- Position Title
- Research Biological Scientist
- Agency
- Food and Drug Administration
- Announcement Number
- FDA-CBER-23-11849259-IMP Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Tuesday, February 21, 2023 to Friday, March 10, 2023
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1.
Are you a current employee of any agency within the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) who has been notified that your job is no longer needed or that you will lose your job by Reduction-in-Force (RIF)? If so, you may be entitled to selection priority under the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP).
To be eligible, you must:
1. Meet the definition of 'surplus' or 'displaced' employee, as defined in Section 330-2-30; and
2. Have a duty station in the local commuting area of the vacancy; and
3. Have a performance rating of at least Fully Successful or equivalent; and
4. Be applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you're being separated; and
5. Be applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you're being separated; and
6. Be well-qualified for the position. Refer to the vacancy announcement for a description of the criteria; and
7. Submit the following supporting documentation:
Based on the above, are you eligible and would you like to be considered for selection priority under the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)?
To be eligible, you must:
1. Meet the definition of 'surplus' or 'displaced' employee, as defined in Section 330-2-30; and
2. Have a duty station in the local commuting area of the vacancy; and
3. Have a performance rating of at least Fully Successful or equivalent; and
4. Be applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you're being separated; and
5. Be applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you're being separated; and
6. Be well-qualified for the position. Refer to the vacancy announcement for a description of the criteria; and
7. Submit the following supporting documentation:
- RIF separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice; and
- Copy of your latest performance rating; and
- Copy of your most recent SF-50: Notification of Personnel Action showing your position, grade and step, tenure code, and duty location.
Based on the above, are you eligible and would you like to be considered for selection priority under the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)?
2.
Are you a current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) employee? If so, you may be eligible to apply competitively to this vacancy announcement.
To be eligible, you must:
1. Be a current permanent FDA employee on a career or career-conditional in the competitive service. If you are unsure, review your SF-50: Notification of Personnel Action for the following:
2. Have never held a permanent position with the same or greater promotion potential. Review the vacancy announcement for the promotion potential of this position.
AND
3. Submit a copy of your most recent SF-50: Notification of Personnel Action with your application package. Review the Required Documents section of the vacancy announcement.
Based on the above, are you eligible and would you like to be considered as a current FDA employee (Competitive)?
To be eligible, you must:
1. Be a current permanent FDA employee on a career or career-conditional in the competitive service. If you are unsure, review your SF-50: Notification of Personnel Action for the following:
- Block 24 (Tenure) must be '1 - Permanent' or '2 - Conditional'; and
- Block 34 (Position Occupied) must be '1 - Competitive Service'
2. Have never held a permanent position with the same or greater promotion potential. Review the vacancy announcement for the promotion potential of this position.
AND
3. Submit a copy of your most recent SF-50: Notification of Personnel Action with your application package. Review the Required Documents section of the vacancy announcement.
Based on the above, are you eligible and would you like to be considered as a current FDA employee (Competitive)?
3.
Are you a current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) employee? If so, you may be eligible to apply non-competitively to this vacancy announcement.
To be eligible, you must:
1. Be a current permanent FDA employee on a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service. If you are unsure, review your SF-50: Notification of Personnel Action for the following:
2. Currently hold or have previously held a permanent position with the same or greater promotion potential. Review the vacancy announcement for the promotion potential of this position. You must submit a copy of your SF-50: Notification of Personnel Action showing the highest grade (or promotion potential) held.
AND
3. Submit a copy of your most recent SF-50: Notification of Personnel Action with your application package. Review the Required Documents section of the vacancy announcement.
Based on the above, are you eligible and would you like to be considered as a current FDA employee (Non-Competitive)?
To be eligible, you must:
1. Be a current permanent FDA employee on a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service. If you are unsure, review your SF-50: Notification of Personnel Action for the following:
- Block 24 (Tenure) must be '1 - Permanent' or '2 - Conditional'; and
- Block 34 (Position Occupied) must be '1 - Competitive Service'
2. Currently hold or have previously held a permanent position with the same or greater promotion potential. Review the vacancy announcement for the promotion potential of this position. You must submit a copy of your SF-50: Notification of Personnel Action showing the highest grade (or promotion potential) held.
AND
3. Submit a copy of your most recent SF-50: Notification of Personnel Action with your application package. Review the Required Documents section of the vacancy announcement.
