This position is with the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, KS. 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 may be determined by a peer review panel.

Duties

Provides leadership and research skills to contribute to the identification, description and characterization of the effects of foreign animal diseases in livestock; Develop molecular, clinical and post-mortem techniques to understand virus-host interactions; Develop methods or therapies to minimize or avoid infection and disease; Organize research, establishing research priorities, furnishing leadership in planning research projects; Communicate and publish research findings through publications, presentations, conferences, and meetings with stakeholders.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check
• 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/.
• Successful completion of a three year probationary period.
• Due to the risk of exposure to diseases within this level 3 laboratory a drug test prior to employment is required.

Qualifications

This position is with the Zoonotic and Emerging Disease Research Unit of NBAF, One of the premier laboratories in the world for the diagnosis and prevention of animal disease. The Unit conducts basic and applied research on the pathogenesis, prevention, and diagnosis of arthropod-borne foreign animal diseases in food-producing animals. Work Environment: The work involves everyday risks and discomforts with risk of irritant chemicals and biological agents when visiting research laboratories, facility operations and animal facilities. Work may require working beyond normal work hours during an emergency and entering biocontainment areas may be required. Conditions of Employment: Drug Test Required. SAC and full background investigation required for positions working with BSL-3 (or higher) agents, or in BSL-3/BSL-4 facilities. Department of Justice (DOJ) Security Risk Assessment (SRA) approval is required. Respirator fitting and certification is required. To comply with USDA personnel security requirements and requirements of the Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP) for access to information and areas with Biological Select Agents and Toxins (BSAT), including Tier One Select Agents at NBAF, the incumbent must meet the following: Pre-employment and random testing of substances of abuse Participation in and adherence to the facility's Occupational Health Program Participation in and adherence to the facility's Personal Reliability Program The ability to obtain/maintain favorably adjudicated Background Investigations or Security clearances (required by USDA) This position would be classified as Non-Critical-Sensitive (Tier 3) requiring eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level The incumbent also has access to spaces housing biological select agents or toxins and other hazardous materials, with the ability to independently compromise or exploit that access. The position has unlimited access to and control over unclassified information, which may include private, proprietary, or other controlled unclassified information where the unauthorized disclosure of that information could cause exceptionally grave damage to national security. The mission of NBAF includes research, diagnosis, and training for animal diseases foreign to the United States (U.S.) for the purpose of protecting American agriculture and domestic food sources from their potentially devastating effects. NBAF is vital to successfully protecting U.S. agriculture from the intentional or non-intentional introduction of foreign animal diseases such as Foot-and-Mouth disease. The position supports the biocontainment facilities and may require entry into biosafety level (BSL) 3, 3 enhanced, 3 Ag and BSL-4 labs. The incumbent must demonstrate the physical and psychological capability to conduct normal duties that are appropriate to their position. To prevent the transmission of disease out of biocontainment and for retention of the position, the incumbent must meet the following medical standards in a pre-employment medical examination conducted after the receipt of a preliminary job offer and on a periodic basis: Ability to shower out of biocontainment one or more times per day Not have any skin condition which would prevent showering one or more times per day Body piercings must be able to be removed prior to entry External medical assist devices must have the ability to be removed prior to entering or not impede the ability to enter biocontainment, and the individual must still be able to shower out safely without assistance Ability to follow instructions regarding decontamination from biocontainment Any medical condition which could create an unsafe environment for the individual or his/her co-workers, such as: insufficient control of a medical disorder which could result in sudden loss of consciousness; and inadequate vision and hearing required for safety in a laboratory environment Medical confidentiality will be maintained by the examining physician and only fitness for duty determination will be indicated. The incumbent will be required to pass periodic fitness for duty physicals. In addition, a medical clearance will be required in the event that it becomes necessary to enter an area where an air purifying respirator or other respiratory protection is required. A baseline blood sample may be required for employees entering and working in the biocontainment facilities. For the health and safety of the incumbent and to prevent the spread of disease, immunization against diseases being studied at NBAF may be required where the vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for safety and effectiveness under the provision of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as amended 21 USC 321-392.Due to the contagious nature to livestock of Foot-and-Mouth disease, and other diseases under study at NBAF, biosafety protocols specify a personal quarantine for employees working on specific infectious agents in designated areas of NBAF. As a condition for employment, all personnel entering these areas at NBAF shall not be in contact with specific susceptible animals and their premises away from NBAF for a period of five (5) days after leaving the area. Currently, restricted species are cattle, sheep, goats, deer, other ruminants, and swine. Contact with horses, birds (agricultural and pet birds) and rabbits are normally permitted, but restrictions may be placed on staff working with or near infectious agents affecting these species. Restricted livestock or other restricted animals may not be housed on the premises where the employee lives and where the quarantine cannot be enforced. Employees who violate this requirement may be removed from employment or subject to other disciplinary actions. Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Specialized Experience In addition to meeting the basic requirements described above, applicants must also meet additional qualification requirements as stated below. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. GS-14: Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-14 level are: Experience handling, treating, and collecting samples from livestock species in compliance with US government animal welfare regulations; Experience performing infection, vaccination, necropsies, evaluation of clinical signs of infection; Experience with accomplishments in veterinary pathology and virus-host interactions as demonstrated in scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals, books or similar scientific literature. GS-15: Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-14 level of this position are: Reputation that serves as a recruiting tool to your organization; Experience in research that has led to international recognition as a technical authority and leader in your field; Research that has led to awards, honors, or recognition from major national and international organizations. 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.

