This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/515810800. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
The Closing Date has been updated to February 19, 2019.
What General Information Do I Need to Know About This Position?
Salary: $79,799 (Step 01) to $103,739 (Step 10); NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01.
There is one vacancy; however, this announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies if they become available.
11/02/2018 to 02/19/2019
$79,799 - $103,739 per year
GS 12
1 vacancy in the following location:
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Not required
No
Term - This is an Excepted Appointment Not-to-Exceed 2 Years
Full-Time
Excepted
12
No
No
SAC-2019-0032
515810800
Open to all qualified candidates. Because this Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research Fellowship is a U.S. Government position, preference must be given to U.S. citizens. Citizens of other nations may be considered under certain circumstances, i.e., when there are no qualified U.S. citizen applicants available. In those instances, the USGS may consider making an offer to a non-citizen provided applicable laws and regulations are followed.
Mendenhall Research Fellowship - Research Opportunity #17-6. Bringing USGS earthquake science to risk assessment of critical U.S. infrastructure
Critical infrastructure serves as the backbone of any civic society; their operation is fundamental for community resilience in the aftermath of a major earthquake or other natural disaster. Critical infrastructure comprises several important sectors: transportation (e.g., roads, rails, bridges), water and wastewater (e.g., pipelines, transmission and treatment facilities), energy (e.g., electric, oil and natural gas, power grids), public health (e.g., hospitals), and government facilities (e.g., facilities owned or leased by federal, state, local, and tribal governments). The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 2017 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure gave the nation’s infrastructure a grade of D+, highlighting the urgent need to revitalize our deteriorating infrastructure. While the need for upgrading our infrastructure has been well-publicized and is well-recognized in the engineering and academic communities, a clear path forward to develop an objective strategy for identifying individual and systemic risk and to help prioritize upgrading requirements remains a challenge.
This Research Opportunity is focused on a more complete characterization of risk associated with earthquake impacts on selected critical infrastructure sectors. The Mendenhall Fellow will have access to data such as the Department of Homeland Security's Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data (HIFLD) database, the Department of lnterior (DOI) Strategic Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment project database, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) National Bridge Inventory (NBI) data, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Hazus data and software (including the source code). Results from the Mendenhall research are expected to contribute toward rapid and improved estimation of earthquake damage and impact to infrastructure, identification of inspection needs, prioritization of repairs and retrofits, and development of potential mitigation and recovery strategies. Similarly, the research could lay out a framework for systematically assessing risks from other natural hazards.
We seek a research scientist to apply state-of-the-art risk estimation methodologies associated with spatially distributed infrastructure assets and to model the impact from network interdependencies. In addition, the researcher is expected to investigate and develop new, innovative techniques to model individual and systemic risk of select infrastructure and potentially propose a broader multi-sector framework to evaluate earthquake risk for developing mitigation priorities.
Potential research topics include:
Proposed Duty Station: Golden, CO
Areas of Ph.D.: Civil engineering with a focus on structural engineering analysis and design methods, system engineering, and/or risk analysis (candidates holding a Ph.D. in other disciplines, but with extensive knowledge and skills relevant to the Research Opportunity may be considered).
Qualifications: Applicants must meet one of the following qualifications: Research Civil Engineer. (This type of research is performed by those who have backgrounds for the occupations stated above. However, other titles may be applicable depending on the applicant's background, education, and research proposal. The final classification of the position will be made by the Human Resources specialist.)
(This type of research is performed by those who have backgrounds for the occupations stated above. However, other titles may be applicable depending on the applicant's background, education, and research proposal. The final classification of the position will be made by the Human Resources Specialist.)
http://geology.usgs.gov/postdoc/opps/qualifications.html
Physical/Environmental Demands: Work is usually performed in an office setting. The work area: Normally involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of offices or meeting and training rooms.
Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?
The Mendenhall Research Fellowship Program provides an opportunity for postdoctoral fellows to conduct concentrated research in association with selected members of the USGS professional staff, often as a final element to their formal career preparation. The Program is also intended to provide research experiences that enhance their personal scientific stature and credentials. The Mendenhall Program is envisioned to bring current scientific expertise to assist in the implementation of the USGS Strategic Plan and the science strategy of its programs (refer to http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2007/1309/ and http://www.usgs.gov/start_with_science/). Mendenhall Fellows are expected to publish their results in peer-reviewed scientific outlets.
In order to be considered for these opportunities, candidates must:
(1) have successfully completed a Ph.D. in a field related to the described Research Opportunity; the Ph.D. degree requirements must have been met no earlier than November 2, 2013 (5 years before the announcement opening date), and must be completed by the time employment starts;
(2) meet the qualification requirements described in the Research Opportunity. The research proposal submitted must demonstrate that the applicant is equipped with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties for the specific Research Opportunity.
Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. An agency is permitted to hire non-citizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position, and meets the appropriation and immigration laws. Please contact the appropriate regional Personnel Office for questions about eligibility and further assistance. https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/non-citizens/.
Foreign Education. You must provide proof, if the foreign education determines your qualifications for the position. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if the applicant can show that the foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. It is the applicant's responsibility to provide such evidence when applying for Federal jobs. If selected, you will be required to provide official proof that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: http://www.usgs.gov/ohr/oars/quals/foreign.html.
You must meet all eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Applicants are to submit the following for each individual Research Opportunity for which they are applying.
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.
If an applicant is chosen for an opportunity and meets the qualification requirements, the Human Resources Office will contact the applicant and make a firm job offer.
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/515810800. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Learn more about