Research Chemist

This position is located in the Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Environmental Health, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. This announcement will close at 11:59 PM, on the day that 80 applications have been received or the closing date of the announcement, whichever comes first.

Major duties

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING DAY TO DAY As a Research Chemist, you will use your knowledge and experience to optimize business results and customer experience by: Designing analytical methods, conducting laboratory experiments, interpreting scientific findings, and preparing technical reports to improve the accuracy and reliability of chronic disease biomarker measurements. Directing research activities, mentoring scientific staff, establishing experimental protocols, evaluating analytical results, and ensuring laboratory quality, instrument calibration, and compliance with safety standards. Modifying analytical techniques, improving laboratory processes, preparing scientific publications and presentations, and representing the organization as a technical expert at professional meetings. Coordinating research partnerships, developing quality assurance processes, preparing progress reports, and maintaining laboratory quality and safety.

Qualifications

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR Basic Qualifications: You must possess one of the items listed below. A. Degree: physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that included 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics. -OR- B. Combination of education and experience -- course work equivalent to a major as shown in A above, including at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: Minimum Qualifications: You must have one year specialized experience to perform successfully the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service performing ALL of the following: Developing and directing applied research studies to advance chronic disease bio-marker measurement and laboratory standardization. Providing technical leadership for laboratory research and clinical standardization programs supporting chronic disease bio-marker analysis. Developing and applying analytical methods to support laboratory research and public health investigations. Directing collaborative research projects and managing scientific program activities supporting laboratory research and public health initiatives. Documenting experience: IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Qualifications are based on breadth/level of experience. In addition to describing duties performed, applicants must provide the exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) and the number of hours worked per week if part time. As qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information, failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Applicants are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to develop their federal resume. Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational application questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. In accordance with Office of Personnel Management policy, federal employees are assumed to have gained experience by performing duties and responsibilities appropriate for their official series and grade level as described in their position description. Experience that would not normally be part of the employee's position is creditable, however, when documented by satisfactory evidence, such as a signed memorandum from the employee's supervisor or an SF-50 or SF-52 documenting an official detail or other official assignment. The documentation must indicate whether the duties were performed full time or, if part time, the "percentage of times" the other duties were performed. It is expected that this documentation is included in the employee's official personnel record. In order to receive credit for experience in your resume that is not within the official series and grade level of your official position, you must provide a copy of the appropriate documentation of such experience as indicated 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; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to gain employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. If such experience is on a part-time basis, you must provide the average number of hours worked per week as well as the beginning and ending dates of the experience so it can be fully credited. OPM Qualification General Policies Website

Education

Foreign Education: 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 and such education has been 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: http://www.ed.gov. Note: Applications can be accepted from students who expect to complete qualifying education within 9 months from the date of application. Education was completed successfully before the applicant can be appointed.