership with advanced laboratory duties, and complying with all applicable local, state, and federal laboratory requirements. The Senior Clinical Laboratory Scientist will continually display excellent initiative in all aspects of their work, contribute to projects and discussions in addition to daily laboratory testing and consistently performing to high standards. Leadership is demonstrated in technical troubleshooting of laboratory instrumentation and processes as well as laboratory quality improvements, health and safety, and training of laboratory staff. Essential Duties include but are not limited to : • Perform moderate and highly complex laboratory tests, procedures, and analyses according to the laboratory’s standard operating procedures with minimal supervision. • Perform, review, and document laboratory quality control procedures. • Identify potential problems, determine potential solutions, and take appropriate action in order to maintain a high level of quality in test processes and results. • Achieve and maintain competency on laboratory tasks. • Participate in research, validation, and/or implementation of new procedures and/or technologies. • Maintain stringent standards for quality, by identifying, investigating, correcting, and documenting any issues which might adversely impact the quality of test results and/or employee safety, and communicating these to the appropriate management representatives as necessary for resolution. • Determine appropriate time allocation between daily test processing needs and project needs in a high quality, efficient and effective manner with minimal direction. • Demonstrate and maintain effective communication with internal employees, managers, customers, and cross-functional teams. • Model behaviors that promote high productivity, quality and maintaining TAT. • Uphold company mission and values through accountability, innovation, integrity, quality, and teamwork. • Demonstrate adaptability by embracing changes in the laboratory with a positive attitude. • Support and comply with the company’s Quality Management System policies and procedures. • Maintain regular and reliable attendance. • Act with an inclusive mindset. • Work a designated schedule. • Ability to work overtime, as needed. • Ability to lift up to 40 pounds for approximately 25% of a typical working day. • Ability to work seated for approximately 50% of a typical working day. Ability to work standing for approximately 50% of a typical working day. • Ability to work on a mobile device, tablet, or in front of a computer screen and/or perform typing for approximately 75% of a typical working day. • Ability to perform technical work up to 80% of a typical working day and administrative work up to 20% of a typical working day. • Ability to grasp with both hands; pinch with thumb and forefinger; turn with hand/arm; reach above shoulder height. • Ability to use various types of laboratory equipment and perform repetitive motions. • Ability to comply with any applicable personal protective equipment requirements. • Comply with safety and hazard regulations as outlined in the clinical laboratory safety manual. • Ability to use near vision to view samples at close range. • May be exposed to hazardous materials, tissue specimens, blood or blood products and instruments with moving parts, lasers, heating and freezing elements, and high-speed centrifugation. • Observe principles of data security and patient confidentiality. Maintain ethical standards in the performance of testing and in interactions with patients, co-workers, and other health care professionals. • Travel between Exact Sciences sites may be required. • Perform job duties as expected of a Clinical Laboratory Scientist. • Perform training and competency tasks with laboratory personnel on current and new procedures. • Provide leadership in daily activities as a shift senior scientist. • Assist the laboratory supervisors including, but not limited to, writing, and reviewing procedures, documents, and forms, and assisting in developing the troubleshooting and decision-making skills of the Clinical Laboratory Scientists. • Oversee the activities and provide guidance and constructive feedback to clinical laboratory scientists I and II. • Ability to recognize deviations from the accepted practice and perform deep root cause analysis. • Professional demeanor and behavior in all work-related interactions. • Ability to respond to stakeholder requests in a professional and timely manner. Minimum Qualifications • Associate degree in a laboratory science (chemical or biological science) or medical laboratory technology from an accredited institution or equivalent laboratory training and experience as defined: • 60 semester hours or equivalent from an accredited institution that, at a minimum, includes either 24 semester hours of medical laboratory technology courses, OR 24 semester hours of science courses that include six semester hours of chemistry, six semester hours of biology, and 12 semester hours of chemistry, biology or medical laboratory technology in any combination. • 3+ years of high complexity clinical testing experience in a clinical laboratory setting. • Demonstrated strong professionalism and leadership skills. • Demonstrated intermediate level project management skills. • Demonstrated strong technical skills and professional working knowledge of job industry. • Demonstrated ability to perform the Essential Duties of the position with or without accommodation. • Authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship. Preferred Qualifications • Bachelor's degree in a chemical, biological or clinical laboratory science or medical technology from an accredited institution. • For degree not in those listed above: 90 semester hours which must include 16 semester hours in chemistry (6 of which must be in inorganic chemistry); 16 semester hours in biology courses and 3 semester hours of math. • Certification from one of the nationally recognized certification agencies such as ASCP or state licensure that has been determined to be equivalent. • Experience with laboratory automation and laboratory information systems. • Experience in molecular biology techniques and principles. The base pay for this position is $26.50 – $53.00/hour In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted. JOB FAMILY: Operations Quality DIVISION: ONCO Cancer Diagnostics LOCATION: United States > Madison : 650 Forward Dr ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS: WORK SHIFT: Standard TRAVEL: Not specified MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE: No SIGNIFICANT WORK ACTIVITIES: Continuous standing for prolonged periods (more than 2 consecutive hours in an 8 hour day) Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities/Women/Individuals with Disabilities/Protected Veterans. EEO is the Law link - English: http://webstorage.abbott.com/common/External/EEO_English.pdf EEO is the Law link - Espanol: http://webstorage.abbott.com/common/External/EEO_Spanish.pdf

Apply at Abbott

More senior clinical laboratory scientist roles