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Microbiologist

Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Research Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Center for Grain and Animal Health Research operates under the Agricultural Research Service. A number of National Programs have been developed for protecting and improving the nation’s food supply and other agricultural interests. This position is located in the Arthropod-Borne Animal Diseases Research Unit (ABADRU) in Manhattan, Kansas. ABADRU focuses on research pertaining to the National Programs of Animal Health and of Veterinary, Medical and Urban Entomology.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
11/30/2018 to 12/14/2018
Salary
$50,598 to - $79,586 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 09 - 11
Location
Manhattan, KS
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
11
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Announcement number
ARS-S18Y-0470
Control number
518168800

Duties

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Major Duties may include, but are not limited to:

  • Oversees and performs the unit's cell culture support services that
    include providing quality assured cell-cultures from the ABADRU
    collection and developing cell lines as needed by the Unit.
  • According to goals set by the research team, designs, coordinates,
    and conducts cell culture and monoclonal antibody production.
  • Maintains equipment and instrumentation in top
    working condition, performing routine maintenance and minor
    repairs, and promptly reporting signs of malfunction or need for
    major repairs.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a US Citizen or US National.
  • Satisfactory background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
  • Motor Vehicle License is Required.

Subject to satisfactory completion of one year probationary period.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including the following specialized experience and/or education, as identified below.

Basic Requirements:

Degree: microbiology; or biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included at least 20 semester hours in microbiology and other
subjects related to the study of microorganisms, and 20 semester hours in the physical and mathematical sciences combining course work in organic chemistry or biochemistry, physics, and college algebra, or their equivalent.

OR

Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in microbiology, biology, chemistry, or basic medical science
that included courses as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

AND

In addition to the basic requirement above, all applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications:

Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be
described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are:

AT THE GS-09:

Qualifying experience for GS-09 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-07 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience performing microbiological experiments, analyses, and measurements in support of a cell culture related research project; performing scientific research in order to develop strategies to mitigate pathogens; preparing technical reports; and maintaining and calibrating specialized equipment.

OR

Education: 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a masters degree or masters or equivalent graduate
degree, if related. Related degrees include a degree in Microbiology, biology, biochemistry, animal science, veterinary science.

OR

A combination of experience and education towards a Masters. as shown above.

AT THE GS-11:

Qualifying experience for GS-11 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-09 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience performing microbiological experiments, analyses, and measurements in support of a cell culture related research project; performing scientific research in order to develop strategies to mitigate pathogens ; and preparing technical reports or manuscripts; and maintaining and calibrating specialized equipment.

OR

Education: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, if
related. Related degrees include microbiology, biology, biochemistry, animal science, and veterinary science.

OR

A combination of experience and education towards a Ph.D. as shown above.

Education

If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit http://www.naces.org/members.htm. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

Additional information

More than one selection may be made if another vacancy occurs within 90 days of the issuance of the certification of eligibles.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc) should contact: USDAs TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

This position is eligible for telework and other flexible work arrangements.

Direct Deposit – Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choosing.

E-Verify: Federal law requires agencies to use the E-Verify system to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires. If you are selected as a newly hired employee, the documentation you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form 1-9 on your entry-on-duty date will be verified through the DHS E-VERIFY system. Under the system, the new hire is required to resolve any identified discrepancies as a condition of continued employment.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION AND FINGERPRINT CHECK: Selection and retention in this position is contingent on a successfully adjudicated FBI National Criminal History Check (fingerprint check) and a background investigation.

It is the policy of the Government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. See more information at: http://www.chcoc.gov/transmittals/TransmittalDetails.aspx?TransmittalID=6465

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL or ICTAP eligibility see http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.

How you will be evaluated

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

Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Managements (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures using category rating. Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications will be placed in one of two or three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Category placement will be determined based on applicants quality of experience and the extent they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies:

    • Microbiology
    • Research
    • Applies Technology to Task
Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply Online" button to the right.


To view the application form, visit: https://ars.usda.ntis.gov/cp/?event=jobs.previewApplication&jobid=3BC92FAC-C836-4B64-9E0D-A9A500FE416A

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