This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/515820700. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
The Closing Date has been updated to February 19, 2019.
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.
11/02/2018 to 02/19/2019
$88,582 - $115,157 per year
GS 12
1 vacancy in the following location:
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
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-2019-0038
515820700
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 # 17-14 Using paleomagnetism to understand the tempo of hazardous volcanic and neotectonic activity
Paleomagnetism can provide critical constraints on the eruptive behavior of volcanoes and on the extent, magnitude, and timing of deformation in active tectonic terranes. Understanding the hazards posed by volcanoes requires characterizing their behavior, including quantifying the timing and magnitude of past eruptions in as much detail as possible. Comprehensive histories of hazardous volcanoes in subduction environments (e.g. Cascades and Aleutians) and magmatic plume environments (e.g. Hawaii, Yellowstone) have shown that volcanoes commonly erupt in brief episodes. In many cases, temporal clustering of eruptions has been identified by absolute chronometers (e.g., 40Ar/39Ar dating), but these methods cannot distinguish whether eruption episodes occurred over timespans of thousands of years or tens of years. Deciphering the frequency, clustering, and duration of volcanic eruptions is essential to understanding and evaluating potential volcanic hazards and, when coupled with stratigraphic, volumetric, and compositional data, to understanding fundamental magmatic processes. Paleomagnetism utilizing paleosecular variation of the geomagnetic field is the only tool available that can constrain prehistoric eruptive events on time scales of decades to centuries.
Volcanism and tectonism are commonly linked. Locations of volcanoes are typically fault-controlled such that an understanding of both local volcanic and regional tectonic environments is essential to evaluating seismic hazards. The applications of paleomagnetism are broad and lend themselves to a variety of potential research areas including using paleomagnetism to enhance our knowledge of volcano-tectonic linkages. We welcome proposals on topics such as characterizing the frequency of eruption of the abundant small volcanoes along the Cascades arc axis, or improving our understanding of the frequency, timing, and duration of magmatism at high threat volcanoes (e.g., identifying brief episodes in the growth of South Sister volcano near the rapidly growing city of Bend, OR, or evaluating the apparent episodic behavior of Yellowstone caldera lavas). The well-defined stratigraphic control provided by laterally-extensive Columbia River basalts provides a research opportunity in constraining magnitudes and rates of deformation to evaluate potential seismic hazards in the forearc and Yakima fold belt of the Pacific Northwest.
The successful applicant will work with experienced geologists and paleomagnetists based in Menlo Park, CA, and with chronologists who are focused on improving the dating of volcanic rocks via 40Ar/39Ar dating, surface exposure dating, and/or ion microprobe dating of zircons. The imminent arrival of an updated cryogenic magnetometer that has automated sample handling capabilities will provide the incumbent with rapid turnaround for sample analysis, creating the opportunity for multiple field iterations to constrain research hypotheses.
Proposed Duty Station: Menlo Park, CA
Areas of Ph.D.: Geology, geophysics, 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; Research Physical Scientist
(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 is performed in office, laboratory, and field settings:
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/ and 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 November 2, 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/515820700. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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