What are the responsibilities and job description for the Biologist position at USDA?
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Requirements
Conditions of Employment
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 Requirement
Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR
Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:
TRANSCRIPTS Are Required
Education
Please see above for education qualification requirement information.
Additional information
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a US Citizen or US National.
- Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
- Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
- Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
- Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
- Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/
- All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions.
- Must be physically fit and able to do activities involving lifting, carrying, pushing, building, climbing, and walking under conditions ranging from easy to adverse.
- Must also be capable of performing arduous field assignments such as conducting surveys, trapping, and tracking on foot in rugged terrain under adverse weather conditions.
- Must have the ability to work safely and competently in field, pen, laboratory, shop, and office environments.
- Animal handling may require a degree of physical agility and dexterity as well as applied restraint.
- Skilled operation of government owned or leased vehicles in remote locations of various types of terrain under adverse weather conditions.
- The work will require average agility and dexterity, and the ability to operate a computer for long periods.
- Work is primarily performed in an office setting. The candidate will have the option to travel occasionally to discuss collaborative research and present findings at conferences, workshops and meetings with collaborators.
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 Requirement
Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR
Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:
- Independently performed, optimized, and troubleshot the real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) assay for the detection of prions.
- Designed, planned, implemented, and published research studies in the following fields or in related fields: prion disease, zoology, neurobiology, neurogenesis, neuropathology, and/or neurodegeneration.
- Maintained a BSL-2 laboratory for prion disease research including procurement and maintenance of instruments, development and implementation of laboratory protocols, designation of space for efficient and effective workflow, and communication of laboratory capacity to stakeholders.
TRANSCRIPTS Are Required
- This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified.
- This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university.
Education
Please see above for education qualification requirement information.
Additional information
- Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
- Conduct of laboratory studies will require standing for long periods of time.
- At times, working long hours for extended periods will be necessary.
- First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected.
- Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty will be the responsibility of the selected employee.
- Worksite Information: This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements. Additional information regarding ad hoc, occasional, or reoccurring telework may be obtained at a later time from the hiring manager or program during the hiring process.
- Help Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
