Job: Biological Science Laboratory Technician

Jobing Description

Find Solutions to Agricultural Problems that Affect Americans Every Day, From Field to Table

The, USDA, ARS, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center (GFHNRC), Healthy Body Weight Research Unit, in Grand Forks, North Dakota is seeking a temporary, full-time Biological Science Laboratory Technician to support a Research Nutritionist studying the role of food, food habits and physical activity in maintaining a healthy weight.

**This is a Term Appointment Not-to-Exceed 2 years (May be extended up to four years without further competition) **

KEY REQUIREMENTS

* You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position

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DUTIES:
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The incumbent assists a Research Nutritionist in conducting clinical and behavioral nutrition research addressing the nutritional roles of foods with a focus on the maintenance of healthy body weight and prevention of obesity and related disorders. The incumbent will assist in developing and implementing human studies that focus on the maintenance of healthy body weight and prevention of obesity and related disorders. Major duties include assisting in implementing research protocols for the human studies, collection and preparing of biological samples including performing blood draws by venipuncture, and working with staff members to coordinate research scheduling and implementation. Conducting briefings and interviews with prospective and current study volunteers; developing forms and questionnaires for the implementation of research protocols; working with the GFHNRC Nurse Consultant to coordinate communication with the University of North Dakota Institutional Review Board on all issues relative to the approval and compliance of human studies protocols; and working with the Nurse Consultant and other GFHNRC staff members to coordinate research recruiting and scheduling, protocol implementation, sample analyses and data management.

Working Conditions and Other Considerations

Travel to field sites in the Upper Mid-West as well as non-standard work hours will occasionally be required.

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QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
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Your education and experience will be evaluated against all qualification requirements (basic and any additional requirements) listed below.

Basic Requirements:

GS-06: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service OR six months of graduate education directly related to the duties of the position e.g., nutrition, human health, cell biology, cell physiology, molecular biology, immunology, and/or biochemistry.

GS-07: In order to qualify, applicants must demonstrate one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-06 grade level in the Federal Service OR successful completion of one year of graduate education directly related to the position e.g., nutrition, human health, cell biology, cell physiology, molecular biology, immunology, and/or biochemistry.

If qualifying all or in part based on your education, you must submit a copy of your academic transcripts OR a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed, and grade point average or class ranking to verify education when applying for this position. If this information is not provided, your education may not be appropriately evaluated and you may lose consideration for this position. If you are selected for this position, you will have to provide an official copy of your transcripts prior to entering on duty.

Specialized Experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for this position are:

1. Knowledge of biology and human health as it relates human clinical and/or behavioral studies.

2. Skill in maintaining, calibrating, and modifying complex/specialized equipment (i.e., balances, microscopes, etc.) used for testing and evaluation procedures.

3. Skills in utilizing computers and computer software to enter and retrieve data and to generate needed advertisements, letters etc.

Applicants must address the specialized experience requirements in their resume (or application documents). Applications that do not reflect the specialized experience requirements will not be deemed qualified.

Selective Factor(s): In order to be considered minimally qualified, you must also possess the following:

1. Skill in drawing blood through venipuncture and handling of biologic samples.

Required Licenses

Applicant must possess a valid, state-issued driver?s license.

Graduate education must be directly related to the work of the position and must have equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website for additional information on this topic.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

Applicants must be available to report for duty at the time a selection is made. Selections are typically made within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

You will be evaluated to determine if you meet the basic and any additional requirements. The Agricultural Research Service uses a category rating process. Based on evaluation of all written materials submitted in your application for the position, you will be determined to be Ineligible if you do not meet eligibility and/or minimum qualifications criteria; Eligible if you meet all eligibility and minimum qualifications criteria; OR Quality if you meet quality criteria in addition to eligibility and minimum qualifications criteria.

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BENEFITS:
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The Federal government offers a number of exceptional benefits to its employees. The following link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal employees:
http://www.usajobs.gov/ResourceCenter/Index/Interactive/Benefits#icc.

OTHER INFORMATION:

Applications for this vacancy will be accepted from U.S. Citizens and candidates eligible under special hiring authorities. On the assessment questionnaire, you will be required to indicate how you are applying for this position and will only be considered under the options you select. You must meet certain requirements in order to apply under non-competitive procedures. For details, click here.

Displaced/Surplus Employees: Individuals eligible under the USDA Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. CTAP and ICTAP eligibles within the local commuting area will be considered well qualified if they meet the qualification standard and eligibility requirements for the position, meet minimum education and experience requirements, meet all selective factors where applicable and are able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry. Employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent performance rating and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level and duty location. Please indicate annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP or ICTAP eligible. Click here for additional information on CTAP and ICTAP.

If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must submit member 4 copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must submit an SF-15, Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference plus the proof required by that form.

If you are a male applicant born after 12/31/59 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions.

Relocation Expenses: Payment of relocation expenses will be determined in accordance with P&P 412.5, Recruitment and Retention Incentives and Other Special Pay, Sections 6 and 7, as amended by Bulletins 03-402 and 05-412.5. Click here for additional information.

Financial Disclosure Requirement: Federal employees are subject to prohibitions against officially dealing with outside organizations in which they have a financial interest. If hired for this position, you may be required to submit a financial disclosure report within 30 days of the effective date of your appointment and annually thereafter.

ARS Reasonable Accommodation Contact Information: If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, or have questions regarding reasonable accommodation and/or accessibility for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Disability Program Manager on 202-720-6161 or through the DC Relay Service on 202-855-1234 (TDD).

False Statements: If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; may be fired after beginning work; or may be fined or jailed.

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