Physical Scientist, AST, Life Support Studies

You will serve as an AST Life Support Studies senior scientist within the Space Biosciences Division leading deep-space exploration research, directing multidisciplinary bioscience teams, and translating findings into mission capabilities. You will also provide scientific authority for mission development, data analysis, and astronaut health while supporting NASA's objectives through advanced biological investigations and strategic leadership.

Major duties

• Direct complex scientific investigations in space biosciences and deep-space exploration; set research objectives, priorities, methods, and technical approaches for high-impact exploration missions across programs and partners.
• Provide scientific leadership for deep-space mission planning, design, development, and execution; define science objectives, instrument requirements, mission concepts, data strategies, and success criteria for exploration.
• Direct integration and interpretation of multi-omics, physiological, and imaging data from spaceflight and analogs using advanced computational methods to define biological mechanisms, risks, and countermeasures for exploration.
• Direct collaborative research with scientists, engineers, and government and external partners; set scientific priorities and resolve complex biological and experimental challenges affecting human and robotic exploration programs.
• Evaluate research findings and translate results into implications for biological impacts and countermeasures, planetary protection, closed-loop life support, bioregenerative systems, and long-duration human exploration missions.
• Provide leadership with authoritative scientific recommendations on research priorities, technology development, investments, and biological risks affecting future human and robotic exploration missions and program decisions.

Qualifications

In addition to the Basic Education Requirement (in the Education section below), to qualify for this position you must meet the requirements below and have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade, which has equipped you with the particular competencies needed to successfully perform the duties of the position described above. NASA utilizes OPM-approved qualification and rating requirements specific for Aerospace Technology (AST) positions which recognizes NASA's unique aerospace work. The specific qualifications and minimum education requirements are further described below and within the education section of the job announcement. To qualify for GS-15, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level: Directing independent, multidisciplinary research in space biosciences, including investigations of biological responses to microgravity, partial gravity, space radiation, isolation, altered environmental conditions, or other spaceflight stressors, and applying advanced biological, physiological, cellular, molecular, or organismal methods to address complex exploration challenges; Directing the design, execution, and scientific evaluation of complex spaceflight, ground-based, or analog biological investigations, including developing research objectives, experimental protocols, biological payload or instrumentation requirements, controls, sample collection and preservation strategies, and analytical approaches for generating scientifically valid and mission-relevant results; and Leading multidisciplinary teams and partnerships; integrating and interpreting complex biological datasets; translating research findings into recommendations for life-support and bioregenerative systems, planetary protection, exploration mission design, or other national space-exploration priorities; and communicating authoritative scientific advice to senior leadership. Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job. Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of artificial intelligent (AI) or AI-assisted tools during the application process.

Education

This position requires education or exceptional experience Basic Education Requirement: You must have successfully completed a bachelor's degree with a major in one of the following: a) Engineering from a college or university that has ABET accredited engineering programs b) Physical Science, Mathematics, Life Science or other field of Science c) Computer Science that included 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of course work in any combination of mathematics, statistics and computer science with at least half of those hours in mathematics and statistics courses that included differential and integral calculus; and that provided an in-depth knowledge of theoretical and practical applications of computer science, including digital computer system architecture and system software organization, the representation and transformation of information structures, and the theoretical models for such representations and transformations. If you did not complete a qualifying bachelor's degree, you may be eligible if you have obtained a graduate degree in an AST qualifying field, as listed above. Applicants who do not fully meet the basic education requirement may still be considered if they possess exceptional relevant experience, or a combination of education and experience, that clearly demonstrates significant full performance-level achievement directly related to the duties of this position. Engineering degrees earned within the United States: Engineering degrees earned within the United States must be from a college or university that has at least one ABET accredited engineering program. To find out if a school has at least one ABET accredited program, please visit http://www.abet.org. Engineering degrees earned outside the United States: Engineering degrees earned outside the United States must be recognized by a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), often known as accords. These are non-governmental agreements among organizations that accredit academic degree programs. MRAs recognize the substantial equivalence of mature accreditation systems and programs accredited by signatory organizations within their jurisdictions. For a listing of Signatories, please visit, https://www.abet.org/global-presence/mutual-recognition-agreements/is-your-program-recognized/. Science and other related degrees earned within the United States: Science and other related degrees must have been awarded from colleges or universities that are accredited by recognized accrediting organizations. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, go to http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. Science and other related degrees earned outside the United States: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. These education credentials must be deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. All degrees must have been received in the year of, or any year subsequent to the original date of accreditation.