This position serves as a Biological Science Lab Technician within Research Service at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in Palo Alto, CA. The primary purpose of the position is to be responsible for conducting laboratory experiments concerned with cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying breast cancer metastasis and recurrence.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** NOTE: This is a TERM appointment (9/30/2025). Term appointments are non-status, nonpermanent appointments of limited duration (more than 1 year but not more than 4). Term employees are eligible to earn leave and generally have the same benefits as permanent employees including health and life insurance, within-grade increases and Federal Employees Retirement System and Thrift Savings Plan coverage. Term appointments may be extended without further competition (up to the 4 year maximum). The appointment to a Term position does not confer eligibility for promotion or reassignment to other positions or the ability to be non-competitively converted to permanent employment. Participates with the investigator in planning the procedures and methods to be used in the conduct of experiments on various protocols Assists in the development of new analytical techniques and/or procedures that enhance the reliability of results Participates actively in establishing methods, determining experimental design, and performing analysis Prepares and conducts biological research, including but not limited to cell culture and animal surgical procedures, for studies of breast cancer metastasis Processes samples obtained from experimental cells and animals for downstream immunological, biochemical, and molecular analyses Develops, organizes and executes protocols. Prepare tissue samples and performs immunohistochemical and biochemical analysis on cell and tissue samples Performs microscopic analyses, including light, fluorescent, and confocal microscopy, on cell and tissue samples Performs Western blotting to confirm and determine protein expression levels of protein of interest Conducts mRNA, DNA and protein measurements Resolves experimental data mathematically, including kinetic analyses Researches library sources for information on the theoretical and scientific aspects of experiments Identifies commonly encountered or expected results Acquires new skills in animal procedures, including surgical and behavioral testing procedures as needed by the project Maintains and controls laboratory records, including records describing results pertaining to tests, records of testing and examination procedures carried out in the laboratory and records of techniques and equipment particular to chemical analysis of biological substances or to the study of biochemical relationships Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday from 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not authorized Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

Specialized Experience: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-6). Experience must have been related to the work of the position for which application is made. The specialized experience required for some positions in this series is normally work performed in a controlled environment. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Research activity or control program work; nursery work that required the growing and maintenance of plants in a controlled environment; work comparable to that with a large dairy farm where production records, animal environment, and sanitary conditions were kept in accordance with modern dairy practice; farming experience that was not performed in a controlled environment, or experience as a laborer who was not responsible for planning and scheduling his/her own work, but only performed assigned tasks, would not qualify as specialized experience. Specialized experience is practical technical laboratory experience, preferably including experience conducting laboratory experiments using cellular and molecular mechanisms related to underlying breast cancer metastasis and recurrence. Examples of specialized experience include: experience utilizing practical knowledge of molecular biology and immunohistochemical and biochemical methods and techniques; experience processing research data using specialized computer software; lab experience in animal handling; and/or experience in cell culture and light and fluorescence microscopy. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. ~OR~ Education: Successfully completed one (1) full year of graduate education (or 18 semester hours) or an internship in course matter that must include courses directly related to the work of the Biological Science Lab Technician. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses directly related to the work of the Biological Science Lab Technician. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: BiologyCreative ThinkingResearchWritten Communication IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. 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. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring walking or bending and prolonged periods of standing. Laboratory experiments or operations require agility or dexterity such as exceptional hand/eye coordination. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

NOTE: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Palo Alto ORD VISN 21 3801 Miranda Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94304 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]