Research Fish Biologist

Summary
What General Information Do I Need To Know About This Position?
Salary: $82,830 (Step 01) to $107,680 (Step 10); NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01.
This job is open to

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
  Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
• The public
  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

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Duties
As a Research Fish Biologist within the Columbia Environmental Research Center, some of your specific duties will include:

• Conducting research focused on the biology, ecology, and control of invasive aquatic organisms, especially invasive carps.
• Serving as independent member or leader of various research teams that consist of multidisciplinary scientists from multiple agencies.
• Preparing proposals, reports to funding agencies, and scientific journal publications.
• Providing technical assistance to DOI agencies and to other Federal, State, and private interests as appropriate.

Physical Demands- This position serves as a project investigator with oversight of seasonal personnel for sampling large rivers,
performing field studies using advanced telemetry and sonar technologies, and conducting laboratory and field studies investigating the potential use of various control strategies
Work Environment - Field work is performed on rivers in order to perform sonar techniques to monitor fish behavior.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Key Requirements:

1. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
2. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
3. Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year probationary period.
4. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.
5. Selectee must provide a valid state driver's license & safe driving record.
6. Selectee subject to successful completion of a pre-employment medical exam.

Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?

• This vacancy is limited to the first 50 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.
• Applicants for this position must meet the following requirements: (1) possess a valid State license, and (2) possess a safe driving record. If selected, you will be required to provide proof of a valid State license & a copy of your driving record.
• Taking and passing a pre-employment medical examination at Federal expense is required due to the physical demands of this job.
• 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.
• 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.

Qualifications
Basic education requirement: 4 years of college leading to a bachelor's or higher degree with a major study in biology, zoology, or biological oceanography that included at least 30 semester hours (SH) in biological and aquatic science and 15 SH in the physical and mathematical sciences. This course work must have included: at least 15 SH of preparatory training in zoology beyond introductory biology or zoology in such courses as invertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, histology, physiology, embryology, advanced vertebrate zoology, genetics, entomology, and parasitology; and at least 6 SH of training applicable to fishery biology in such subjects as fishery biology, ichthyology, limnology, oceanography, algology, planktonology, marine or fresh water ecology, invertebrate ecology, principles of fishery population dynamics, or related course work in the field of fishery biology; and at least 15 SH of training in any combination of two or more of the following: chemistry, physics, mathematics, or statistics.
In addition to the basic education requirement described above, applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-12 level,
Possess one year of specialized experience at or equal to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of experience at the GS-11 level may include working independently or as a full member of a research team conceiving, formulating, conducting, and publishing research relevant to aquatic invasive species and fish physiology, with related skill sets in chemosensory neurophysiology. Applicants should have experience conducting field and laboratory experiments with emphasis on examining fish behavior in response to environmental stimuli and gathering data to meet the needs of resource managers to control invasive carp and preparing descriptive scientific reports on the results of research activities for publication and administrative use. Experience is best demonstrated by authoring and co-authoring publications and other products that contribute to scientific understanding of the subject. Additionally, applicants should have experience attending scientific and/or interagency meetings to present research results and exchange information within the scientific community. Preference is for candidates with broad experience in freshwater systems and laboratory experimental approaches to assess effects of environmental (chemical, visual, acoustic) stimuli on the behavior of invasive carp. Outcomes of interest include (but are not limited to) avoidance, attractance, deterrence, and changes in larval responses. The ideal candidate will be able to scale observed effects from organismal to population levels or frame research findings in the cross-disciplinary context for the control of invasive species through an integrated pest management approach. Candidates should be able to demonstrate expertise through multiple peer reviewed journal publications, successful grant proposal submissions, and evidence of interdisciplinary collaborations that can develop into a dynamic research program.
OR**
B. Possession of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a directly related field of study.
OR**
C. Possession of a combination of successfully completed progressive graduate level education, as described above, that is beyond the second year of graduate study and professional experience, as described above.
You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.
Education

• 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, knowledge, and skills 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 completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/how-foreign-education-evaluated-federal-jobs .

Additional information
Other Information:

• Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.
• The full performance level for a Research position is GS-15; however, promotion eligibility is dependent upon the scientific contributions of the incumbent as evaluated by a peer panel.
• Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for and performance of higher-level duties.
• Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. Agencies are permitted to hire non-citizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position.
• USGS employees are subject to Title 43, USC Section 31(a) and may not: (a) have any personal, private, direct or indirect interest in lands or mineral wealth of lands under survey; (b) have any substantial personal, private, direct or indirect interests in any private mining or mineral enterprise doing business with the United States; or (c) execute surveys or examinations for private parties or corporations.
• The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.
• DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
• The Department of the Interior (DOI) places a high value on diversity of experience and cultural perspectives and encourages applications from all interested eligible candidates. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are fundamental principles that guide the Department and allow us to successfully achieve our mission.
• THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

Agency Benefits:

• USGS has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework in accordance with the DOI Telework policy and with supervisor approval. The official worksite for the selectee is the duty station identified in this vacancy announcement. The selectee will typically report to this duty location on a regular and recurring weekly basis.
• For additional information on our internal telework policy, please reference the Department of the Interior Telework Handbook at: https://www.doi.gov/telework/policies.
• Working for the U.S. Geological Survey offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; health, life, dental, vision, and long term care insurance, flexible spending accounts, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.

• Benefits
  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.
  Review our 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.

How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Basis of Rating:
Category rating will be used in the ranking and selection process for this position. The quality categories are Best-Qualified, Well-Qualified and Qualified. If you meet the basic qualification and eligibility requirements of this position, you will be contacted via email after the vacancy announcement closes and given 10 calendar days to submit narrative responses that address the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) required to perform the duties of this position. You will be rated and ranked based on the information you provide in your resume as well as the responses you submit to the required KSAs. Veterans' preference rules for category rating will be applied.
The knowledge, skills, and abilities required for this position are as follows:
1. Professional knowledge of fishery biology theories, concepts, and principles and a working knowledge of related disciplines, including biology, physiology and ecology in order to conduct complex biological investigations.
2. Knowledge of the scientific methods necessary to develop and carry out research study plans and proposals. Must possess skill in initiating studies, exercising independent judgment and making decisions concerning changes in plans, designs and procedures.
3. Knowledge and experience in freshwater systems and laboratory experimental approaches to assess effects of environmental (chemical, visual, acoustic) stimuli on the behavior of fish. Experience in conducting olfaction assays for screening chemicals, utilizing audio evoked potentials to determine fish hearing thresholds, and knowledge of fish early life history biology.
4. Ability to work with scientists with diverse expertise to conduct research projects on aquatic ecology and fishery biology, including a wide...