This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/501580600. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Research scientists have open-ended promotion potential. Research accomplishments and their impact on the duties and responsibilities of positions are evaluated periodically. The grade level is limited only by the individual's demonstrated ability to perform research of recognized importance to science and technology.
06/13/2018 to 06/22/2018
$77,058 - $100,175 per year
GS 12
1 vacancy in the following location:
Occasional travel - To and from professional meetings.
No
Permanent
Full-Time
15
0401 General Natural Resources Management And Biological Sciences
No
ARS-D18W-0097
501580600
Major Duties:
The incumbent will serve as a Research Molecular Biologist / Research Microbiologist with the Bacterial Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance (BEAR) Research Unit, located at the National Poultry Research Center, Athens, GA. The mission of the BEAR Research Unit is to reduce the transmission of foodborne pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in poultry production environments. BEAR research improves the understanding of the ecology of pathogens and antibiotic resistance and facilitates the development of mitigation strategies to improve food safety and reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance in pre- and post-harvest production environments. The incumbent will be assigned to the CRIS project entitled, “Characterizing Antimicrobial Resistance in Poultry Production Environments” (Agricultural Research Service (ARS) National Program 108 – Food Safety). Incumbent will conduct applied research using sophisticated molecular microbiological methods to identify molecular mechanisms and environmental factors that contribute to the persistence and spread of antibiotic resistance through poultry production environments. The incumbent has the authority to represent ARS to the public, research partners, the industry and other federal agencies in their own area of research expertise. The incumbent has freedom to apply for extramural funding in support of research program objectives.
The overall objective of the research is to use molecular tools (including genomic and metagenomic analysis) to understand mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and factors associated with the persistence and spread of resistance through agroecosystems. Research will be conducted to characterize resistance across multiple points in the production environment, to determine the persistence and contributing factors for resistance and to better understand the ecology of microbial communities with resistance.
Specific objectives within the assigned area of research are to:
1. Utilize genomics and bioinformatics tools to study antimicrobial resistance within agroecosystems, particularly those associated with poultry production environments.
2. Identify molecular mechanisms and environmental factors that contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance and the influence of commensal bacteria on the development and transfer of resistance.
3. Identify the relationship between management methods, environmental factors and the molecular ecology (including the metagenome and resistome) of antibiotic resistance associated with agroecosystem microbiota.
4. Identify alternatives to antibiotics for use in poultry production and assess the effect on the occurrence and spread of foodborne pathogens.
US Citizens and Nationals; no prior Federal experience is required.
CONFIDENTIAL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT: Federal employees are subject to prohibitions against officially dealing with outside organizations in which they have a financial interest. If hired for this position, you may be required to submit a financial disclosure report within 30 days of the effective date of your appointment and annually thereafter.
To be considered for a research scientist position, you must submit a one-page abstract of your MS thesis and/or Ph.D. dissertation. Also, submit a list of names, addresses, and phone numbers of persons familiar with your stature, contributions, recognition; any honors or awards received; memberships in professional or honor societies; invitations to make presentations at scientific/technical meetings; scientific society office and committee assignments; presentations (other than invitation); and publications.
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement including the following specialized experience and/or education, as identified by grade level.
Your education and experience will be evaluated against all qualification requirements (basic and any additional requirements) listed below.
Graduate education must be directly related to the work of the position and must have equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.
Basic Requirements:
General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series (0401): Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR
Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Microbiology Series (0403): 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 bacteriology, virology, mycology, algology, protozoology, parasitology, immunology, serology, microbial genetics, or soil microbiology; or specific applied fields of microbiology such as clinical and public health microbiology, food tech-nology, production processes, industrial fermentation, pollution, etc. Graduate study in related fields such as experimental pathology, infectious diseases, epidemiology, biochemistry, animal or plant physiology, genetics, plant pathology, and insect disease control, may also be pertinent, provided it has direct application to microbiological work.
Additional Requirements:
GS-12: Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service or possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or possess an equivalent combination of graduate level education and experience. Graduate education must be directly related to the work of the position and must have equipped applicants with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Specialized experience requirements for the GS 12 level of this position are:
1. Applying quantitive molecular methods and genomics tools to study microbial populations;
2. Conducting field or farm research on foodborne pathogens or antimicrobial resistance; and
3. Publishing and presenting scientific research results.
Applicants must address the specialized experience requirements in their resume (or application documents). Applications that do not reflect the specialized experience requirements will not be deemed qualified.
Applicants must be available to report for duty at the time a selection is made. Selections are typically made within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.
For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here:
http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/Standards/group-stds/gs-admin.asp
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated in accordance with the category rating procedure as defined in the USDA Demonstration Project Plan. Applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be placed in the Eligible category. Eligible applicants will be further evaluated against criteria for placement in the Quality category. This evaluation is based on the level of your experience, education, and/or training as determined by your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire. Applicants with veterans' preference are listed ahead of applicants who do not have veterans' preference within each category.
Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.
Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply Online" button to the right.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin. You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
Applying online is highly encouraged. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m., Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, contact the Agency Contact listed below well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon ET on the closing date of the announcement in order to be entered into the system prior to its closing.
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; contact the Agency Contact to request this.
To begin, click "Apply Online" and follow the instructions to complete the Assessment Questionnaire and attach your resume and all required documents.
NOTE: You must verify that uploaded documents from USAJOBS transfer into the Agency's staffing system. Applicants may combine all like required documents (e.g., all SF-50s) into one or more files and scan for uploading into the application. Each file must not exceed 3MB. Grouping like documents into files will simplify the application process. Documents must be in one of the following formats: GIF, JPEG, JPG, PDF, PNG, RTF, or Word (DOC or DOCX). Uploaded documents may not require a password, digital signature, or other encryption to open.
Your application will be reviewed to verify that you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for the position prior to issuing referral lists to the selecting official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. Log in to your USAJOBS account at https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login to check your application status. We expect to make a final job offer approximately 40 days after the deadline for applications.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/501580600. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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