Based on the above, are you eligible and would you like to be considered as a current FDA employee (Non-Competitive)?
4.
- Are you a current HHS employee in a bargaining unit position represented by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU)? NOTE: This question is not used to determine if you are eligible for consideration; it is only used to ensure proper referral in accordance with the HHS and NTEU collective bargaining agreement effective October 1, 2010, revised March 6, 2014. Therefore, in order to be considered for this position, you must also respond "Yes" to the applicable eligibility questions below.
If you answer yes, Block 37 (Bargaining Unit Status) of your SF-50 must be 3591.
5.
Are you a current Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps Officer stationed at a position within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)? Not all positions are appropriate for the Commissioned Corps and it is at the supervisor's discretion to fill a position through the Corps.
To be eligible, you must:
1. Be a current PHS Commissioned Corps Officer with FDA; and
2. Submit a copy of your most recent PHS personnel orders or letter from the Public Health Service verifying you are currently in, or have been accepted to, the Commissioned Corps.
See the PHS Commissioned Corps website for more information.
Based on the above, are you eligible and would you like to be considered for a Commissioned Corps appointment?
To be eligible, you must:
1. Be a current PHS Commissioned Corps Officer with FDA; and
2. Submit a copy of your most recent PHS personnel orders or letter from the Public Health Service verifying you are currently in, or have been accepted to, the Commissioned Corps.
See the PHS Commissioned Corps website for more information.
Based on the above, are you eligible and would you like to be considered for a Commissioned Corps appointment?
Preferences
1.
Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position.
2.
In the last five years, based on the closing date of this announcement, have you served or are you currently serving as an Executive Branch political, Schedule C, or Non-career SES appointee?
You can find out if you have held one of these appointment types by looking at your Standard Form 50s in your Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF), in Section 5 where the legal authorities are listed.
You can find out if you have held one of these appointment types by looking at your Standard Form 50s in your Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF), in Section 5 where the legal authorities are listed.
- A political appointee is an appointment made by the President without confirmation by the Senate (5 CFR 213.3102(c)) OR an assistant position to a top-level federal official if filled by a person designated by the President as a White House Fellow (5 CFR 213.3102(z)).
- A Schedule C appointee occupies a position excepted from the competitive service by the President, or by the Director of OPM, because of the confidential or policy-determining nature of the position duties (5 CFR 213.3301 and 5 CFR 213.3302).
- A Non-career SES appointee is approved by the White House and serves at the pleasure of the appointing official without time limitations (5 CFR 317 Subpart F).
3.
===== Acknowledgement of Restrictions on the Employment of Relatives by Public Officials =====
5 U.S. Code, § 3110 lays out specific and important restrictions on the employment of relatives within an agency.
A public official of a government agency may not appoint, promote, or otherwise advocate for the employment, advancement, or promotion of relatives within the agency for which the public official is employed or has control over.
Employees hired in violation of 5 U.S. Code, § 3110 will not be entitled to any pay for their period of employment, and any pay already received before the violation becomes known, will be considered as a debt to the government on the part of the employed individual.
For the purpose of this question, a "relative" is defined as: father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, husband, wife, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, or half sister.
QUESTION:
After having read the definition of "relative" as stated above, does the Food and Drug Administration employ any of your relatives?
IF YES: You must provide the following information, for each relative employed by the FDA:
- The full legal name of the relative.
- The relative's relationship to you (from the list above).
- If known, the relative's employing organization and position.
4.
Your responses to the all questions, and any information or documentation which you provide as part of your application, will be thoroughly reviewed for accuracy and truthfulness. Please take this opportunity to review your responses to ensure their accuracy. If you fail to answer this question, your application will not be considered. Knowingly providing false information in your application (or submitted documentation) is a crime!
- I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all of the information included in my application is true, correct, and provided in good faith.
- I understand that if I intentionally make a false statement, or commit deception or fraud in my application, or in any document or interview associated with the examination process, I may be fined or imprisoned (18 USC, Sec 1001); my eligibility may be canceled, I may be denied an appointment, or I may be removed and debarred from Federal service (5 CFR, Part 731).
- I understand that any information I provide may be investigated.
- I understand that responding "No" to this item will result in my not being considered for this position.
Selective Service
1.
Are you an applicant born male, on (or after) 12/31/1959? You must be registered with the Selective Service System OR have an approved exemption. Visit www.SSS.gov for more info.
