Summary This position is located in Health Resources and Services Administration, Health Systems Bureau, Division of National Hansen's Disease Program, Laboratory Research Branch. The duty location for this position is in Baton Rouge, LA. Applicants please note: Additional selections may be made across the Health Resources and Services Administration through this vacancy announcement. Responsibilities Applicants please note that as of Tuesday, July 2, 2024, the closing date of this announcement has been extended through Friday, July 19, 2024 As a Research Geneticist, you will perform developmental assignments in leprosy research using modern molecular biology tools and animal models including rodents and armadillos. Your major duties and responsibilities include: Organizing and performing molecular biological studies focusing on bacterial strain typing and pathogenesis of leprosy among humans and animals, using molecular (DNA/RNA), microbiological, biochemical, and immunological technology. Performing diagnostic tests for leprosy on clinical samples using molecular biological techniques. Developing, performing, and analyzing molecular viability studies on clinical and research samples. Designing molecular reagents, probes, and genetic sequences to assist in the molecular diagnosis of leprosy in humans and animal models, to benefit monitoring the progress and outcome of treatments, analyses of drug resistance, and performing a broad range of laboratory and supportive services for advancing molecular biological techniques for research and clinical use. Providing information of intramural and extramural teaching value that result in scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals having impact on current theories on microbiology, immunology, molecular biology, and genomics of leprosy. NOTE: Do not cut and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications THESE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET BY THE CLOSING DATE: 07/19/2024 Do not cut and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: OPM Individual Occupational Requirements for Genetics Series 0440 Basic Requirements Degree: genetics; or one of the basic biological sciences that included at least 9 semester hours in genetics. Graduate Education: Genetics, or a curriculum or pattern of training that placed major emphasis on genetics. Graduate study in related fields such as agronomy, horticulture, animal, dairy, or poultry husbandry, entomology, microbiology, plant pathology, chemistry, molecular and cellular biology, and physiology that involved cross-training in genetics is qualifying, provided it placed sufficient emphasis on genetics. Verification of education requirements: You must provide unofficial transcripts documenting how you meet the education requirements stated. A copy of a diploma is not acceptable for verification of this education requirement. Failure to provide the unofficial transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position. In addition to the OPM IOR stated above, in order to qualify for this position at the GS-11 level, your resume must clearly demonstrate that you have one full year of the minimum qualifying specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to at least the GS-9 level in the federal service. MINIMUM QUALIFYING SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, an applicant's one full year of specialized experience must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for successful job performance. Examples of the minimum qualifying specialized experience equal to the GS-9 level include the following types of tasks performed on a regular and recurring basis: 1. Performing experiments in genetics research in accordance with approved methods and procedures. AND 2. Conducting analysis of experimental data. OR EDUCATION: Have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or at least 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or an LL.M. To be qualifying, the higher-level graduate education must be in a major field of study or other field of study with course work directly related to the work of this position. OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Have an equivalent combination of the above specialized experience AND higher level graduate education that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position. 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; community; student; social). If such experience is on a part-time basis, you must provide the average number of hours worked per week as well as the beginning and ending dates of the experience so it can be fully credited. Applicants whose resumes clearly demonstrate the required minimum qualifying specialized experience will be evaluated based on the occupational assessment competencies listed below. A competency is defined as a measurable pattern of knowledge, skills, abilities, behaviors, and other characteristics that an individual needs to perform work roles or occupational functions. GENETICS - Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of genetics, including the biochemistry of DNA, gene interaction, gene expression, gene inheritance, population genetics, adaptation, and evolution. SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE - Provides knowledge or conducts studies of a body of information based on empirical or theoretical processes and principles in relation to scientific laws, arranged and communicated by qualitative and quantitative descriptions, and based on observation and experimentation. RESEARCH AND EVALUATION - Knowledge of the principles, methods, and processes used to conduct a systematic and objective inquiry; including study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; and the reporting of results. TO PREVIEW THE OCCUPATIONAL ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE, please click on the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12443947 Education This position has an education requirement. You must submit a copy of your transcripts (or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed and grades) to document that you have met the education requirement. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required prior to your starting work. Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov. Additional Information HHS is an equal opportunity employer. Selection for this position will be based solely on merit without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, marital or family status or other differences. Security and Background Requirements: If not previously completed, a background security investigation will be required for all appointees. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. False representation may be grounds for non-consideration, non-selection and/or appropriate disciplinary action. E-Verify: HRSA participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their social security numbers. Direct Deposit: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing. Creditable Service: A newly appointed or reappointed employee may receive service credit for annual leave for prior work experience directly related to the duties of the position being filled. The use of this service credit is at the discretion of the selecting official and must be finalized prior to selectee's entrance on duty. For more information, please click here. Bargaining Unit: Position is not in the Bargaining Unit. Recruitment Incentives: Recruitment incentives are not authorized. Student Loan Repayment Incentive: Student loan repayment incentive is not authorized.