Clarification from the agency

This vacancy announcement is open to the public

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The incumbent will function independently and oversee research on applying biomaterials to appropriate preclinical models of cortical injury. Incumbent will coordinate laboratory operations between academic affiliate (in vitro) and SVAMC (in vivo animal model) at the direction of the Principal Investigator. The incumbent will collaborate with other SVAMC research scientists and staff members and will collaborate with other postdoctoral fellows and students to perform their duties.

• Planning and implementation of experiments that involve application of polymer coatings to cortical electrode shanks.
• Synthesize a library of poly(pro-curcumin) materials and reproducibly dip-cast uniform thin films coatings onto microelectrodes.
• Quantify the mechanical and swelling properties, curcumin release kinetics, impedance, and measure the extent to which curcumin quenches free radicals and protects cortical neurons in culture.
• Analyze coating heterogeneity on electrode shanks.
• Surgically place coated electrodes (at the direction of principal investigator) into a rodent brain model and assess compatibility and the ability of the coating to improve neural recording.
• Ensure storage, backup, and security of data across multiple experiments and laboratories.
• Examine the neuroprotective effect in animals 7 days, 2 months, and 4 months following implantation.
• Select polymer coating (based on gathered data) that provided optimal neuroprotection and then coat 16-channel single shank recording electrodes and assess neuronal recording over period of 4 months.
• Work with research coordinators to describe changes in the protocol for approvals by IACUC
• Interpret results of analyses in the context of the research goal which is to increase the recording time of implanted electrodes in the brain.
• Identify new methods for analyzing data and integrate these analyses into the data analysis tools.
• Investigate the use of alternative chemistries (different modifiers or linkers) if polymers are not successfully fabricated.
• Other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: To be determined
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Biological Science Lab Tech (Animal)/PD24180O
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/25/2022.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS 6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS 5. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Selective placement factors include:

• Knowledge of the basic principles of biomaterials
• Laboratory experience
• Data collection understanding

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS 5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:

  Experience must have been related to the work of the position for which application is made. The specialized experience required for some positions in this series is normally work performed in a controlled environment. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include:

• Research activity or control program work.
• Nursery work that required the growing and maintenance of plants in a controlled environment.
• Work comparable to that with a large dairy farm where production records, animal environment, and sanitary conditions were kept in accordance with modern dairy practice.

• Farming experience that was not performed in a controlled environment, or experience as a laborer who was not responsible for planning and scheduling his/her own work, but only performed assigned tasks, would not qualify as specialized experience.

  . OR,
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Critical Thinking
• Data Management
• Engineering and Technology
• Research

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The experimental protocols require some physical exertion, such as regular and recurring walking, bending, lifting up to 20 kg, carrying up to 20 kg, and standing for up to 8 hours. In many situations, the duration of experimental activity could be up to 8 hours. In other situations, there is special requirement of agility or dexterity such as exceptional hand/eye coordination for working with small electronics, small mechanical systems, and medical devices.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.