This scientist supports the USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station's Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center. One position will be filled in Asheville, NC. For additional information about this position, please contact Ge Sun at [email protected]

Duties

Conduct research studies on forests, grasslands and associated species with an emphasis on the southern US. Study spatial patterns of forests and grasslands across large landscapes using advanced analytical techniques and models. Develop new models and modeling approaches to create landscape models that show current and future patterns of land-use and land-cover change. Design studies, develop models, and serve as an expert in the fields of landscape ecology, spatial modeling, and development of decision-support tools. Create partnerships among researchers, forest managers, industry, and governmental and non-governmental organizations to develop research initiatives for work in southern forests, grasslands, and associated ecosystems. Synthesize research from multiple disciplines to model the effects of management practices and natural and anthropogenic disturbances across space and time and develop decision-support tools for managers and policy makers.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of three-year probationary period for research scientists hired under the Demo Authority.
• 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.

Qualifications

This is a research scientist position and is classified under the scientist career plan. Research scientists have open-ended promotion potential. Research accomplishments and their impact on the duties and responsibilities of positions are evaluated periodically. The grade level is limited only by the individual's demonstrated ability to perform research of recognized importance to science and technology. Final grade level will be determined by a peer review panel. The purpose of the initial review panel is to determine the grade level upon entry into a position. Candidates being considered for this research position should provide a list of publications for which you have been an author, co-author, or contributor. If providing curriculum vitae, please incorporate all resume requirements identified in the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section of this announcement, or submit a supplemental resume which includes all information required in addition to the curriculum vitae. To qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards. Work Experience: Your resume must clearly document the following for each block of work experience; the beginning day, month and year the work assignment started and ended; the hours worked per week; position title, and series and grade if applicable; and description of duties performed. This information must be provided for each work assignment and should be clearly documented as a separate block of time. Incomplete, inaccurate or conflicting work history may not be credited for qualifications purposes. This can result in an applicant not being considered for the position. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. To assure consideration, provide both graduate and undergraduate transcripts. Provide university course descriptions to clarify content of coursework as necessary. Selective Factor (Screen Out): This scientist must use state-of-the-art tools such as GIS, remote sensing, spatial statistics, and spatial modeling to develop innovative approaches to assessment and prediction to improve understanding of the realities and implications of ecosystem change. Experience using GIS with advanced spatial statistical analysis on regional to national level datasets is required to receive consideration for this position. Evidence of this requirement is a minimum of one year of experience or graduate level education using GIS with advanced spatial statistical analysis on regional to national level datasets. To be creditable, this experience must be clearly documented in your application. Required Education for Ecology Series: Degree in biology, or a related field of science underlying ecological research that included at least 30 semester hours in basic and applied biological sciences. These hours must have included at least 9 semester hours in ecology, and 12 semester hours in physical and mathematical sciences. In addition to meeting the basic education requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below. GS-12: One year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11). To qualify at this grade level, this specialized experience includes all of the following: Conducting the full cycle of scientific research (including identifying research topics, defining study objectives, organizing and conducting the research, interpreting the results, and presenting the findings in the form of reports, demonstrations, manuscripts, and other appropriate technology transfer activities) in one or more of the following areas:(1) Managing forests or grasslands for an array of ecosystem services and predicting the effects of disturbances to meet restoration and management goals;(2) Improving understanding of wildlife responses to silvicultural or natural disturbances affecting vegetation composition, habitat structure, and food resources, and improving techniques for wildlife inventory and monitoring.;(3) Developing the ability to conduct successful species and ecosystem restoration and genetic conservation of tree species including developing methods for restoring species facing potential extirpation. Using research data to develop and test methods for predicting and controlling changes in the structure and composition of forests or grasslands in response to natural disturbances at multiple spatial and temporal scales, and/or developing and refining management approaches to naturally sustain or restore biological diversity. Disseminating research findings at conferences or scientific meetings and publishing results in peer-reviewed journals. --OR-- Conferred Ph.D. degree that included scientific research in areas related to the work of the position as described above and/or includes coursework in areas such as: forestry, botany, ecological modeling, forest management or silviculture, landscape ecology, disturbance ecology, fire ecology, biogeography,; effects of climate change on natural ecosystems, fish and wildlife sciences, conservation biology. GS-13: One year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12). Specialized experience at this level is defined as: Conducting a diversity or body of research in [insert scientific area or areas] as a Principal Investigator or project member on multiple studies that include the full cycle of scientific research (i.e. identifying research topics, defining study objectives, organizing and conducting the research, interpreting the results, and presenting the findings in the form of reports, demonstrations, manuscripts, and other appropriate technology transfer activities as it pertains to: (1) Managing forests or grasslands for an array of ecosystem services and predicting the effects of disturbances on meeting restoration and management goals; (2) Improving understanding of fish or wildlife responses to landscape changes affecting vegetation composition, habitat structure, and food resources, and improving techniques for inventory and monitoring; (3) Developing the ability to conduct successful species and ecosystem restoration and genetic conservation of species at risk including developing methods for restoring species facing potential extirpation. Using research data to develop and test methods for predicting and controlling landscape-level changes in the structure and composition of forest and grassland ecosystems in response to natural disturbances at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Developing and disseminating research findings in collaboration with resource managers and planners for presentation at conferences or scientific meetings and publishing results in peer-reviewed journals. 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

See above for education requirements.

Contacts

• Address USDA Forest Service HRM Contact Center DO NOT MAIL IN APPLICATIONS, SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT. Albuquerque, NM 87109 US
• Name: HRM Contact Center
• Phone: 1-877-372-7248 X2
• Email: [email protected]