INTERDISCIPLINARY STAFF SCIENTIST

Join USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service as an Interdisciplinary Scientist. You will provide public health leadership by developing risk assessment protocols to evaluate microbial and chemical hazards in meat, poultry, and egg products. Working in a multi-disciplinary team, you will analyze foodborne data, oversee national sampling programs, and recommend mitigation strategies that form the basis of federal food safety policies. Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Time in Grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet the time in grade requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This position is interdisciplinary and may be filled with any of the following three series. 0403 Microbiology, 0415 Toxicology, or 1320 Chemistry series. Basic Education Requirement: In addition to the specialized experience requirement, all series have a basic education requirement that you must meet to qualify. See hyperlink in each definition for additional information regarding the individual occupational requirements. You can meet the IOR for the 0403 Microbiology series with education, a combination of education and experience. A. Degree: microbiology; or biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included at least 20 semester hours in microbiology and other subjects related to the study of microorganisms, and 20 semester hours in the physical and mathematical sciences combining course work in organic chemistry or biochemistry, physics, and college algebra, or their equivalent. B. Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in microbiology, biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included courses as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. You can meet the IOR for the 0415 Toxicology series with education. Degree: toxicology; or an appropriate discipline of the biological, medical, or veterinary sciences that included at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, biochemistry, or physiology, and 12 semester hours in toxicology. You can meet the IOR for the 1320 Chemistry series with undergraduate education, a combination of education and experience or graduate education. A. Degree: physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that included 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics. B. Combination of education and experience: Course work equivalent to a major as shown in A above, including at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Specialized experience: You must have one year of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade or its equivalent in federal service. Your resume must clearly describe in detail how your experience meets 4 out of 5 of the following requirements. Performing statistical analysis on microbiological or food science data sets to identify trends, anomalies, or systemic food safety risks. Managing food safety surveillance systems to evaluate occurrence rates of biological pathogens or chemical contaminants within meat, poultry, or egg products. Synthesizing scientific data to produce technical risk materials, summaries, or executive briefings for agency decision-makers. Leading multi-disciplinary scientific panels and advising senior leadership on complex public health hazards. Evaluating technical or international regulatory documents (such as World Trade Organization agreements) related to food safety standards or public health data. 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. Cleans, organizes, and processes data using standard software, spreadsheets, and programming languages. Monitors occurrence rates of pathogens and chemical contaminants in meat, poultry, and egg products. Drafts technical risk materials, summaries, and informational scientific updates for internal review. Sets structural priorities and evaluation parameters for National Residue or Microbiological Sampling Programs. Serves as a definitive technical resource for senior leaders on emerging public health hazards. Directs multi-disciplinary scientist teams, overseeing both core staff or large advisory groups. Evaluates technical foreign safety documents related to World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements and food safety systems. Addresses national technical societies, speaks to trade associations, and represents FSIS at federal conferences. Education If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of all relevant college transcripts. Do not simply submit your highest degree earned as many of the required courses MAY be on an undergraduate transcript. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, official transcripts will be required 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.