This position is located in the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, Kansas. In this position, you will be participating in microbiological research related to animal zoonotic viruses; performing protein biochemical assays, molecular techniques, or virological assays and analyses; and operating standard microbiological laboratory equipment.

Duties

Plans and carries out individual experiments within prescribed approaches. Reviews pertinent scientific literature and selects methods and procedures most appropriate for the research goals, including modifying protocols when necessary to optimize the collection of usable data. Performs a range of experiments which are designed to provide answers for the specific research problem areas. Devises and recommends alternative methods of standardized analysis to solve problems. Maintains official laboratory notebooks recording the methods and procedures used, any modifications of methodology applied, and the results. Prepares results of findings from experiments conducted, including initial interpretation of significance to the overall project, for inclusion in manuscripts, technical reports, oral presentations, and progress reports. Evaluates data and performs appropriate calculations and analyses. Performs tests and analyses by applying established analytical methods and procedures or by operating an automated analytical system according to established operating procedures. Maintains equipment and instrumentation in top working condition, performing routine preventative maintenance and minor repairs, and promptly reporting signs of malfunction or need for major repairs.

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.
• 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 https://www.e-verify.gov

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Time in grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. Basic Requirements: Degree: microbiology; or biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included at least 20 semester hours in microbiology and other subjects related to the study of microorganisms, and 20 semester hours in the physical and mathematical sciences combining course work in organic chemistry or biochemistry, physics, and college algebra, or their equivalent. OR Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in microbiology, biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included courses as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Graduate Education: Microbiology, or specific area of study such as cell biology, biochemistry, virology, immunology, serology, microbial genetics, or specific applied fields of microbiology such as clinical and public health microbiology, etc. Graduate study in related fields such as experimental pathology, infectious diseases, epidemiology, biochemistry, animal physiology or genetics, and insect disease vector biology and/or control, may also be pertinent, provided it has direct application to microbiological work. Evaluation of Education: Microbiology is a broad field of science encompassing a number of scientific disciplines or areas of science, the fields in which this science is applied, and related fields where the work is concerned with or involves microbiology. The scientific disciplines or areas of this science include bacteriology, immunology, serology, tissue culture, virology, and similar disciplines or areas of science. The applied fields include environmental, food, dairy, soil, industrial, public health, clinical, and agricultural microbiology, and similar areas in which microbiology is applied. Related fields include taxonomy and systematics, plant, animal, or human physiology or pathology, infectious diseases, epidemiology, ecology, and similar areas of science where the work is directly related or applies to microbiology. Except where the course work deals with a limited and specific segment of the science, where it might be limited in usefulness, most of the work, including that dealing with the development and use of microbiological methods, procedures, and techniques, is qualifying. In interpreting the substantive value of the course work, credit may be given for courses in related fields, depending on the degree to which the courses are related to micro-biological work. Evaluation of Experience: For positions at GS-9 that involve a substantial amount of work in a specific specialized area or applied field of microbiology, at least 6 months of the experience must either have been in the appropriate area of specialization or applied field of microbiology, or have direct application in the area for which the applicant is being considered. For the GS-11 and higher grade levels of such specialized positions, the experience must have been sufficiently specialized to insure adequate familiarity with the area of specialization or applied field of microbiology, or have direct application in the area for which the applicant is being considered. In addition to meeting the basic requirements described above, applicants must also meet additional qualification requirements as stated below. GS-09 Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-09 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-07 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience participating in microbiological research related to animal zoonotic viruses; performing protein biochemical assays, molecular techniques, or virological assays and analyses; and operating standard microbiological laboratory equipment. OR Education: Two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree, if related. Related degrees may include Microbiology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, or Public Health. OR An appropriate combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as described above. GS-11 Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-11 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-09 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience independently conducting microbiological research related to animal zoonotic viruses; performing and modifying protein biochemical assays, molecular techniques, or virological assays and analyses; summarizing and evaluating data to be included in manuscripts or technical reports from experiments conducted; and operating and maintaining specialized microbiological laboratory equipment. OR Education: Three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, if related. Related degrees may include Microbiology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, or Public Health. OR Successful combination of specialized experience and graduate level education. Physical Demands: Work requires standing for prolonged periods of time. Working Environment: Work is performed primarily in a laboratory. Incumbent is exposed to irritant chemicals on an irregular basis; on such occasions, special safety precautions are required, and the microbiologist uses protective clothing and gear such as laboratory coat, safety glasses and gloves. Staff will be able to maintain a 5-day quarantine from swine and hoofed animals after working in the laboratory. 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

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

Contacts

• Address Agricultural Research Service 2150 Centre Avenue Building D, Suite 300 Fort Collins, CO 80526 US
• Name: Kendra Bledsoe
• Phone: 7032599425
• Email: [email protected]