Biological Science Laboratory Technician

The selectee serves as Biological Science Laboratory Technician at a laboratory or work unit within Plant Protection and Quarantine, Science and Technology (PPQ S&T) and is responsible for carrying out complex task, analyses, evaluations, studies, and diagnostics using a variety of sophisticated technologies in support of scientific studies.

The duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Prepares study plans for scientific experiments, using the scientist's hypothesis; attends to all the technical/administrative concerns.
• Develops the data required; refines, verifies, justifies, and organizes the data; analyzes and evaluates findings; and writes-up results for review.
• Conducts tests and analyses of studies and evaluations of data on plant pests detected domestically or intercepted at ports of entry from all parts of the world.
• Collects and manages data, evaluates and analyzes data pertaining to risk, diagnosis, mitigation, rearing, control, treatment and quarantine status.
• Manages plant and/or pest samples and resulting data, including receipt, storage, processing, photographing, and archiving while following procedures to ensure sample integrity and custody.

This is a term appointment not to exceed 13 Months. (Appointment may be extended up to 10 years without reannouncing). For more details click: Term Appointments

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.

FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-06 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• Knowledge of basic principles and common field and laboratory techniques of any of the following plant pathology, microbiology, molecular biology, entomology or similar fields.
• Ability to follow written and oral instructions and execute experimental work in field or laboratory research related to the above disciplines.
• Experience in data collection, data quality control, electronically storing data, basic summary analysis and reporting.
• Experience in operating and maintaining specialized equipment, and maintaining inventories of samples, reagents and supplies.
• Ability to communicate effectively and work with team members to plan and conduct research projects successfully and in a timely fashion.

OR Successful completion of 18 semester hours of graduate level education or internship in biology, chemistry, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, or agriculture, or in a field directly related to the position, may be substituted for the specialized experience at the GS-7 level.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures and USDA policy using category rating. This means you will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses to the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Category placement will be determined based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent they possess the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs), and other characteristics):
 

• Attention to Detail
• Flexibility
• Horticultural Sciences
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Laboratory Support
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Self-Management
• Teamwork

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

To preview the application questionnaire, please visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12355040