Research Microbiologist

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Summary

What General Information Do I Need To Know About This Position?

This is a term appointment not to exceed 13 months with possible extensions up to a total of 4 years without further competition. Appointment to this position will not convey permanent status in the Federal service.

Salary: $64,649.00 (Step 01) to $84,049.00 (Step 10);

NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01.

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Responsibilities

As a Research Microbiologist within the Columbia Environmental Research Science Center some of your specific duties will include:

• Conducts research and bioinformatic data analyses on microbial ecology and microbial functional genomics in association with aquatic organisms or ecosystems and/or nitrogen cycling.
• Serves as independent member or leader of research teams that consist of multidisciplinary scientists from multiple agencies.
• Prepares proposals, reports to funding agencies, and scientific journal publications.
• Provides technical assistance to DOI agencies and to other Federal, State, and private interests as appropriate.
• Operates a government owned or leased vehicle as an incidental driver.

Physical Requirements: The work assignments normally involve 90 percent laboratory or office and 10 percent field effort. The laboratory and office work is primarily sedentary. Occasional lifting and carrying necessary supplies may be required. Some work requires periods of walking, standing, bending, climbing, stretching, reaching or driving a motor vehicle.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office, laboratory, and/or in the field. The office is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. Temperature and weather extremes may be encountered in the performance of the outdoor work. Field and laboratory duties may require the use of special protective gear. The incumbent is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow workers, or property with which entrusted.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel up to 3 nights per month for this position.

Supervisory status

No

Promotion Potential

15

• Job family (Series)

0403 Microbiology

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Key Requirements:

• Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
• Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
• Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year probationary period.
• More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.
• Selectee must provide a valid state driver's license & safe driving record.
• Selectee subject to successful completion of a pre-employment medical exam.

Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?

• This vacancy is limited to the first 50 applications received and will close at midnight Eastern Time on the day this application limit is reached regardless of the closing date specified in this vacancy announcement. Any application received prior to midnight Eastern Time of the day the application limit is reached will be accepted and considered. You are strongly encouraged to submit all required supporting documents at the time of application should the vacancy close earlier than stated in this announcement due to the applicant limit being reached. Supporting documents will not be accepted once the vacancy announcement closes.
• Because this position requires travel for official business, the selectee will be required to apply for a charge card within 30 calendar days of appointment. Individuals who have delinquent account balances from a previous Government charge card will be required to satisfy their existing obligation before a new card can be issued.
• You will be required to operate a government-owned or -leased vehicle in the performance of your official duties. Applicants for this position must meet the following requirements: (1) possess a valid State license, and (2) possess a safe driving record. If selected, you will be required to provide proof of a valid State license & a copy of your driving record.
• Taking and passing a pre-employment medical examination at Federal expense is required due to the physical demands of this job

Requirements can be found in the "Qualifications" Section below.

Qualifications

Requirements (Continued)

• A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
• Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

Qualifications

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic education requirement for Research Microbiologist, all grade levels.

A. Degree in Microbiology; or in biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included at least 20 semester hours in microbiology and subjects related to the study of microorganisms, and 20 semester hours in the physical and mathematical sciences combining course work in organic chemistry or biochemistry, physics, and college algebra, or their equivalent.

B. Combination of of education and experience that includes courses equivalent to a major in microbiology, biology, chemistry or basic medical science that included courses as described, plus appropriate experience of additional education. The education or combined education and experience must be comparable in type, scope and thoroughness to that acquired through successful completion of a 4-year course of study as described in "A" above.

For GS-11:

In addition to the basic education requirements described above, applicants must meet one of the following:

Possess one year of specialized experience at or equal to the GS-9 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of experience at the GS-9 level may include: 1) participation in the planning and execution of research to understand composition, diversity, and function of soil, sediment, and animal microbiomes. Animals of particular interest include fish and freshwater mussels; 2) contributing microbiological knowledge to explore how microbes mediate nitrogen cycling in the environment and bodies of aquatic organisms; 3) performing established, standardized methods, tests and analyses on microbial communities from soil, water, or animal tissues; including producing and analyzing genomic and transcriptomic datasets and related bioinformatics; and 4) contributing to descriptive scientific reports on the results of research activities for publication and administrative use and attending scientific meetings to present and exchange information within the scientific community. For examples 1-4, assignments were made with the objectives, priorities, and deadlines defined. The work was planned and carried out independently in accordance with proven techniques, methods, and practices. Controversial use of approaches or modifications of standard procedures were typically discussed with a designated person before being carried out.

OR possess a master's or equivalent graduate level degree in a directly related field of study.

OR possess a combination of successfully completed progressive graduate level education, as described above, that is beyond the first year of graduate study and professional experience, as described above.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

• Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g. Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
• Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/how-foreign-education-evaluated-federal-jobs .