Biological Science Technician

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-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 perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience participating in a research project involving agricultural samples; performing DNA/RNA extraction, purification, amplification, or preparation; and operating specialized equipment used for test and evaluation procedures.
OR
Education: Successful completion of 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 Plant Pathology, Microbiology, Soil Microbiology, Plant Biology, Plant Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Plant Breeding, Genetics.
OR
A combination of graduate level education and experience 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 has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience performing molecular techniques including the extraction of DNA for analysis or Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) analysis; analyzing tree or plant samples; and operating, maintaining, calibrating, or modifying specialized equipment.
OR
Education: Two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related. Related degrees may include Plant Pathology, Microbiology, Soil Microbiology, Plant Biology, Plant Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Plant Breeding, Genetics.
OR
A combination of graduate level education and experience 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 perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience conducting an experiment involving genotyping plant or tree samples; maintaining specialized scientific equipment used for test and evaluation procedures; and accurately recording experimental data.
OR
Education: Two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related. Related degrees may include Plant Pathology, Microbiology, Soil Microbiology, Plant Biology, Plant Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Plant Breeding, Genetics.
OR
A combination of graduate level education and 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.