NIST works with industry and science to advance innovation and improve quality of life. We're looking for a Physical Scientist to join our team! This notice is issued under direct-hire authority to recruit new talent to occupations for which NIST has a severe shortage of candidates.

Duties

The Infrastructure Materials Group, part of the Materials and Structural Systems Division in the Engineering Laboratory, conducts research to predict performance of conventional and innovative materials, components, and systems composing US buildings and infrastructure throughout the service life. This is accomplished by developing a fundamental understanding of the performance properties and the degradation mechanisms when exposed to intended (real world) or accelerated (laboratory) loading environments. We are looking for a Physical Scientist to join our team! For this position, material systems being evaluated include cementitious based materials that are exposed to environmental stressors. The goal is to improve infrastructure resilience with an improved understanding and the support of standard development that addresses durability. A key focus area for the group is to address the issue of crumbling foundations due the pyrrhotite impurity in concrete aggregate. If selected, you will: Assist with method development of tests for concrete and aggregate for the presence of the pyrrhotite mineral. Contribute to evaluating mitigation methods for disrupting the cracking and mechanical degradation of concrete due to the presence of pyrrhotite. Provide hardware and software support for collecting data for test and mitigation efforts. Assist with developing instrumentation and test methodologies for accurate and reliable data collection.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Suitable for Federal employment
• Bargaining Unit Position: No

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: A. Degree in physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics. OR B. Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to the basic requirements, applicants must have at least one year (52 weeks) of experience at the GS-09 (ZP-II at NIST) grade level. Specialized experience is described as laboratory experience in characterizing materials by methods including electron or optical microscopy, analyzing data, and reporting the results. OR Master's or equivalent graduate degree. OR Combination of specialized experience and graduate level education. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done. We will credit all qualifying volunteer experience in your application. The qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook. Applicant Reconsideration

Education

This position has an education requirement. Transcripts must be submitted to validate that the education requirement has been met. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. However, an official copy will be required prior to a final offer of employment.

Education completed outside of the U.S. must be evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that it is comparable to education received in accredited institutions in the U.S. Click here to view a listing of accredited organizations from the Department of Education's website. A copy of the foreign education evaluation (containing the results with a course by course listing) is required with your application.

Contacts

• Address Materials and Structural Systems Division 100 Bureau Drive Gaithersburg, MD 20899 US
• Name: Evelyn Carter-Hopkins
• Phone: 000-000-0000
• Email: [email protected]