Education

In addition to meeting the Specialized Experience as stated above, applicants must also meet the minimum education requires as follows:

Basic Requirement

Minimum qualification requirements are found in the OPM Qualification Standards Operating Manual for General Schedule Positions. Applicants must meet the basic requirements for the 701 series listed below in addition to the minimum qualifications. College transcripts are required to be considered eligible and Curriculum Vitae's are recommended to demonstrate research experience.

Degree: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree, i.e., Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD), obtained at a school or college of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA). The AVMA web site, http://www.avma.org (external link), has a listing of all AVMA-accredited veterinary medical schools.

OR

Graduates of foreign veterinary medical schools that are not accredited by the AVMA Council on Education (Refer to AVMA web site, http://www.avma.org (external link)for information about schools in this category) must meet one of the following requirements.

• Proof of certification of their final transcript by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG)
• Possession of a permanent, full, and unrestricted license to practice veterinary medicine in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States that includes successful completion of the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) or its predecessors, the National Board Examination (NBE) and the Clinical Competency Test (CCT).
• Proof that the education obtained in a foreign veterinary medical program is equivalent to that gained in a veterinary medical program that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education. Under this provision, equivalency is established only if an AVMA-accredited veterinary medical school or college accepts the graduate's final transcript from the foreign veterinary medical school at full value for placement into an advanced degree, postgraduate educational program, or training program (e.g. residency or graduate program).

Graduates of foreign veterinary medical programs must also provide proof of proficiency in the English language by successfully completing one of the nationally and internationally recognized examinations that incorporate assessments of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Examples of examinations that assess mastery of the English language are shown below:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Minimum scores for the TOEFL are 560 for the paper-based version; 220 for the computer-based version; or overall score of 83 for the internet-based version (including 26 or higher in speaking, 26 or higher in listening, and 17 or higher in writing). For the computer-based and paper-based test versions, applicants must also complete the Test of Spoken English (TSE) and the Test of Written English (TWE). Minimum required scores are 55 for the TSE and 5.5 for the TWE;
• Academic tests (listening, writing, and speaking) offered by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 7.0, with at least 7.0 in speaking, 6.5 in listening, and 6.0 in writing;

OR

• Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL). Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 70, with at least 60 in speaking, 60 in listening, and 50 in writing.

Contacts

• Address Agricultural Research Service 2150 Centre Avenue Building D, Suite 300 Fort Collins, CO 80526 US
• Name: Kent Amott
• Phone: 970-492-7037
• Email: [email protected]