This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/547363500. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
What General Information Do I Need to Know About This Position?
Salary: $82,721 (Step 01) to $107,542 (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.
09/30/2019 to 01/06/2020
$82,721 - $107,542 per year
GS 12
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
RES-2019-0361
547363500
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 # 18-23. Predicting responses to sea level rise and restoration in diked salt marshes
Tidal wetlands are key coastal ecosystems that provide a wealth of services to society, including recreation, bird and fish habitat, protection from coastal storms, and rapid storage of atmospheric carbon in soil. Under natural conditions, tidal exchange between wetlands and the coastal ocean sustains these important ecosystem services since dynamic biogeochemical responses result in wetlands that are responsive to rising seas through elevation gain (Gonneea et al. 2019) and transgression. A substantial portion of coastal wetlands, however, have managed hydrology, and their management conditions and histories have important consequences for the carbon cycle processes that build elevation through soil formation, and thus for resilience to accelerating sea-level rise. Tidal restrictions and other managed coastal hydrology, including dikes, tide gates, road and railroad berms or culverts, water control structures, and ditches, alter both sea and aquifer elevations and disrupt the dynamic elevation response of fresh and saline coastal wetlands. In the U.S., we and our colleagues have estimated that there are ~0.48 million hectares of restricted/impounded wetlands, and ~0.24 million hectares of drained former wetlands (Kroeger et al. 2017; Crooks et al. 2018; Fargione et al. 2018).
Related research indicates that alterations of wetland hydrology result in changes in water level, period and frequency of soil inundation, water salinity and chemistry, vegetation cover and productivity, habitat quality, soil carbon storage and elevation trajectory. When coastal wetlands are impounded, biogeochemical conditions favor the production of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, while the rate of elevation gain is diminished (Kroeger, et al. 2017, Gonneea et al. in prep.). Where wetlands are drained, enhanced aerobic respiration drives massive loss of soil carbon, as emitted carbon dioxide (IPCC 2013), driving rapid loss of soil elevation. As a result, under a range of widespread conditions, managed coastal landscapes have both impaired resilience to sea-level rise and diminished habitat value, while they emit substantial anthropogenic greenhouse gas. Finally, the same barriers that impound or drain the wetlands also serve as barriers to migration, preventing transgression.
Proposed Duty Station: Woods Hole, MA
Areas of Ph.D.: Chemistry, hydrology, environmental science, oceanography, geology, ecology, biology, 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 Chemist, Research Hydrologist, Research Geologist, Research Physical Scientist, Research Ecologist, Research Oceanographer
(This type of research is performed by those who have backgrounds for the occupations stated above. However, other titles (such as Research Biologist) 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.)
https://www.usgs.gov/centers/mendenhall/basic-qualification-requirements-0
Physical/Environmental Demands: The work is conducted in several types of environments including a typical office; warehouse where incumbent is subjected to standing, stooping, lifting heavy items, and reaching; laboratory with possible exposure to hazardous chemicals; outside in settings ranging from docks to beaches and wetlands, involving walking over wet, rough, uneven surfaces, as well as exposure to weather extremes, insects and other wildlife, and pathogens typically found in aquatic and wetland environments; and aboard research vessels. The work requires good health, balance, coordination, and ability to work long hours, sometimes under harsh weather and sea conditions. Work requires 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 September 30, 2014 (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.
Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. A Federal agency is permitted to hire non-citizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position, AND the non-citizen meets the appropriation act and immigration laws. Read the information provided in the following link. If a non-citizen does not meet the appropriation act and immigration laws, then they cannot be considered for this Mendenhall Opportunity. Please contact person under Agency Contact Information 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: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/how-foreign-education-evaluated-federal-jobs .
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.
In addition to the 8-page proposal, a separate budget estimate is required. This estimate should detail anticipated operating expenses for fieldwork, access to specialized equipment/facilities, conference travel, publications, computer hardware/software, and so on. The Research Proposal is the most important part of the application package, and we strongly urge applicants to coordinate the development of the Proposal with the appropriate RAs.
USGS strongly encourages the electronic submission of applications. All materials should be submitted in PDF format through the USAJOBS web link. PDF files submitted should not be larger than 4 MB. If a file is larger than 4 MB, applicants must split the contents of the file so that no one unit submitted is larger than 4 MB.
Applications should be prepared as follows: 1) First PDF file should contain ONLY the research proposal. 2) A second PDF file should contain: list of literature references cited in the proposal; budget estimate; and resumé. 3) A separate PDF file should contain: educational transcripts; supporting veterans documentation.
Clicking on the "APPLY" button next to each Research Opportunity in the Table of Research Opportunities will take applicants to the USAJOBS application for that particular Opportunity. For technical assistance for submitting an application through USAJOBS, contact the HR Specialist listed as the Point of Contact listed in this announcement.
PDF conversion tools are readily available via the Internet. Some examples can be accessed at the following sites: http://www.ps2pdf.com/ http://www.pdf995.com/ Disclaimer: Hypertext links and other references to non-USGS products and services are provided for information only and do not constitute endorsement or warranty, express or implied, by the USGS, DOI, or U.S. Government, as to their suitability, content, usefulness, functioning, completeness, or accuracy. In addition, documents that do not easily lend themselves to conversion may be faxed. Contact the appropriate Human Resources Office to make arrangements.
If a complete application package is not submitted, the applicant will not be considered for the position. Requests for deadline extensions will not be granted. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure the successful conveyance of the application package. Applicants will receive a confirmation e-mail upon receipt. Application packages must be received by 11:59 p.m. (U.S. Eastern Time) on the closing date of the announcement. It is against the law to submit applications for employment using Government paid postage envelopes or mail services (18 USC 1719). Such application packages will not be considered. Application material will not be returned.
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/547363500. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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