Assessment 1
We will evaluate your resume and responses to this Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are among the best qualified for this position. Your responses are subject to verification and must be supported by your resume and supporting documents.
1.
From the description below, select the statement which best describes your qualifications to meet the basic education requirements for the Research Biological Scientist GS-0401-12 position.
2.
I have one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service, which includes: 1) Conducts research related to the development, manufacture, and testing of new and old biological products, AND 2) Gathers existing data to assist determines project technical needs AND 3) Participates on the work with others on laboratory procedures and equipment.
For each task in the following group, choose the statement from the list below that best describes your experience and/or training. Please select only one letter for each item. A- I have not had education, training or experience in performing this task. B- I have had education or training in performing the task but have not yet performed it on the job. C- I have performed this task on the job. My work on this task was monitored closely by a supervisor or senior employee to ensure compliance with proper procedures. D- I have performed this task as a regular part of a job. I have performed it independently and normally without review by a supervisor or senior employee. E- I am considered an expert in performing this task. I have supervised performance of this task or am normally the person who is consulted by other workers to assist them in doing this task because of my expertise.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
3.
Collects data and scientific information to support research, decisions, regulatory programs and policies.
4.
Keeps abreast of the pertinent literature and incorporates appropriate concepts and techniques into research activities and experiments.
5.
Maintains knowledge of the particular area of research throughout the life of the project.
6.
Plans, develops and implements experiments and protocols under study.
7.
Analyzes results of experiments to determine data generated is accurate and valid.
8.
Applies guidelines, precedents and principles to determine the most appropriate solutions and alternatives.
9.
Maintains and prepares scientific information.
10.
Uses automated database software to prepare reports and document data.
11.
Maintains records, interprets results and prepares summary reports of investigations.
12.
Gathers existing data and determines project technical needs.
13.
Orients and trains new trainee staff on the methods and procedures used in the laboratory.
14.
Ensures that laboratory equipment is available as needed, properly calibrated and in working order.
15.
Performs preventive maintenance and makes repairs or arranges for service.
16.
Practices safe laboratory practices and hazardous materials handling.
Assessment 2
We will evaluate your resume and responses to this Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are among the best qualified for this position. Your responses are subject to verification and must be supported by your resume and supporting documents.
1.
From the description below, select the statement which best describes your qualifications to meet the basic education requirements for the Research Biological Scientist GS-0401-13 position.
2.
I have one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service, which includes: 1) Plans and conducts research related to the development, manufacture, and testing of new and old biological products, AND 2) Reviews existing data and determines project technical needs AND 3) Oversees the work of others on laboratory procedures and equipment.
For each task in the following group, choose the statement from the list below that best describes your experience and/or training. Please select only one letter for each item. A- I have not had education, training or experience in performing this task. B- I have had education or training in performing the task but have not yet performed it on the job. C- I have performed this task on the job. My work on this task was monitored closely by a supervisor or senior employee to ensure compliance with proper procedures. D- I have performed this task as a regular part of a job. I have performed it independently and normally without review by a supervisor or senior employee. E- I am considered an expert in performing this task. I have supervised performance of this task or am normally the person who is consulted by other workers to assist them in doing this task because of my expertise.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
3.
Collects data and scientific information to support research, decisions, regulatory programs and policies.
4.
Keeps abreast of the pertinent literature and incorporates appropriate concepts and techniques into research activities and experiments.
5.
Knowledge of the particular area of research Maintains throughout the life of the project.
6.
Plans, develops and implements experiments and protocols under study.
7.
Analyzes results of experiments to determine data generated is accurate and valid.
8.
Publishes articles in referred journals.
9.
Enforces guidelines, precedents and principles to determine the most appropriate solutions and alternatives.
10.
Maintains and prepares scientific information.
11.
Uses automated database software to prepare reports and document data.
12.
Maintains records, interprets results and prepares summary reports of investigations.
13.
Reviews existing data and determines project technical needs.
14.
Serves as an authority in biological specialization as demonstrated by invitations to speak at conferences and meeting.
15.
Orients and trains new trainee staff on the methods and procedures used in the laboratory.
16.
Oversees the work of students and other on lab procedures and equipment.
17.
Ensures that laboratory equipment is available as needed, properly calibrated and in working order.
18.
Enforces safe laboratory practices and hazardous materials handling.