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-05 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-04 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:
- Using word-processing and database software.
- Maintaining a safe laboratory environment for self and colleagues.
- Making buffers and maintaining a sterile workspace.
- Following standard operating procedures and testing for proficiency.
OR 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, mathematics or related fields, with at least 6 semester hours in microbiology, biology or chemistry.
FOR THE GS-06 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:
- Using word-processing and database software.
- Maintaining quality records and maintaining a sterile workspace.
- Performing laboratory techniques comparable to Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) requirements.
- Animal handling, microbiological techniques such as isolate identification, and/or molecular techniques such as antibody-based assays.
OR Successful completion of 18 semester hours of graduate level education in biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, mathematics, or related fields with at least 6 semester hours in microbiology, biology or chemistry.
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:
- Performing techniques for culture propagation.
- Performing advanced animal handling including swabbing and inoculations, bacterial and viral identification, microscopy, immunohistochemical assays, and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
- Performing in-vitro and in-vivo potency comparison tests in accordance with standard operating procedures.
- Working with computerized systems for tracking and reporting test results as part of a quality management system.
- Working with pathogens of veterinary concern such as zoonotic agents or those under surveillance.
OR One full year of graduate education in biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, mathematics, or related fields with at least 6 semester hours in microbiology, biology or chemistry.
Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying at the GS-05/06/07 grade levels.
TRANSCRIPTS are required if:
- You are qualifying for the position based on education.
- You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education.
- This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-05/06/07 GRADE LEVELS: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level.
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.