Employee will serve as a Biological Science Laboratory Technician within Research and Development, Cancer Research Center, located at the Veteran Healthcare System in Portland, OR.

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, 4 years (not-to-exceed 4 years). 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. Duties will include, but may not be limited to the following: Creates transient and stable transfection of human and murine eukaryotic cells with constructs containing oncogenes identified in human cancers. Performs biochemical analysis of protein that involves delicate and exacting steps using elaborate and complex instrumentation including spectrophotometry, western blot analysis, cell viability assay, anchorage-independent growth assays, and densitometry evaluations to calculate efficacy of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Troubleshoots issues using aforementioned instruments and techniques. Performs cell line creation using retroviral cloning systems. Uses cell line archiving, sterile technique, and cell line propagation, specifically with difficult to grow cell lines derived from human tumors. Develops new assays to examine novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors in pre-clinical trials by utilizing cell lines created by above listed methods. Has proficiency in the safe use of biological safety cabinets, proper labeling, and disposal of reagents as dictated by regulations and guidelines, e.g., Industrial Hygiene, Biosafety Committee, CDC, NIH, etc.) Submits safety committee documents containing specific language concerning hazard assessment, safety, chemical hygiene plans, and protocol design. Reports laboratory safety conditions to supervisor and to make progress towards eliminating safety violations. Maintains and orders lab supplies and stock and manages procurement budget. Establishes inventory and equipment maintenance requirements. Maintains complete and accurate lab records of procedures followed and test results using lab databases. Presents data to supervisor in logical and systematic fashion. As such, responsible for data analysis including arithmetic calculations, algebra, graphing of data, and preliminary statistical evaluations. Maintains lab in a clean and safe condition based on agency or accreditation requirements. Calibrates and maintains lab instrumentation timely to minimize breakdown and delay of procedures. Performs other related duties as assigned. Basic science research includes examination of unknown phenomena, a level of flexibility is required. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm. Actual part-time schedule will be based on the needs of the service and will be discussed during interview. NOTE: This is a part-time position (8 hours/week). The salary listed represents full-time employment and will be pro-rated based on the actual number of hours worked each pay-period. Likewise, benefits and time-off accrual will also be prorated and based on your part-time work schedule. 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. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

Requirements

Qualifications

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Requires one full year of specialized experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-7) in the Federal service. 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. NOTE: 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. In addition to the above experience for entry level position, the specialized experience for this grade includes: performing biochemical analysis of protein that involves delicate and exacting steps using elaborate and complex instrumentation including spectrophotometry, western blot analysis, cell viability assay, anchorage-independent growth assays, and densitometry evaluations; calibrating and troubleshooting complex lab instrumentation; and maintaining complete and accurate lab records of procedures followed and test results using lab databases. (Note: Resume must clearly demonstrate required experience and responses to the online questionnaire to receive credit.) -OR- SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Successfully completed one year and six months (1½ years) of graduate education directly related to the position. Related education includes a major study in scientific or technical courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. -OR- COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience are also qualifying. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Administration and ManagementComplianceDatabase Management SystemsResearch 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: Position requires some physical exertion such as regular and recurring running, walking, or bending, walking or climbing ladders or scaffolds to observe, collect, or record research data. In many situations, the duration of the activity (such as most of the workday) contributes to the arduous nature of the job. In other situations, there may be special requirements for 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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

Contacts

• Address Portland ORD VISN 20 100 SW Main Street, Floor 2 Portland, OR 97204 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]