Interdisciplinary Scientist (Data Scientist)

Summary
General Information

• Salary: $54,203 (Step 01) to $70,466 (Step 10) NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01.

There is currently only one vacancy to be filled; however, this announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies if they become available.
This is an interdisciplinary position that may be filled as a Geographer GS-0150, General Engineer GS-0801, Physical Scientist GS-1301, Librarian GS-1410 or Biologist GS-0401.
This job is open to

• Recent graduates
  Individuals who have graduated from an accredited educational institute or certificate program within the last 2 years or 6 years for Veterans.

Clarification from the agency
Open to all qualified U.S. Citizens that meet the eligibility requirements for the Pathways Recent Graduates Program as described below.
Videos
Duties
As a Data Scientist within the Western Ecological Research Center, some of your specific duties will include:

• Primary work focuses on the preparation for publication of USGS data releases and working directly with Research Managers and other Scientists to provide data management technical support for USGS Biological/Ecological/ecosystems science efforts within the science center.
• Coordinates implementation of protocols and procedures necessary for data management, data integration, publication of data and metadata, preserving and providing public access to scientific data.
• Coordinates and performs data release publication process including the creation of ScienceBase pages, creation and management of digital object identifiers (DOI)s, and facilitation of data review; once approved for publication, incumbent will publish data with appropriate Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) metadata standards.
• Coordinates with Center staff and/or Records Liaison Officer/Coordinator to ensure preservation of scientific data, metadata, software, and records of the Center.
• Works with science staff and some outside collaborators to provide guidance in the principles, theories, and methods, of scientific data management planning, data curation and documentation, publication, and preservation.
• Operates a government owned or leased vehicle as an incidental driver.

Physical Demands:
The work is usually sedentary but may include lifting of light office objects. Occasional travel is required to training, meetings, conferences, or to the field.
Work Environment:
The work is generally performed in an office environment that is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. Some travel may be required.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Key Requirements:

1. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
2. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
3. The duration of the Recent Graduates appointment is a trial period.
4. Selectee must provide a valid state driver's license & safe driving record.
5. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.

Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?

• This vacancy is limited to the first 35 applications received and will close at midnight Eastern Time on the day this application limit is reached regardless of the closing date specified in this vacancy announcement. Any application received prior to midnight Eastern Time of the day the application limit is reached will be accepted and considered. You are strongly encouraged to submit all required supporting documents at the time of application should the vacancy close earlier than stated in this announcement due to the applicant limit being reached. Supporting documents will not be accepted once the vacancy announcement closes.
• Because this position requires travel for official business, the selectee will be required to apply for a charge card within 30 calendar days of appointment. Individuals who have delinquent account balances from a previous Government charge card will be required to satisfy their existing obligation before a new card can be issued.
• The Recent Graduate Program lasts for 1 year. Participants who successfully complete the Recent Graduate Program may be eligible for conversion to a permanent appointment or a term (1-4 years in duration) appointment without further competition.
• Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.
• A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.

Qualifications
Eligibility Requirements
In order to be eligible for an appointment under the Pathways Recent Graduate Program you must meet the following requirements:

• You must be a recent graduate who has completed, within the previous two years, an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution such as an accredited technical or vocational school; a 2- or 4-year college or university; a graduate or professional school (e.g., law school, medical school); or a post-secondary home school curriculum. Note: Certificate program is defined as post-secondary education in a qualifying educational institution equal to at least one academic year of full-time study that's part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum.
• Veterans who were precluded from applying due to their military service obligation begin their 2-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty; however, eligibility for these veterans cannot exceed 6 years from the date on which the degree or certificate was obtained. The date of release or discharge from active duty should be later than the date the degree or certificate was obtained.

Qualification Requirements
BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT for GS-0150GEOGRAPHER: Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic education requirement for Geographer, all grade levels.
A. Degree in geography; or related physical or social science such as geology, meteorology, economics, statistics, sociology, anthropology, political science, history, cartography, computer science, urban studies, or planning that included at least 24 semester hours in geography or related fields.
*OR*
B. A combination of education and experience courses equivalent to a major in geography, or a related field that included at least 24 semesters hours in geography or related fields, as shown in "A" above, plus appropriate experience and/or additional education. The education or combined education and experience must be comparable in type, scope and thoroughness to that acquired through successful completion of a 4-year course of study as described in "A" above. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE)
BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT for GS-0401 BIOLOGIST: Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic education requirement for Biologist, all grade levels.
A. Degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
*OR*
B. Combination of education and experiencecourses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above (24 semester hours or the equivalent in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position), plus appropriate experience and/or additional education for a total of 4 years. The education or combined education and experience must be comparable in type, scope and thoroughness to that acquired through successful completion of a 4-year course of study as described in "A" above. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE)
BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT for GS-1301PHYSICAL SCIENTIST: Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic education requirement for Physical Scientist, all grade levels.
A. Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours or the equivalent in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.
*OR*
B. A combination of education and experienceeducation equivalent to one of the majors shown in "A" above (24 semester hours or the equivalent in physical science, engineering, or mathematics) that included at least 24 semester hours or the equivalent in physical science and/or related engineering science as described above, plus appropriate experience and/or additional education for a total of 4 years. The education or combined education and experience must be comparable in type, scope and thoroughness to that acquired through successful completion of a 4-year course of study as described in "A" above. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE)
BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT for GS-1410 LIBRARIAN: Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic education requirement for Librarian, all grade levels. A. Completion of 1 full academic year of graduate study in library science in an accredited college or university, in addition to completion of all work required for a bachelor's degree;
*OR*
B. A total of at least 5 years of a combination of college-level education, training, and experience. To qualify on this basis, the applicant must establish conclusively that the education, training, and experience provided a knowledge and understanding of the theories, principles, and techniques of professional librarianship; a knowledge of literature resources; and the knowledge and abilities essential for providing effective library and information services. Examples of such experience may include maintaining and updating the electronic catalog of library holdings; maintaining an accurate record of the journal holdings; contacting other libraries and arranging interlibrary loan of or copying of material and obtaining reference lists and bibliographies from other's sources; performing literature searches in a computerized database by using knowledge of subject-heading structure and logic of search information; utilizing the computer to access library databases, online journals, online library services, the internet, and electronic mail to identify and obtain information for library users; and conducting research on technical and scientific information.
BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT for GS-0801 GENERAL ENGINEER: Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic education requirement for General Engineering.
A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.
*OR*
B. Combination of education and experience college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS CONTINUED IN EDUCATION SECTION BELOW
Education
Qualification Requirements Continued:
In addition to the basic education requirement(s) as stated above, applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-07 level:
1-year of successfully completed graduate level education (18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours or the equivalent) in biology or other directly related field of study if it provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.
**OR Superior Academic Achievement based on undergraduate study. (CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT).
**OR one year of appropriate professional experience that is in or related to the duties of the position to be filled is qualifying if it is equivalent to at least the GS-5 level in the Federal service, and if it equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.
Examples of duties may include: Applying Preparing samples, and analyzing, compiling, and computing scientific data.GS-5 level experience could include taking measurements and collecting information; learning to take proper samples; conducting routine calculating, plotting, and checking of numerical data; preparing graphs and data profiles; and accomplishing routine analyses. The tasks performed at this level were routine and usually entailed readily identifiable phenomena and environmental conditions; and the work was closely controlled and assigned with clear, specific, and detailed instructions as to the methods, procedures, and guidelines to use.
**OR a combination of successfully completed graduate level education, as described above, and profe...