Research Microbiologist/Research Veterinary Medical Officer

About the role

This position is located with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), National Bio and Agro Defense Facility (NBAF), Zoonotic and Emerging Disease Research Unit Manhattan, Kansas.

Responsibilities

• Identify, propose, and perform independent and collaborative research to achieve the research objectives.
• Provide input into the scheduling and conducting of inspections and/or surveys of various biosafety levels (BSL-2, BSL-3, BSL-3+, BSL-3Ag, BSL4 and BSL4Ag containment) laboratory and support service areas of NBAF.
• Provide unique leadership and research skills to contribute to the identification, description, and characterization of the effects of zoonotic pathogens in livestock on the host and the hosts’ immune response to the pathogens.
• Organize research, establish research priorities, lead in planning research projects, supervise execution of research, evaluate and review research, lead discussions on the interpretation of results, and report and publish research progress.
• Provide unique leadership and research skills to contribute to the identification, description, and characterization of the effects of zoonotic and emerging diseases.
• Serve as a scientist working on the National Program 103 animal health projects.

Qualifications

• GS-12 Grade Level: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-12 level include independently implementing scientific principles, methods and processes to conduct a systematic and objective inquiry into animal diseases and host-pathogen relationships dealing with the zoonotic arthropod-borne viruses. OR Education (For 0403 Series Only): Completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. Graduate education must be directly related to the work of the position and must have equipped applicants with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. OR Combination of Education and Experience (For 0403 Series Only): Possess a combination of Ph.D. level education and specialized experience as described above. OR Education (For 0701 Series Only): Completed a master's degree in an area of specialization, including but not limited to, animal science, avian medicine, food safety, infectious diseases, veterinary clinical sciences, pathobiology, biomedical sciences, veterinary anatomy, veterinary preventive medicine, comparative biological sciences, epidemiology, veterinary parasitology, molecular veterinary biosciences, public health, microbiology, pathology, immunology, laboratory animal medicine, toxicology, wildlife, zoological animal medicine, or sciences related to the work of a veterinary medical officer position. OR Residency/Post-Graduate Training Programs (For 0701 Series Only): Completed two years of an internship, residency program, or fellowship training program in a discipline related to the position such as veterinary microbiology, immunology, or pathology.
• GS-13 Grade Level: At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-13 level include experience in animal and/or arthropod work collecting samples for molecular analysis in compliance with US government animal welfare regulations and experience independently researching the molecular virology of zoonotic arthropod-borne viruses as evidenced through publications. OR Education (For 0701 Series Only): Completed a Ph.D. degree in an area of specialization, including but not limited to, animal science, avian medicine, food safety, infectious diseases, veterinary clinical sciences, pathobiology, biomedical sciences, veterinary anatomy, veterinary preventive medicine, comparative biological sciences, epidemiology, veterinary parasitology, molecular veterinary biosciences, public health, microbiology, pathology, immunology, laboratory animal medicine, toxicology, wildlife, zoological animal medicine, or sciences related to the work of a veterinary medical officer position. OR Residency/Post-Graduate Training Programs (For 0701 Series Only): Completed three years of an internship, residency program, or fellowship training program in a discipline related to the position such as veterinary microbiology, immunology, or pathology. OR Board Certification (For 0701 Series Only): Completed all requirements for a Diplomate status in an American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) recognized specialty organization. Such specialties may include, but are not limited to, veterinary toxicology, laboratory animal medicine, poultry veterinary medicine, theriogenology, veterinary anesthesiology, veterinary behaviorists, veterinary clinical pharmacology, veterinary dermatology, veterinary emergency and critical care, veterinary internal medicine, veterinary microbiology, veterinary nutrition, veterinary ophthalmology, veterinary pathology, veterinary preventive medicine, veterinary radiology, veterinary medicine, and veterinary dentistry.
• GS-14 Grade Level (For Both Series): At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-14 level include leading the planning and implementation of molecular virology-based study against zoonotic arthropod-borne virus-based diseases with accomplishments in virology and host-vector-pathogen interactions as demonstrated in scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals, books, or similar scientific literature.
• GS-15 Grade Level (For Both Series): At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-15 level include planning, conducting, and leading a collaborative research program focused on health in multiple agricultural animal species; serving as editor or co-editor of peer-reviewed journals; presenting research findings at domestic and international scientific meetings.