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Summary What General Information Do I Need To Know About This Position? The government-wide direct hire authority for Biologist/0401 is being used to fill this position. This is a term appointment not to exceed 13 months with possible extensions up to a total of 10 years without further competition. Appointment to this position will not convey permanent status in the Federal service. Responsibilities As a Biologist within the Columbia Environmental Research Center, some of your specific duties will include: Conceive, develop, and successfully conduct research relevant to aquatic ecotoxicology, with emphasis on fish physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, life history, or behavior. Develop research plans that support USGS research priorities and enhance USGS capabilities in ecotoxicology research. Use laboratory, field, bioinformatic, and/or modeling research methods to address research questions. Develop new methods as needed to address novel research and analytical opportunities. Collect, manage, statistically analyze, visualize, and interpret biological datasets from research activities. Write work plans, study plans, and proposals in the research area; write proposals for outside funding. Prepare data releases to make research data publicly available. Lead and be part of interdisciplinary research teams with multiple techniques and research approaches to address collaborative research questions. Foster collaborative opportunities and relationships that support the mission of the Center and USGS. Publish research in peer-reviewed national and international journals and present findings to scientific, administrative, and lay audiences. Follow all USGS policies related to safety, quality management, and fundamental science practices. Provide technical assistance to DOI agencies and other Federal, State, and stakeholder communities, as appropriate. Operating a government owned/leased vehicle as an incidental driver. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work requires some physical exertion such as walking over wet, rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces; and bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activities. The work requires moderate physical ability and average agility and dexterity. WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is performed in an office, laboratory, and/or in the field. The office is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. Temperature and weather extremes may be encountered in the performance of the outdoor work. Field and laboratory duties may require the use of special protective gear. The incumbent is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow workers, or property with which entrusted. Requirements Conditions of Employment Key Requirements: Applicants must be U.S. Citizens. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation. Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year probationary period. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information. Selectee must provide a valid state driver's license & safe driving record. Selectee subject to successful completion of a pre-employment medical exam. Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position? Because this position requires travel for official business, the selectee will be required to apply for a charge card within 30 calendar days of appointment. Individuals who have delinquent account balances from a previous Government charge card will be required to satisfy their existing obligation before a new card can be issued. Driver's License/Driving Record - You will be required to operate a government-owned or -leased vehicle in the performance of your official duties. Applicants for this position must meet the following requirements: (1) possess a valid State license, and (2) possess a safe driving record. If selected, you will be required to provide proof of a valid State license & a copy of your driving record. Pre-Employment Medical - Taking and passing a pre-employment medical examination at Federal expense is required due to the physical demands of this job. A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system. Qualifications BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic education requirement for Biologist, all grade levels. A. Degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR B. Combination of education and experience--courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above (24 semester hours or the equivalent in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position), plus appropriate experience and/or additional education for a total of 4 years. The education or combined education and experience must be comparable in type, scope and thoroughness to that acquired through successful completion of a 4-year course of study as described in "A" above. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE) In addition to the basic education requirements as stated above, applicants must have one year of specialized experience at or equal to the next lower grade level. Possess one year of specialized experience at or equal to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of experience at the GS-11 level may include working independently or as a full member of a research team conceiving, formulating, conducting, and publishing research relevant to aquatic ecotoxicology, with emphasis on fish physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, life history, or behavior. Applicants should have experience conducting field and laboratory ecotoxicology experiments with diverse fish species and preparing descriptive scientific reports on the results of research activities for publication, presentation, and administrative use. Experience is best demonstrated by authoring and co-authoring publications and other products that contribute to the scientific understanding of fish ecotoxicology. Additionally, applicants should have experience attending scientific and/or interagency meetings to present research results and exchange information within the scientific community at the national level. Preference is for candidates with broad experience in aquatic systems with laboratory, field, bioinformatic, or modeling approaches that assess the effects of environmental contaminants or stressors on fish health. Health outcomes of interest include, but are not limited to, reproduction, endocrinology, immunology, nutrient deficiencies (such as thiamine deficiency), embryo and larval development, energetics and metabolism, histology, and gene expression/omics. Current focal contaminants include algal toxins, nitrogen-based nutrients, PFAS, microplastics, oil and gas derivatives, and pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Ideal candidates have experience with either some of these contaminants or biochemical assessment endpoints, and the flexibility to shift to new topics as the research program develops. Additionally, ideal candidates can develop new methods for ecotoxicological assessment; one example is engaging artificial intelligence-driven image recognition approaches to increase analytic through-put of histological images. Candidates should be able to scale observed health effects from organismal to population levels and/or frame research findings in the cross-disciplinary context of One Health. Ideal candidates are able to demonstrate expertise through multiple peer reviewed journal publications, conference presentations, and evidence of interdisciplinary collaborations. You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement. Education 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. Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/how-foreign-education-evaluated-federal-jobs . Additional Information Other Information: Salary: $86,962 (Step 01) to $113,047 (Step 10); NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies in the advertised office or other U.S. Geological Survey offices in the local commuting area. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position. Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. Agencies are permitted to hire non-citizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position. USGS employees are subject to Title 43, USC Section 31(a) and may not: (a) have any personal, private, direct or indirect interest in lands or mineral wealth of lands under survey; (b) have any substantial personal, private, direct or indirect interests in any private mining or mineral enterprise doing business with the United States; or (c) execute surveys or examinations for private parties or corporations. The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361. DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. The Department of the Interior (DOI) places a high value on diversity of experience and cultural perspectives and encourages applications from all interested eligible candidates. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are fundamental principles that guide the Department and allow us to successfully achieve our mission. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. Agency Benefits: USGS has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework in accordance with the DOI Telework policy and with supervisor approval. The official worksite for the selectee is the duty station identified in this vacancy announcement. The selectee will typically report to this duty location on a regular and recurring weekly basis. For additional information on our internal telework policy, please reference the Department of the Interior Telework Handbook at: https://www.doi.gov/telework/policies. Working for the U.S. Geological Survey offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; health, life, dental, vision, and long term care insurance, flexible spending accounts, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.