Biologist

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: 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 experience--courses 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)

In addition to the basic education requirements as stated above, applicants must have one year of specialized experience at or equal to the next lower grade 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 ecotoxicology, with emphasis on fish physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, life history, or behavior. Applicants should have experience conducting field and laboratory ecotoxicology experiments with diverse fish species and preparing descriptive scientific reports on the results of research activities for publication, presentation, and administrative use. Experience is best demonstrated by authoring and co-authoring publications and other products that contribute to the scientific understanding of fish ecotoxicology. Additionally, applicants should have experience attending scientific and/or interagency meetings to present research results and exchange information within the scientific community at the national level.

Preference is for candidates with broad experience in aquatic systems with laboratory, field, bioinformatic, or modeling approaches that assess the effects of environmental contaminants or stressors on fish health. Health outcomes of interest include, but are not limited to, reproduction, endocrinology, immunology, nutrient deficiencies (such as thiamine deficiency), embryo and larval development, energetics and metabolism, histology, and gene expression/omics. Current focal contaminants include algal toxins, nitrogen-based nutrients, PFAS, microplastics, oil and gas derivatives, and pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Ideal candidates have experience with either some of these contaminants or biochemical assessment endpoints, and the flexibility to shift to new topics as the research program develops. Additionally, ideal candidates can develop new methods for ecotoxicological assessment; one example is engaging artificial intelligence-driven image recognition approaches to increase analytic through-put of histological images. Candidates should be able to scale observed health effects from organismal to population levels and/or frame research findings in the cross-disciplinary context of One Health. Ideal candidates are able to demonstrate expertise through multiple peer reviewed journal publications, conference presentations, and evidence of interdisciplinary collaborations.


You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.