This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/518617900. 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 March 4, 2019.
What General Information Do I Need to Know About This Position?
Salary: $79,720 (Step 01) to $103,639 (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.
12/10/2018 to 03/04/2019
$79,720 - $103,639 per year
GS 12
Few vacancies in the following location:
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Occasional travel - Overnight travel of up 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
Yes
DEN-2019-0040
518617900
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 #17-30 Biogeochemistry of the Sulfur Cycle as It Relates to Mineral Resources in the Midcontinent Region
The Upper Midcontinent Region is a highly prospective area for future mineral resource development. Current priority exploration and development projects include copper-nickel-cobalt-platinum group element mafic deposits (Ripley, 2014), sediment-hosted copper-silver deposits (Bornhorst and Williams, 2013), and banded iron-formation deposits (Cannon and others, 2007). In all of these deposits, mineral resources are associated with sulfide minerals, either in the ores themselves or in waste rock that will be removed to access the ores. In such settings, a detailed understanding of the sulfur cycle is essential for effective mitigation of adverse environmental effects, and ultimately sustainable development. Acid-mine drainage is the result of the weathering of a sulfide mineral, such as pyrite in the presence of oxygen and water to produce sulfuric acid and iron precipitates. The resultant sulfur-rich drainage may experience a variety of fates including dilution, evaporative concentration, oxidation, or reduction. Oxidation may result in elevated dissolved sulfate concentrations. Subsequently, dissolved sulfate may undergo bacterial sulfate reduction downstream in the anoxic sediments of wetland areas. The resulting elevated dissolved sulfide concentrations have been shown to be toxic to wild rice (Fort and others, 2014), an important subsistence food source for Native Americans in the Upper Great Lakes region. In fact, the State of Minnesota recently considered adopting a more process-oriented approach to establishing appropriate environmental guidelines particularly to protect wild rice. Further, sulfate-reducing bacteria are known to be the primary methylators of mercury in aquatic ecosystems, and their activity can be enhanced by elevated dissolved sulfate concentrations. Methylmercury, a potent neurotoxin, is the mercury species that bioaccumulates in aquatic food webs and results in fish consumption advisories, which is a major concern for sport fishermen, commercial fishing, and Native Americans in the Upper Great Lakes region. Thus, the sulfur cycle, particularly as related to mining, can have far-reaching influences on many aspects of environmental health of a region.
Proposed Duty Station: Reston, VA
Areas of Ph.D.: Geology, geochemistry, hydrology, chemistry, ecology (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 Chemist; Research Hydrologist; Research Physical Scientist; Research Ecologist.
(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:
The office assignments normally involve everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of offices or meeting and training rooms.
The laboratory assignments involve exposure to moderate risks and discomforts, such as those due to: irritating chemicals; noxious fumes; flammable liquids; radiation; potentially pathogenic bacteria; and/or carcinogenic materials. Some laboratory work may require special safety precautions and/or protective clothing and equipment.
Field assignments involve outdoor work where there is considerable walking, climbing over rough or mountainous terrain, and heavy lifting of equipment. However, work during the field season involves exposure to a wide range of weather and temperature conditions, poisonous growth, insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. Some field work may require special safety precautions and/or protective clothing and equipment.
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 December 10, 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/518617900. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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