How to hire a virologist

How to hire a virologist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step virologist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a virologist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new virologist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a virologist, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A virologist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, virologists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of virologists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Virologist	Description	Hourly rate
   Virologist	Microbiologists study microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, algae, fungi, and some types of parasites. They try to understand how these organisms live, grow, and interact with their environments.	$23-58
   Quality Control Microbiologist	A quality control microbiologist is responsible for conducting quality check procedures on laboratory investigations and studies, ensuring that the outputs adhere to the strict standards and internal regulations. Quality control microbiologists analyze raw materials and components, inspect the efficiency of laboratory tools and equipment, and validate data... Show more	$18-37
   Public Health Microbiologist	Public health administrators are like health administrators, except that their focus is on population health. When working at an office, outreach is a critical part of their work... Show more	$21-43

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Cell Culture
   • Immunology
   • Bsl-2
   • Research Projects
   • Sops
   • FDA
   • Tissue Culture
   • Elispot
   • Extraction
   • Assay Development
   • Real-Time PCR
   • Infectious Disease
   • Clinical Trials
   • Elisa

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead project for antivirals against HIV-1.
   • Process, analyze and upload HTS data that lead to the discovery of new structural classes of small molecules.
   • Perform RNA/DNA extraction for viral load of EBV and CMV assays on clinical specimens.
   • Perform mouse and rhesus CTL and ELISPOT assays.
   • Perform human ELISPOT and epitope mapping assays in support of clinical HIV vaccine studies.
   • Design constructs, perform DNA cloning, DNA/RNA extraction and quantification via UV spectrophotometry.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your virologist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A virologist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, virologists' average salary in south dakota is 55% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level virologists 60% less than senior-level virologists.
   • Certifications. A virologist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a virologist's salary.

   Average virologist salary

   $77,808yearly

   $37.41 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level virologist salary

   $49,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a virologist job description

   A job description for a virologist role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a virologist job description:

   Virologist job description example

   **Overview**
   
   ALG, proud to be a part of Element, has an opportunity for a **Virologist II** to join our rapidly growing Life Sciences group. Element's Life Sciences group supports developers and manufacturers in the antimicrobial, food and nutraceutical, medical device, and pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. We provide personalized testing solutions and regulatory consulting support to validate the safety and efficacy of our clients' products at every stage of development, production and market release.
   
   The **Virologist II** performs and supports testing such as virus load estimation by different methods, disinfectant studies, PCR, virology, assays, SDS PAGE, BCA, Cytotoxicity assays, cell banks, tissue of mammalian cells, sterile techniques and molecular biology techniques such as DNA, RNA, and protein extraction and qualification.
   
   **Responsibilities**
   
   + Performs, evaluates, and interprets a wide range of virology assays including basic analytical titrations of virus stocks, TCID50 and plaque assay in accordance with SOP and protocols.
   
   + Performs PCR/RT-PCR, analysis of DNA and protein, ELISA and other biochemical assays
   
   + Performs SDS PAGE, BCA, Cytotoxicity assays.
   
   + Executes new methodologies with the guidance of Director, Virology and Molecular Services. Aids in report (data) generation as needed.
   
   + Responsible for generating and maintaining strict documentation of raw data to ensure a high level of scientific integrity in accordance with regulatory requirements.
   
   + Performs general and supplemental laboratory duties when requested by
   
   **Skills / Qualifications**
   
   + Minimum, BS degree in biological sciences or related field of study is required
   
   + The Virologist II must have 1+ years' experience of pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry experience or experience in a microbial controlled environment
   
   + Hands-on experience in a cell culture/PCR/virology lab is required. Experience in a GMP is highly desirable
   
   + Excellent organizational skills along with good written and verbal communication skills in English
   
   + Proficiency in GMP's and strong computer skills\#LI-TK1
   
   **Company Overview**
   
   Element is one of the fastest growing testing, inspection and certification businesses in the world. Globally we have more than 6,500 brilliant minds operating from 200 sites across 30 countries. Together we share an ambitious purpose to 'Make tomorrow safer than today'.
   
   When failure in use is not an option, we help customers make certain that their products, materials, processes and services are safe, compliant and fit for purpose. From early R&D, through complex regulatory approvals and into production, our global laboratory network of scientists, engineers, and technologists support customers to achieve assurance over product quality, sustainable outcomes, and market access.
   
   While we are proud of our global reach, working at Element feels like being part of a smaller company. We empower you to take charge of your career, and reward excellence and integrity with growth and development.
   
   Industries across the world depend on our care, attention to detail and the absolute accuracy of our work. The role we have to play in creating a safer world is much bigger than our organization.
   
   **Diversity Statement**
   
   At Element, we always take pride in putting our people first. We are an equal opportunity employer that recognizes diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our Vision of becoming "the world's most trusted testing partner".
   
   All suitably qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective work related criteria and without regard for the following: age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, race, religion, responsibility of dependents, sexual orientation, or gender identity or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws.
   
   **Job Locations** _US-CA-Concord_
   
   **ID** _2022-9236_

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find virologists for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your virologist job on Zippia to find and recruit virologist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting virologists requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new virologist

   Once you've found the virologist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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