This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/508565900. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
What General Information Do I Need to Know About This Position?
Salary: $88,582 (Step 01) to $115,157 (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.
08/27/2018 to 10/24/2018
$88,582 - $115,157 per year
GS 12
No
Occasional travel - Overnight travel of 1 to 5 nights per month may be required.
No
Term - This is an Excepted Appointment Not-to-Exceed 2 Years
Full-Time
Excepted
12
No
No
SAC-2018-0332
508565900
Open to all qualified candidates. Because this Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research 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.
Mendenhall Research Fellowship - Research Opportunity # S30. Experimental studies of aseismic slip, earthquake occurrence and hazard
Separate lines of research in seismology, deformation and rock mechanics indicate that classification of faults and fault segments as either aseismic or seismic is too restrictive. More often, active faulting involves some combination of the two. For example, episodic slow slip and tremor involve large scale aseismic slip that can be accompanied by much smaller scale earthquakes. Other examples include foreshocks occurring on oceanic transform faults as well as some megathrust earthquakes (i.e., prior to the 2011 M9 Tohoku-oki earthquake) that apparently are driven by aseismic slip. In the case of foreshocks, the aseismic slip is detectable at the earth's surface and is arguably the immediate cause of much of the concurrent seismicity. In such regions aseismic deformation may be useful in monitoring earthquake precursory activity.
At present little is known about the particular conditions, rheological properties and environmental factors that control transitions between aseismic and seismic deformation and that control the spatial and temporal extent of one behavior or the other. Many weak silicates, including natural fault gouges, show either stable or unstable mechanical behavior depending on pressure, temperature, strain rate and pore fluid composition. Effects of pore fluid diffusion and fault valving on crustal faults continues to be debated. Insufficient observational evidence has been collected to fully incorporate aseismic deformation into hazard assessments and to use detectable aseismic deformation reliably in monitoring earthquake occurrence.
We seek a postdoctoral fellow for this Mendenhall Research Opportunity who can make fundamental contributions in rock physics and fault mechanics with a focus on the conditions leading to seismic versus aseismic faulting as well as the spatial and temporal interaction of fault slip modes to advance our understanding of earthquake occurrence and earthquake hazard. Experimental research is expected to be conducted in the Rock Physics Laboratory of the Earthquake Science Center of the USGS. This laboratory has been devoted to the study of earthquake processes for nearly 50 years and continues to be a leader in the study of high pressure rock mechanics related to earthquakes. Strong candidates are expected to possess demonstrated abilities in developing fundamental theory as well as numerical modeling of experimental results and applications to natural systems.
Proposed Duty Station: Menlo Park, California
Areas of Ph.D.: Geophysics, seismology, geology, volcanology, rock mechanics or related fields (candidates holding a Ph.D. in other disciplines but with knowledge and skills relevant to the Research Opportunity may be considered).
Qualifications: Applicants must meet one of the following qualifications: Research Geologist, Research Geophysicist
(This type of research is performed by those who have backgrounds for the occupations stated above. However, other titles 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.)
http://geology.usgs.gov/postdoc/opps/qualifications.html
Physical/Environmental Demands: Work involves significant time preparing and conducting experiments in a Rock Mechanics Laboratory. This involves operation and development of automated lab equipment as well as preparing, installing and removing samples. Lab work area contains high pressure equipment presenting risks and hazards that require safety precautions. In addition, the position may require, as needed, limited field work to collect or work with samples.
Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?
The Mendenhall Research Fellowship Program provides an opportunity for postdoctoral fellows to conduct concentrated research in association with selected members of the USGS professional staff, often as a final element to their formal career preparation. The Program is also intended to provide research experiences that enhance their personal scientific stature and credentials. The Mendenhall Program is envisioned to bring current scientific expertise to assist in the implementation of the USGS Strategic Plan and the science strategy of its programs (refer to http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2007/1309/ , http://www.usgs.gov/start_with_science/). Mendenhall Fellows are expected to publish their results in peer-reviewed scientific outlets.
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; the Ph.D. degree requirements must have been met no earlier than August 27, 2013 (5 years before the announcement opening date), and must be completed by the time employment starts;
(2) 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.
Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. An agency is permitted to hire non-citizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position, and meets the appropriation and immigration laws. Please contact the appropriate regional Personnel Office 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: http://www.usgs.gov/ohr/oars/quals/foreign.html.
You must meet all eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
Applicants are to submit the following for each individual Research Opportunity for which they are applying.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
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.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Applicants are to submit the following for each individual Research Opportunity for which they are applying.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
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.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/508565900. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.