Chemist

Summary

This position is located on United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Services (ARS), The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), located in Manhattan, Kansas.

The mission of the Biologics Development Module (BDM) is to directly support and accelerate technology transfer of vaccines, diagnostics, biotherapeutics, and other veterinary medical countermeasures (MCM) for development to commercial veterinary biologic manufacturers and other partners.

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Duties

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• Modifies methods, if necessary, to solve problems or make improvements. Devises experimental protocols to help meet program objectives.
• Carries out measurements and analyses by applying established chemical methods.
• Summarizes experimental results of completed projects in the form suitable as the basis for the first draft of written reports to scientific journals.
• Maintains official laboratory notebook in accordance with good laboratory practices.
• Performs experiments which are designed to provide answers for specific research problem areas.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born 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
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period unless previous federal service is creditable. During this time your employment will be evaluated, and we may consider: your performance and conduct, the needs and interests of the agency, whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government, and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
• Motor Vehicle or Commercial Driver's License Required
• Drug Test Required
• Vaccine(s) Required
• Special Physical Requirements/Demands (May wear fully encapsulated suit.)
• SAC and full background investigation required for positions working with BSL-3 (or higher) agents, or in BSL-3/BSL-4 facilities.
• Department of Justice (DOJ) Security Risk Assessment (SRA) approval is required.
• Immunizations may be required.
• Respirator fitting and certifications 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.

Basic Requirements:

Degree: physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that included 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics.

OR

Combination of education and experience: Course work equivalent to a major as shown in A above, including at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to meeting the basic education requirement above, all applicants must also meet the following minimum qualification requirements :

GS-09

Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-09 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-07 which is directly related to the work of this position; or its non-Federal equivalent that included experience participating in an experiment or research project in a laboratory setting; operating laboratory equipment; and performing laboratory analysis of biological samples.

OR

Education: Two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree, if related. Related degrees may include chemistry, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, environmental chemistry, analytical biochemistry, chemical engineering and pharmacology, and toxicology.

OR

An appropriate combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as described above.

GS-11

Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-11 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-09 which is directly related to the work of this position; or its non-Federal equivalent that included experience performing chemistry techniques in a laboratory setting; analyzing biological samples; and maintaining specialized laboratory equipment.

OR

Education: Three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, if related. Related degrees may include chemistry, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, environmental chemistry, analytical biochemistry, chemical engineering and pharmacology, and toxicology.

OR

An appropriate combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as described above.

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.

Work Environment:

The work is performed in an office and laboratories. The work involves exposure to the risks and hazards of harmful biological, chemical, and physical agents. The incumbent is required to adhere to special safety, health, and biosecurity regulations. Some work may involve wearing of personal protective equipment, including a respirator (N- 95 or PAPR), while entering infectious disease laboratories, engineering support areas, or animal facilities areas. Immunizations with vaccines may be required to enter facilities conducting work with human diseases. The incumbent may be required to occasionally wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks or respirators, air pressurized suits, hearing protection, eye protection, boots, gloves, and coveralls. The health status of personnel is monitored periodically using biologic and serologic tests and physical examinations.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

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.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.

This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). Selectee must submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use.

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.

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.

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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.