Hydrologist

This position is located in the USDA, ARS, Field Organization, Southeast Area, National Sedimentation Laboratory, Watershed Physical Processes Research Unit, in Oxford, MS.

In this position, you will to monitor, process, compile, and document data from fieldwork and laboratory experiments conducted.

Qualifications:

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

Basic Requirements:
A. Degree: physical or natural science, or engineering that included at least 30 semester hours in any combination of courses in hydrology, the physical sciences, geophysics, chemistry, engineering science, soils, mathematics, aquatic biology, atmospheric science, meteorology, geology, oceanography, or the management or conservation of water resources. The course work must have included at least 6 semester hours in calculus (including both differential and integral calculus), and at least 6 semester hours in physics. Calculus and physics, as described above, are requirements for all grade levels.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Evaluation of Experience: Acceptable experience must have included performance of scientific functions related to the study of water resources, based on and requiring a professional knowledge of related sciences and the consistent application of basic scientific principles to the solution of theoretical and practical hydrologic problems. The following is illustrative of acceptable experience: field or laboratory work that would require application of hydrologic theory and related sciences such as geology, geochemistry, geophysics, or civil engineering to making observations, taking samples, operating instruments, assembling data from source materials, analyzing and interpreting data, and reporting findings orally and in writing. In some cases, professional scientific experience that is not clearly water resource experience may be acceptable if such experience was preceded by appropriate education in hydrology or by professional hydrology experience.

Applicants with related experience in hydrology gained through earlier Federal Government employment might have gained that experience in one or more occupational series. Such series include Soil Conservation, GS-457; Forestry, GS-460; Soil Science, GS-470; Civil Engineering, GS-810; Chemistry, GS-1320; Meteorology, GS-1340; and Geology, GS-1350. Comparable non-Federal experience may be given similar credit.

AND

In addition to the basic requirements above, all applicants must also meet the following minimum qualification requirements:

GS-09
Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-09 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-07 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience assisting in research or experiment related to hydrology; collecting and analyzing scientific data related to hydrology; and operating scientific equipment used for hydrology research or experiments.
OR
Education: Completion of two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to master's degree, or master's or equivalent graduate degree, if related. Related degrees may include civil engineering, environmental engineering, geological science, earth science, or hydrology.
OR
A combination of graduate education and specialized experience as described above.

GS-11
Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-11 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-09 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience conducting and planning research or experiments related to hydrology; analyzing data focused on groundwater availability or recharge to support sustainable agroecosystems; and preparing reports of findings and assisting with peer-reviewed journal publications.
OR
Education: Completion of three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, if related. Related degrees may include civil engineering, environmental engineering, geological science, earth science, or hydrology.
OR
A combination of education and specialized experience as described above.

Other Considerations:
Motor Vehicle or Commercial Driver's License required.

Physical Demands: The assignment requires (a) some physical exertion such as occasionally moving large volumes of sediment, collecting data and installing, maintaining, and calibrating hydrologic laboratory and field equipment; and (b) spending time in an office working with hydrologic, hydraulic, and sediment data and at a computer workstation. Incumbent must have patience and the ability to work with large amounts of data from several potentially disparate sources. Average physical dexterity and attention to safety precautions are required.

Work Environment: A considerable part of the work is accomplished in the field under hot, cold, or wet weather conditions. A lesser amount of time is spent in a laboratory environment with moderate noise from experimental and data acquisition activities. Incumbent uses protective clothing such as boots, goggles, gloves, and laboratory coats when needed. Also, time will be spent in a normal office environment around other people.

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.