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USGS Mendenhall Research Fellowship Program, Research Opp 19-18. Volcanic lightning for early...

Department of the Interior
Geological Survey
This job announcement has closed

Summary

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

Salary: Anchorage AK $85,799 (Step 01) to $111,543 (Step 10). Also entitled to 2.86% COLA in addition to basic salary.
Salary: Vancouver WA $76,721 (Step 01) to $99,741 (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.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
10/01/2020 to 01/04/2021
Salary
$76,721 to - $111,543 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Locations
Anchorage, AK
Few vacancies
Vancouver, WA
Few vacancies
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Term - 2 years
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
SAC-20-10926454-MNHL-BL
Control number
580364900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to all qualified candidates who meet the eligibility requirements of the Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. Because this 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.

Duties

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Mendenhall Research Fellowship - Research Opportunity #: 19-18 Volcanic lightning for early warning and characterization of explosive eruptions- A Subduction Zone Science Team Project

Lightning research is gaining momentum for its value in characterizing eruption processes in near-real time (Behnke and McNutt, 2014). However, applying lightning operationally still requires some targeted scientific work on the fundamental physics of plume processes that lead to electrification. Recent studies suggest that lightning rates increase with increasing eruptive intensity (Van Eaton et al., 2020), but the lack of a physical or empirical model hinders our ability to use lightning data as a proxy for ash dispersal forecast inputs, such as plume height and mass eruption rate.

For this project, we seek proposals that leverage numerical models to reproduce a suite of well-observed, lightning-rich eruptions and ideally integrate them with geophysical monitoring data from seismic and infrasound networks. The Fellow will have access to advanced volcanic plume models Ash3d (Schwaiger et al., 2012) and ATHAM (Van Eaton et al., 2015) at the USGS Advanced Research Computing group to simulate the dynamics of lightning-rich eruptions and constrain quantitative relationships between lightning rates and concentrations of hazardous ash. In particular, these plume models can simulate time-dependent airborne ash concentrations, rates of volcanic ashfall (Ash3d), and ice formation in eruption plumes (ATHAM), which will reveal new links between lightning flash-rates and eruption source parameters such as plume height, mass eruption rate, and water content.

The Fellow would join a vibrant team of mentors who span USGS mission areas and federal agencies, and are actively publishing in the diverse fields brought to bear on this interdisciplinary project, from physical volcanology (Van Eaton) to satellite remote-sensing (Schneider, Pavolonis), numerical modeling (Schwaiger, Mastin), and ground-based geophysics (Haney). They will collaborate with a co-research advisor at NOAA (Pavolonis) to develop lightning-based alerting and eruption source parameter modules for NOAA's Volcanic Cloud Analysis Toolkit and internal USGS products (e.g., VolcView). There is also the potential for collaboration with the Naval Research Lab (Michael Fromm) to take advantage of NRL's experience in near-real-time detection of explosive wildfire plumes that share electrification properties with volcanic plumes. Many of the tools used by the Department of Defense for wildfire tracking (mobile radar, lidar, research aircraft) are not presently in the USGS toolkit, and we would benefit greatly from an improved understanding of how to leverage these assets in the event of the next large eruption. As part of the USGS Subduction Zone Science Mendenhall Team, the Fellow will join the new National Science Foundation SZ4D Working Groups (www.sz4d.org), providing a valuable coordination network of early career scientists across USGS, NSF, and the broader academic community.

Proposed Duty Station: Anchorage, Alaska or Vancouver, Washington

Areas of PhD: Geology, geophysics or related fields (candidates holding a Ph.D. in other disciplines, but with extensive knowledge and skills relevant to the Research Opportunity may be considered).

Qualifications: Applicants must meet the qualifications for: Research Geologist or Research Geophysicist. (This type of research is performed by those who have backgrounds for the occupations stated above. However, other titles (see link below) 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.)

Mendenhall Basic Qualification Requirements:
https://www.usgs.gov/centers/mendenhall/basic-qualification-requirements-0

Physical/Environmental Demands:
Work is usually performed in an office setting. The work area normally involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of an office setting. Applicants will have the option to propose or participate in fieldwork that typically takes place in remote areas and includes some physical exertion such as walking over wet, rough, uneven or rocky surfaces; and bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activities; adverse weather conditions, such as high winds and low or high temperatures may also be encountered.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Key Requirements:

  1. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
  2. Selectee may be subject to serving a trial period.
  3. Selectee subject to successfully passing a pre-employment medical exam.
  4. Selectee must provide proof of valid driver's license, safe driving record.
  5. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.

Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?

  • 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.
  • Taking and passing a pre-employment medical examination at Federal expense is required due to the physical demands of this job.
  • 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.
  • You will be required to operate a government-owned or -leased vehicle in the performance of your official duties. Applicants for this position must meet the following requirements: (1) possess a valid State license, and (2) possess a safe driving record. If selected, you may be required to provide proof of a valid State license and a copy of your driving record.
  • 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

General Information

The Mendenhall Research Fellowship Program provides an opportunity for postdoctoral fellows to conduct concentrated research in association with USGS scientists, often as a final element to their formal career preparation. The Program also provides: 1) research experiences that enhance the scientific stature and credentials of the Fellows; and 2) scientific expertise to assist in the implementation of the USGS Strategic Plan and the science strategy of its programs. Mendenhall Fellows are expected to publish their results in peer-reviewed scientific outlets.

Eligibility Requirements

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 no earlier than October 1, 2015 (5 years before the announcement opening date); OR

(2) if close to completion, have all Ph.D. requirements completed and must submit proof of completion prior to receiving an official start date;

(3) 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.

Start Date and Completion of PhD:

It is anticipated that this position will start no later than March 2022. The person selected must have all PhD requirements completed and MUST submit proof of completion prior to receiving an official start date. Exceptions may be made for a later start date on a case-by-case basis.

NOTICE TO NON-CITIZENS

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 the 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.

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.

Additional information

  • Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Federal Government. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selectee.
  • These research opportunities are in the excepted service and are being filled through a Schedule A noncompetitive appointing authority. Appointments do not confer competitive or permanent status in the Federal Government nor are they subject to competitive examining procedures. The Mendenhall appointment may, in certain circumstances, be extended for up to an additional two years though rare.
  • USGS has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework in accordance with the DOI Telework policy and with supervisor approval. The official worksite for the selectee is the duty station identified in this vacancy announcement. The selectee will typically report to this duty location on a regular and recurring weekly basis.
  • For additional information on our internal telework policy, please reference the Department of the Interior Telework Handbook at: https://www.doi.gov/telework/policies.
  • 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, or direct or indirect interest 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.
  • Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.
  • 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.
Agency Benefits:

How you will be evaluated

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

The Human Resources Office will provide the hiring official with application material for review and consideration. The Research Advisor and/or hiring official will review the application material and contact candidates for interviews as needed. A subject matter expert panel will be convened. 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. For Research Opportunities with multiple duty stations, the selection of the official duty station will be made by the USGS.

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