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Research Biologist

Department of the Army
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Environmental Laboratory (EL)
This job announcement has closed

Summary

About the Position: Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Environmental Laboratory (EL) in Vicksburg, MS

The US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is one of the most diverse engineering and scientific research organizations in the world. Website: http://www.erdc.usace.army.mil/

Visit Vicksburg and discover one of the best kept secrets in the South where the community is committed to excellence. Vicksburg Chamber of Commerce website: http://www.vicksburgchamber.org

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
08/27/2024 to 09/06/2024
Salary
$39,576 to - $94,317 per year
Pay scale & grade
DB 2
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Vicksburg, MS
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
4
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CERG241563965054
Control number
805220400

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Duties

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  • Be responsible for writing proposals to secure project funding to fund labor and research withing the Army and USACE mission space.
  • Support the Army/USACE R-D priorities by integrating the necessary genetic circuit design, genetic engineering, gene knock out, transgene expression, peptide engineering, RNA-toehold switch development.
  • Advance new methods for development of novel genetic circuits, express trans-genes in both model and non-model systems, quantify phenotypic traits from novel trans-gene expression, and analyze collected data .
  • Develop and integrate innovative procedures/protocols for constructing and expressing multiple integrative genetically engineered plasmids that can be expressed within single cells or distributed among unique cellular populations.
  • Apply genetic engineering, molecular biology, genetics, and genomics techniques to leverage basic principles of circadian rhythms to enable optimization of synthetic biology.
  • Apply genetic engineering, transgene insertion and expression of biomolecules to enable increased desiccation tolerance in cells for the development of ruggedized cells for synthetic biology .
  • Design, set up and execute genetic engineering pipelines and design experiments to demonstrate the efficacy and scalability of biotechnologies developed in the laboratory.
  • Collaborate with scientists on projects pertaining to the US Army Corps of Engineers military and civil works mission within and outside ERDC.
  • Participate in multiple phases of project execution including planning, designing, coordinating, and conducting literature reviews and data analysis.
  • Analyze and interpret data to answer basic and applied issues of relevance to USACE, Army, other Armed Services, and other public and private customers.
  • Manage project execution and budgets
  • Prepare technical memos, reports, and other relevant electronic deliverables.
  • Write publications, especially including peer reviewed journal articles.
  • Present scientific results at national and international symposia
  • Provide technical presentations and training for end-users of research products.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
  • This position has a Temporary Duty (TDY) or business travel requirement of 10% of the time.
  • Appointment to this position is subject to a two- year probationary period.
  • A valid US Driver's License is required.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities.

    • Current Department of Army Civilian Employees
    • Current Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Employee (non-Army)
    • Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce
    • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan
    • Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act
    • Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473
    • Non-Department of Defense (DoD) Transfer
    • People with Disabilities, Schedule A
    • Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible
    • Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible
    • Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement
    • Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible
    • Reinstatement
    • Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998
In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Basic Education Requirements for Research Biologist

A. Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

B. Combination of Education and Experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:

  • Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  • Communications
  • Computer Skills


All qualification requirements, including time after competitive appointment, must be met within 30 days of the job opportunity announcement closing date.

This position is covered by the Science and Technology Laboratory Personnel Management Demonstration Project at the DB-2 (equivalent to GS-05 to GS-11) target to the DB-04 (equivalent to GS-12 to GS-14) level. In accordance with the Federal Register Vol.63, No. 57, dated March 25, 1998, Laboratory Demonstration Project employees must have a current average performance score of at least 2.5 or equivalent (fully successful rating) for promotion consideration.

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

  • Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
  • You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
  • Two-year trial/probationary period may be required.
  • Direct deposit of pay is required.
  • Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
  • If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
  • This is a(n) 16 Career Field (CF) Engineer and Scientists (Non construction) position.
  • Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
  • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). If you are a Federal employee in the competitive service and your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority for this position. To receive selection priority, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria (2) be rated well-qualified for the position and; (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. To be considered well-qualified and receive selection priority applicants must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and receive a score of 90 or above. Additional information about the program is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.
  • Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.
  • This position is Non Exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act.
  • Nepotism: Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). If you are a Federal employee in the competitive service and your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority for this position. To receive selection priority, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria (2) be rated well-qualified for the position and; (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. To be considered well-qualified and receive selection priority applicants must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and receive a score of 90 or above. Additional information about the program is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.

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