Research Geologist (Sedimentologist) GS-1350-12/13 (MP-EG)

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

For a GS-12- Salary: $84,118 (Step 01) to $109,358 (Step 10); 

For a GS-13- Salary: $100,027 (Step 01) to $130,039 (Step 10)

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

This is an interdisciplinary position and is being advertised concurrently with the following announcement:

Open to all U.S. citizens under: DEN-2020-0170

Qualifications:

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

  1. Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in geology. In addition to the geology course work included in the degree, it must also have included or been supplemented by 20 additional semester hours in any combination of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological science, structural, chemical, civil, mining or petroleum engineering, computer science, planetary geology, comparative planetology, geophysics, meteorology, hydrology, oceanography, physical geography, marine geology, and cartography.

  **OR

  1. A combination of education and experience-course work as shown in "A" above (24 semester hours or the equivalent in geology plus 20 additional semester hours or the equivalent in any combination of courses as specified in "A" above), plus appropriate experience and/or additional education for a total of 4 years. 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-12:
  
  ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:  In addition to the Basic Education Requirement listed above, applicants must meet A, B or C for GS-12 grade level research positions: 
  
  A.  Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Geology or an appropriate field of study that provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work, OR

  SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE

  B. One year of appropriate professional experience in geology that is equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service. Examples of such experience could include designing and executing complex geologic studies that involved intensive investigations into geologic processes. This work typically involved conventional methods and techniques though it required adapting methods to the problems at hand and interpreting findings in terms of their scientific significance. At this level, geologists have a very good knowledge of the fundamental principles of geology and their application, and the ability to independently perform scientific work of considerable difficulty. The applicant must have demonstrated knowledge and the technical ability to conduct research into how sedimentary processes affect various elements of petroleum systems.

  OR
  
  C.  Combination of successfully completed graduate level education beyond the second year of study in an appropriate field of study and appropriate specialized experience, as described above.

  For the GS-13:

  In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must have one year of appropriate professional experience in geology that is equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service. Examples of such experience could include planning, executing, and reporting on original or ongoing geologic studies requiring innovative approaches to solving new problems that address geologic processes operating in petroleum systems. The complexity of this work typically required extensive modification and adaptation of standard procedures, methods, and techniques, and the development of new methods and techniques to address geologic problems for which guidelines or precedents were not applicable. At this level, Geologists have extensive knowledge of the principles of geology and highly developed ability in their application, and wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment to perform scientific work of marked difficulty and responsibility. The applicant must have demonstrated knowledge and the technical ability to understand and integrate various elements of petroleum systems into sedimentary research that focuses on geologic energy resources. Additionally, the applicant must have the demonstrated ability to apply global tectonic, sedimentary, facies analysis, and sequence-stratigraphic concepts to regional basin analysis and evaluation of petroleum systems.

  You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position.

Responsibilities:

As a Research Geologist (Sedimentologist) within the Central Energy Resources Science Center, some of your specific duties will include:

• Evaluating and conducting research on sedimentary processes that impact petroleum generation, migration, and accumulation in priority basins.
• Collaborating with other USGS Energy Resource Program (ERP) scientists to support ongoing efforts to further our understanding of petroleum systems and undiscovered geologic energy resources. 
• Participating as a member of an interdisciplinary team of USGS ERP scientists that conducts undiscovered geologic resource assessments.
• Preparing, completing, documenting and determining results of research through a series of presentations and peer-reviewed publications which advance the knowledge of sedimentary processes and petroleum systems.