Job Description
Summary
The position is located at the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC), Fort Collins, Colorado, the main research organization of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Wildlife Services (WS).The position is concerned with the application of newly developed molecular biology-based genetic techniques to wildlife damage and wildlife disease management research. You will function as a biologist in the Wildlife Genetics Project.
Duties Help
- The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.
- The duties may include, but are not limited to:
- Participate in a wide variety of multi-disciplinary laboratory studies designed to investigate genetic variability among wildlife species and diseases as assessed from various molecular markers.
- Extract and further process DNA from biological samples (animal tissues, blood, and non-invasive samples such as water, saliva, hair, fecal etic...).
- With minimal supervision, identify, analyze, and troubleshoot problems encountered with laboratory procedures.
- Comply with Good Laboratory Practices, Animal Welfare Act, Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and applicable state and federal wildlife laws and regulations.
- Organize raw data to facilitate various downstream statistical analyses and software packages.
- Perform basic statistical analyses on genotype data towards detecting population structure among wildlife populations and wildlife diseases.
- Train other persons (e.g. subordinates, temporaries, volunteers, students, visiting scientists, etc.) in wildlife genetics lab techniques and data analyses as necessary.
- Operate laboratory equipment including genetic analyzers and various theromocyclers. Maintain laboratory in a safe and orderly condition with regular cleanings, procure supplies and equipment.
- Assist Research Biologist (supervisor) in designing and conducting laboratory and field genetic research on a variety of wildlife species, and disease.
Requirements Help
Conditions of employment - You must be a US Citizen or US National.
- Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
- Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
- Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
- Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at
- Successful completion of one-year trial period.
- Valid state driver's license is required at the time of application.
- All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions.
- The skilled operation of government owned or leased vehicles in remote locations of various types of terrain under adverse weather conditions are essential. Strict adherence to safety procedures is mandatory.
- As a condition of employment, the rabies pre-exposure vaccination series (or current documentation of an adequate rabies antibody titer from an accredited lab) is required.
- Field and lab work may involve abnormal or long working hours, exposure to adverse conditions requiring alertness and suitable protective equipment.
- Strict adherence to safety procedures is mandatory.
- As a condition of employment, the rabies pre-exposure vaccination series (or current documentation of an adequate rabies antibody titer from an accredited lab) is required.
Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.
FOR THE GS-05 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-04 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:
- Ability to carefully track wildlife samples from receipt, through testing, to reporting using database software. Experience with database management is desirable.
- Must have performed specialized technical laboratory procedures, including DNA extractions from environmental samples. Genetic lab skills is required as well as basic analysis of data generated from these processes.
- Must have experience identifying, analyzing, and troubleshooting problems (optimizing, developing new assay) encountered with quantitative Polymerase Chain Reactions.
- Ability to use mapping software to document wildlife samples collected and results from laboratory analysis.
- Experience with basic R coding capabilities and experience applying to population genetic analyses is desired.
OR Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours of courses must have been directly related to the position to be filled.
OR Combination of Education and Experience for GS-5 level positions, only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to l year of specialized experience. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for GS-5.Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.
TRANSCRIPTS are required if:
- You are qualifying for the position based on education.
- You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education.
- This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university.
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-05 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level.
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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Education Please see above for education qualification requirement information.
Additional information - Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. 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.
- First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected.
- Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty will be the responsibility of the selected employee.
- This is a term appointment not to exceed 13 Months. (Appointment may be extended up to 4 years without reannouncing). For more details click: Term Appointments
- Promotion Potential: 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.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits Help
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.
Job Tags
Full time, Temporary work, Part time, Local area, Remote work, Relocation, Trial period,