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Research Geophysicist, GS-1313-13/14 (DEU-YMJ)

Department of the Interior
Geological Survey
This job announcement has closed

Summary

What General Information Do I Need To Know About This Position? 
 

There is only one vacancy which may be filled at Pasadena or Menlo Park, California. The location of this position will be determined when a selection is made.

There is one vacancy however, this announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies if they become available.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
08/23/2018 to 09/28/2018
Salary
$98,747 to - $161,817 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13 - 14
Locations
FEW vacancies in the following locations:
Menlo Park, CA
FEW vacancies
Pasadena, CA
FEW vacancies
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - Overnight travel of 4-5 nights per month may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
15 - The full performance level for a Research position is GS-15; however, promotion eligibility is dependent upon the scientific contributions of the incumbent as evaluated by a peer panel.
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Announcement number
SAC-2018-0328
Control number
508893500

Duties

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As a Research Geophysicist within the Earthquake Science Center, some of your specific duties will include:

-Formulates and carries out fundamental and applied research utilizing GNSS, InSAR, and other deformation data to quantify seismic hazard.

-Participates in collaborative research involving geodetic observation and modeling for crustal deformation and tectonic studies.

-Publishes research in scientific journals and gives presentations at scientific meetings with broad international attendance.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
  • Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
  • Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year probationary period.
  • More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.
  • Selectee must provide a valid state driver's license & safe driving record.

Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?

Because this position requires travel for official business, the selectee will be required to apply for a charge card within 30 calendar days of appointment.  Individuals who have delinquent account balances from a previous Government charge card will be required to satisfy their existing obligation before a new card can be issued.

A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.

Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

Qualifications

Basic Education Requirement 

A. Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included at least 30 semester hours in mathematics (including calculus) and the physical sciences (geophysics, physics, engineering, geology, astronomy, meteorology, electronics, etc.).   

*OR*

B. A combination of education and experience -- at least 30 semester hours in mathematics (including calculus) and the physical sciences (geophysics, physics, engineering, geology, astronomy, meteorology, electronics, etc.), plus appropriate experience and/or additional education for a total of 4 years. The education or combined education and experience must be comparable in type, scope and thoroughness to that acquired through successful completion of a 4-year course of study as described in "A" above.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR GS-13:

In addition to the Basic Requirement, candidates must have at least 1 year of specialized experience at or equivalent to at least the GS-12 level that is in or related to the duties described above, and that has equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position.

Examples of such experience include: Planning and conducting scientific research in one or more fields of geophysics, geology, oceanography or physical sciences as related to earthquake hazards, sedimentary geology, and structural geology; participating in geophysical expeditions in marine or lacustrine environments and in the analysis of geophysical aspects of marine research cruises; participating in marine geophysical field studies and conducting various data analyses on seismic reflection data; authoring publications in scientific or technical journals; and making presentations of scientific findings at scientific or technical meetings.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR GS-14:

In addition to the Basic Requirement, candidates must have at least 1 year of specialized experience at or equivalent to at least the GS-13 level that is in or related to the duties described above, and that has equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position.

Examples may include:

Serving as an independent researcher conceiving, formulating, conducting and leading research studies in applied mathematics, seismology, geophysics, engineering seismology, and/or geotechnical engineering; working closely with state and Federal agencies, universities, non-governmental organizations, and private industry; authoring publications, peer-reviewed journal articles, scientific reports, and/or other products of considerable interest to science and/or technology in the area of specialization; presenting results of research at scientific meetings, professional societies, interagency meetings, and before the general public; critically reviewing manuscripts and proposals of other scientists; serving on professional and technical committees with other government and non-government scientists; and addressing information needs.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

  • 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). 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.
  • Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: http://www.usgs.gov/ohr/oars/quals/foreign.html.

Additional information

  • Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.
  • Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. Agencies are permitted to hire non-citizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position.
  • USGS employees are subject to Title 43, USC Section 31(a) and may not: (a) have any personal, private, direct or indirect interest in lands or mineral wealth of lands under survey; (b) have any substantial personal, private, direct or indirect interests in any private mining or mineral enterprise doing business with the United States; or (c) execute surveys or examinations for private parties or corporations.
  • The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.
  • DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
  • THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

How you will be evaluated

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

--Basis of Rating: Category rating will be used in the ranking and selection process for this position. The quality categories are Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and Qualified. If you meet the basic qualification and eligibility requirements of this position, you will be contacted via email after the vacancy announcement closes and given 10 calendar days to submit narrative responses that address the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) required to perform the duties of this position. You will be rated and ranked based on the information you provide in your resume as well as the responses you submit to the required KSAs. Veterans' preference rules for category rating will be applied. The knowledge, skills, and abilities required for this position are as follows:

  1. Knowledge of methods that use GNSS and other geodetic data (e.g., InSAR) to better understand the mechanics of crustal deformation, to better characterize crustal deformation over the earthquake cycle, and to use numerical modeling to relate fault slip to time-dependent hazard, combined with interpreting results and completing the studies through to publication.
  2. Ability and recent experience collaborating with researchers from the USGS and other institutions to pursue research objectives of common interest and to obtain support for this research.
  3. Ability and recent experience publishing research in peer-reviewed scientific journals on subjects such as modeling of crustal deformation processes, quantifying crustal strain for hazard assessment, and quantitative noise analysis using geodetic data, and presenting these results at scientific meetings with broad international attendance. 
  4. Interpersonal skills to accurately and concisely convey information to varied audiences as part of earthquake outreach and media relations.

--NOTE: If it is determined that you have rated yourself higher than is supported in your description of experience and/or education as described in your resume/application, or that your resume or application is incomplete, you may be rated ineligible, not qualified, or your score may be lowered.


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