Clarification from the agency

This position is open to all qualified candidates. Selection will be made at the grade 12, 13 or 14 grade level. If selection is made at the grade 12 or 13 level the selectee may be non-competitively promoted to the next higher level up to the grade 14, upon the recommendation of the supervisor based on classification requirements, satisfactory performance, qualifications of the employee and recommendation of the Professional Accomplishments Evaluation Committee ( PAEC).

The employee will work to establish and maintain the ADS as a world leading information resource for earth scientists.  The employee will maintain a deep state-of-the-art/practice knowledge of the aspects of Computer/Information Science which could be most beneficial to earth scientists.  The employee will maintain a state-of-the-art knowledge of Earth Science organizations, missions, and data archives.  The employee will devote time to do original research in Earth Science.

Duties may include, but are not limited to:

1. Serve as the principal ADS scientific resource in the field of Earth Science; advise ADS management on all matters relating to the field of Earth Science and its research community.  Participate in representing the project to the Earth Science community, including the NASA’s Earth Science Data System Program and its Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs). Assist in organizing relevant advisory groups.  Understand the Earth Science community and its research needs.
2. Function as part of a team to design and, in collaboration with ADS staff, develop new and improved methods to search, discover, and use scholarly information relating to Earth Science. Help design and develop new and improved methods to search, discover, and use scholarly information for interdisciplinary studies, particularly those disciplines in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.
3. Curate and manage earth science content in the ADS, including scientific literature, datasets, and software. Develop and maintain tools and documentation to illustrate discovery and access to earth science data and metadata in the ADS.
4. Serve as a research scientist at the intersection of Earth and Information Science.  Attend meetings, give talks, write papers, and serve on committees, as appropriate. Maintain an active research program in Earth Science.  Publish papers in the main refereed disciplinary journals.
5. Assist in the ongoing operation and maintenance of the ADS.

In addition to the duties above , duties at the grade 13 may include but are not limited to:

1. Design and, in collaboration with ADS staff, develop new and improved methods to search, discover, and use scholarly information relating to Earth Science. Help design and develop new and improved methods to search, discover, and use scholarly information for interdisciplinary studies, particularly those disciplines in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate
2. Serve as an internationally recognized scientist at the intersection of Earth and Information Science.  Attend meetings, give talks, write papers, and serve on committees, as appropriate. Maintain an active research program in Earth Science.  Publish papers in the main refereed disciplinary journals.

In addition to the duties above , duties at the grade 14 may include but are not limited to:

1. Conceive, design and, in collaboration with ADS staff, develop new and improved methods to search, discover, and use scholarly information relating to Earth Science. Help design and develop new and improved methods to search, discover, and use scholarly information for interdisciplinary studies, particularly those disciplines in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.
2. Serve as an internationally recognized expert thought leader at the intersection of Earth and Information Science.  Attend meetings, give talks, write papers, and serve on committees, as appropriate. Maintain an active research program in Earth Science.  Publish papers in the main refereed disciplinary journals

Conditions of employment

• May be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
• Pre- and post-appointment background investigation.
• Direct Deposit/Elect Funds Transfer required for salary payment.
• First consideration may be made 14 days after the opening date.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

1. Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.

   or

2. Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to meeting the basic qualification requirements applicants must have the specialized experience and/ or directly related education in the amounts shown below:

Grade 12

A. Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree

or

B. A minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least grade 11 in the normal line of progression for this occupation.  This experience includes producing scientific publications and experience conducting independent research programs in an academic or research environment; knowledge of software development for earth science data analysis and application of analytic techniques in a research or similar environment as well as experience advising technical staff.

     or 

C. A combination of successfully completed graduate level education and experience equivalent to the above

 Grade 13:

A minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the grade 12 in the normal line of progression for this occupation.  This experience includes producing scientific publications and experience conducting independent research programs in an academic or research environment which have answered important questions in the field; mastery of software for earth science data analysis and application of analytic techniques in a research or similar environment as well as experience advising technical staff.

Grade 14:

A minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least grade 13 in the normal line of progression for this occupation.  This experience includes experience identifying and leading major new scientific development initiatives; participating in research planning activities, including participation on advisory committees, scientific workshops, conferences, etc and supervising a diverse staff of scientists, technical and administrative staff.

Qualification requirements are derived from the Office of Personnel Management's Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions viewable on the web at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1300/general-physical-science-series-1301/

How you will be evaluated

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

Your application will be evaluated first for the basic qualifications described above. The applications that meet the basic qualifications will be evaluated further against the following criteria:  

• Knowledge of Earth Science as may be evidenced by a Ph.D. in Earth Science, Physics, or a related field.
• Knowledge of Earth Science, as evidenced by publications which have answered important questions in the field or have contributed to significant advances.
• Knowledge of software development for Earth Science data analysis and data science as well as the application of analytic techniques to the solution of scientific problems.
• Ability to conduct independent research programs.
• Ability to advise technical staff in the curation of scholarly works; ability to communicate and work with scientists inside and outside SAO