This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/515821300. 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:
Vancouver, WA : $77,929 (Step 01) to $101,308 (Step 10);
Anchorage, AK : $81,421 (Step 01) to $105,847 (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
$77,929 - $105,847 per year
GS 12
2 vacancies in the following locations:
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Occasional travel - Overnight travel of 1 to 5 nights per month may be required.
No
Term - This is an Excepted Appointment Not-to-Exceed 2 Years
Full-Time
Excepted
12
No
No
SAC-2019-0046
515821300
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 # 17-15. Next-generation monitoring to rapidly characterize eruption hazards
Many of the ~160 active volcanoes in the USA are located along major flight routes or near communities that would be significantly impacted by airborne ash. A key goal of the USGS mission is to provide timely detection and warning of volcanic hazards, ideally within the first few minutes of eruption onset. For the past few decades, baseline volcano surveillance has relied primarily on seismic, geodetic, and satellite-based platforms, which are powerful under favorable conditions. But these tools cannot reliably characterize plume height, eruption rate, and other atmospheric processes within the first half hour, when they are most needed by decision makers. Such challenges are amplified by non-ideal conditions, such as poor visibility due to nighttime or cloud cover, wind noise, and non-eruptive tremor.
In this regard, two new tools have shown great promise. Explosive eruptions that inject ash high into the atmosphere produce: (1) low frequency sound waves (infrasound), and (2) radio waves from volcanic lightning.
In both cases, these waves can be detected remotely, up to thousands of kilometers away. And in the case of volcanic lighting, detection is a nearly-instantaneous, reliable indication of volcanic ash in the atmosphere. The recent eruption of Alaska’s Bogoslof Volcano in 2016–2017 showed how infrasound and lightning work in synergy with satellite and seismic detection to illuminate volcanic processes. A clear message from this response effort was that there is no “silver bullet” in volcano surveillance. The next generation of monitoring requires a diverse, adaptable, and multiparametric system. Among other things, this means developing the new frontiers of lightning and infrasound.
We seek a Mendenhall postdoctoral fellow to improve our fundamental understanding of geophysical signals from volcanic lightning and infrasound. This may involve a broad range of topics including:
Proposed Duty Station: Vancouver, WA; Anchorage, AK (The duty location will be determined when a selection is made.)
Areas of Ph.D.: Volcanology, geophysics, geology, electromagnetism or related fields (candidates holding a Ph.D. in other disciplines but with knowledge and skills relevant to the Research Opportunity may be considered).
Qualifications: Applicants must meet one of the following qualifications: Research Geologist; Research Geophysicist
(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:
The employee applies a wide range of safety precautions when controlled conditions deteriorate due to unforeseen conditions or previously unknown risks.
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/515821300. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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