Biological Science Technician

Summary

This position is in the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Field Organization, Plains Area (PA), Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center located in Grand Forks, ND.

In this position, you will study the roles of foods, food factors, agriculture practices and physical activity on human health, obesity prevention, and maintenance of healthy body weight.

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Duties

• Performs the full range of techniques and studies using a variety of specialized equipment.
• Maintains, calibrates and modifies complex/specialized equipment and automated systems used for test and evaluation procedures.
• Searches for literature pertinent to area of research for new procedures or techniques to use in the laboratory, field, or greenhouse.
• Collects, prepares, evaluates and verifies samples and supporting records. Maintains records and locates and compiles data and other information from various sources.
• Adapts, modifies, or develops new techniques and/or procedures to satisfy the needs of the research project.
• Keeps detailed records of experimental data. Tabulates, statistically analyzes, and summarizes data using personal computers and software packages.

Requirements, Conditions of Employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/

Qualifications

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-06
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-06 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-05 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 collecting and evaluating samples; keeping detailed records of experimental data; and performing routine and recurring techniques using a variety of specialized equipment.
OR
Education: One full year of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include Food Science, Nutrition, Chemistry, Biology, Dietetics, or Biochemistry.
OR
A combination of education and experience as described above.

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 nutrition programs; preparing reports based on research data; and maintaining equipment and automated systems used for test and evaluation procedures.
OR
Education: One full year of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include Food Science, Nutrition, Chemistry, Biology, Dietetics, or Biochemistry.
OR
A combination of 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 participating in research related to nutrition in a laboratory environment; using equipment or automated systems for evaluation procedures; and recording and analyzing data or results related to nutrition research.
OR
Education: Successful completion of two full years of graduate level education or a Master's degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include Food Science, Nutrition, Chemistry, Biology, Dietetics, or Biochemistry.
OR
A combination of education and specialized 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.

Education

If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

Control number

745151600

& 

Control number

745151200