As a Biological Science Laboratory Technician, you are responsible for organizing and managing a wide variety of standard techniques in performing diagnostic tests, reagent production, developmental studies, and training assignments related to animal pathogens using appropriate precautions to preserve sample integrity and reagent purity and to prevent cross-contamination. Your accurate diagnosis of animal diseases will be of significant economic importance to the livestock industry.

Duties

The duties may include, but are not limited to: Receives diagnostic specimens for pathogen examination, reads history or specific requests of field personnel, selects appropriate test or identification procedure. Prepare diagnostic reagents which include bacterial culture, histology preparations, entomology preparation, inoculation of cell cultures, animals, and embryonating chicken eggs. Following a standard outline plans working details, makes measurements, and observes results of tests. Assumes responsibility for conducting sections of developmental projects. Takes references such as laboratory protocols, journal articles, or rough outlines from a professional and conducts virologic, bacteriological, parasitological, pathological or chemical techniques. Recognizes problems in assignments and procedures, make pertinent observations, draw conclusions, and make suggestions for improvement. Prepares accurate, written reports describing test procedures and results and summarizes findings.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Individuals who were born male 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 one-year trial period.
• Testing Designated Position: Selectee must submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use.
• All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions.
• Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) database check required for work involving Biological Select Agents and Toxins.
• Using laboratory equipment including computers in a sitting position for two consecutive hours is required.
• Work in biosafety level 3 facilities may require long periods of working in containment and up to 70% of time in a Class II or Class III biosafety cabinet.
• The physical demands may include walking, standing, bending, reaching and pushing and lifting up to 50 pounds, sometimes in personal protective equipment (PPE) that can be hot and/or heavy, restrict breathing efficiency, or impair range of vision.
• There is a high noise level due to the air exhaust system (no recirculated air) and laboratory equipment used almost continuously such as centrifuges and freezers. Protective devices such as face masks and latex/nitrile gloves are used.
• Must apply strict safety regulations to prevent the escape of pathogens from the laboratory which may include restrictions on contact with birds, sheep, goats, cattle, and swine outside of the laboratory.
• Periodically, the diagnostic workload during a disease outbreak may require considerable overtime.
• Regular duties may involve mandatory participation in rotating overtime work schedules, and import/export or other time-sensitive testing may be required in the evenings, on weekends, and holidays.
• Immunization against diseases being studied which are transmissible to humans may be required.
• Positions hired in Orient Point duty location will require daily travel to and from either Orient Point, New York and Plum Island, or Old Saybrook, Connecticut and Plum Island aboard Government-provided marine vessels.
• For information regarding the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, KS visit the following website by copying and pasting the address into browser: https://www.usda.gov/nbaf

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-06 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Performing techniques for culture propagation. Performing advanced animal handling including swabbing and inoculations, bacterial and viral identification, microscopy, immunohistochemical assays, and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Performing in-vitro and in-vivo potency comparison tests in accordance with standard operating procedures. Working with computerized systems for tracking and reporting test results as part of a quality management system. Working with pathogens of veterinary concern such as zoonotic agents or those under surveillance. OR one (1) full year of graduate education in biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, mathematics, or related fields with at least 6 semester hours in microbiology, biology or chemistry. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: You are qualifying for the position based on education. You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-07 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. 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 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service USDA APHIS MRPBS 250 Marquette Avenue, Suite 410 Minneapolis, MN 55401 US
• Name: MRP Human Resources
• Phone: 612-336-3227
• Email: [email protected]