Biological Science Laboratory Technician

Summary

Three positions are available at the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, US National Poultry Research Center, Toxicology and Mycotoxin Research Unit, and Endemic Poultry Viral Diseases Unit, in Athens, Georgia.

In this position, you will work with scientists to find solutions to poultry health challenges, including either fungal toxins, or endemic poultry viruses. You will handle poultry, inject and collect samples, in addition to various lab techniques.

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Duties

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• Participates in poultry research including handling, blood collection, IV injection, and tissue sample collection using aseptic techniques.
• Collects, measures, evaluates and verifies poultry, animal tissue, fungal, or microbial samples and supporting records.
• Assisting in the preparation of poultry samples for advanced flow cytometry analysis, contributing to the characterization of immune cell populations.
• Conducting molecular techniques such as PCR, RT-PCR, qPCR, Western blot ELISA, molecular cloning, and chemical analysis
• Collecting cell cultures, propagation, and characterization of poultry viruses, bacteria, and cell lines.
• Assisting histological processing including tissue fixation, embedding, sectioning, and staining.
• Maintains, calibrates and modifies complex/specialized equipment and automated systems used for test and evaluation procedures.
• Safely disposes of waste material (both chemical and biological).

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.

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.

GS-05

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-05 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-04 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience assisting higher level technicians in one or more phases of the research process in a laboratory setting; and operating common laboratory equipment.

OR

Education: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study above the high school level leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of 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 being filled. Related courses may include biology, microbiology, molecular biology, poultry science, dairy science, animal science, or infectious disease.

OR

A combination of specialized experience and education as described above.

GS-06

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-06 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-05 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which equips the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience analyzing microbiological samples in a laboratory environment; assisting with handling poultry, cattle, swine or laboratory rodents; compiling and summarizing data from experiments; and operating laboratory equipment.

OR

Education: One full year of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related. Related degrees may include biology, microbiology, molecular biology, poultry science, dairy science, animal science, or infectious disease.

OR

A combination of specialized experience and education as described above.

GS-07

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-07 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-06 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience analyzing microbiological samples in a laboratory environment; assisting with preparation of poultry samples for advanced analysis; and operating and maintaining laboratory equipment.

OR

Education: One full year of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related. Related degrees may include biology, microbiology, molecular biology, poultry science, dairy science, animal science, or infectious disease.

OR

A combination of specialized experience and education as described above.

GS-08

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-08 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-07 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience participating in a microbiological research project related to poultry; handling poultry, cattle, swine or laboratory rodents; analyzing and summarizing results of scientific research data; and operating laboratory equipment or instruments.

OR

Education: Two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include biology, microbiology, molecular biology, poultry science, dairy science, animal science, or infectious disease.

OR

A combination of specialized experience and education as described above.

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-08 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience leading the handling poultry, cattle, swine or laboratory rodents; conducting a microbiological research project related to poultry; collecting and evaluating virus samples from poultry; and performing cell culture techniques on virus samples collected from poultry.

OR

Education: Two full years of graduate level education or a master's degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include biology, microbiology, molecular biology, poultry science, dairy science, animal science, or infectious disease.

OR

A combination of specialized experience and education as described above.

Other Considerations:

• The incumbent must follow instructions regarding decontamination from biocontainment.
• The work involves regular and recurring moderate risks or discomforts which require special safety precautions, e.g., working with contagious diseases or irritant chemical or working outdoors.
• The incumbent is required to use personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks or respirators, eye and ear protection, boots, gloves, and coverall are when providing care to animals that represent a potential source of zoonotic disease or other biohazard. PPE provides necessary protection against biological and chemical hazards but may increase risk of accidents due to decreased vision, hampered communication, and limited mobility and dexterity.
• The incumbent must shower out of containment and biocontainment one or more times a day; must not have any skin condition which would prevent the showering; must be able to remove body piercings prior to entry into containment and biocontainment; and must be able to remove external medical assist devices prior to entering or not impede the ability to enter containment or biocontainment.
• Participation in Occupational Medical Surveillance Program.

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 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• USDA-ARS scientists work on a wide range of agricultural issues. The agency's research aims to find practical solutions to agricultural problems, often translating scientific findings into tools and technologies that can be used by farmers, ranchers, and food producers. The National Farm Security Action Plan elevates American agriculture as a key element of our nation's national security. This position supports and/or assists the research that is being conducted by USDA-ARS scientists and is considered to be sensitive as the duties require protection of private, controlled unclassified, or proprietary information with a moderate impact degree.
• Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. The final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official.

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.