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Salary: $93,175(Step 01) to $121,128 (Step 10).
NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01.
There is one vacancy; however, this announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies if they become available.
09/05/2023 to 11/01/2023
$93,175 - $121,128 per year
GS 12
Few vacancies in the following location:
No
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
No
Term - 2 years
Full-time
Excepted
12
No
No
USGS-RES-23-12102940-MNH-DW
746982400
Open to all qualified candidates who meet the eligibility requirements of the Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. Because this fellowship is a U.S. Government position, preference must be given to U.S. citizens. Citizens of other nations may be considered under certain circumstances, i.e., when there are no qualified U.S. citizen applicants available. In those instances, the USGS may consider making an offer to a non-citizen provided applicable laws and regulations are followed.
Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research Fellowship - Research Opportunity #: 22-41. Fluxes and fate of carbon within coastal wetlands: Impact of restoration on spatial and temporal ecosystem responses
Coastal wetlands provide critical ecosystem services, including habitat, recreation, coastal protection and natural carbon capture, and as a result, preservation and restoration of these environments is a key objective of coastal land managers. However, the persistence of these ecosystems is challenged due to multiple factors, including accelerating sea-level rise leading to edge erosion and drowning, reduction in sediment supply due to river diversions reducing mineral deposition, hydrologic alteration impacting biogeochemical processes and accretion, and coastal development reducing potential migration area. Louisiana is home to 40% of U.S. coastal wetlands and is experiencing some of the highest wetland loss rates in the country. Large investments in coastal science and restoration have been made using funds from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement, which is administered by the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group (LA TIG), with the goal to "Contribute to maintaining and restoring ecosystem-scale condition and resilience at coastwide, basin, and subbasin scales", with the objective to "maximize the combined benefits of the various Restoration Types and approaches across the overall restoration portfolio."
USGS is a key research partner in this effort and is initiating a study to "Quantify wetland net ecosystem carbon balance at pre-spill/post-spill time scales and basin/sub-basin spatial scales, including export to nearshore Gulf of Mexico." Net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) is the sum of carbon entering the ecosystem minus the carbon leaving the ecosystem, and includes 3 primary fluxes: 1. vertical gas flux, 2. lateral aquatic flux, and 3. changes to soil carbon storage. The net balance, NECB, determines whether the ecosystem is a net sink (carbon sequestration) or a net source (carbon export). Therefore, NECB serves as an integrative measure of ecosystem productivity and is a strong indicator of ecosystem health. USGS and partners have proposed to develop a decision-support tool that will integrate models of landscape change and carbon dynamics to project both historic and future estimates of NECB, using the Land Use CArbon Simulator (LUCAS) model, to inform management planning of coastal ecosystems at various spatial and temporal scales. Critical to this effort is evaluation of wetland response, including NECB, to ongoing restoration efforts.
We seek a postdoctoral scholar to develop and improve quantification of carbon fluxes, sources, and fates within coastal wetlands under various restoration scenarios. A successful proposal will develop new insights into environmental and management action controls on coastal wetland carbon cycling utilizing innovative techniques and approaches. The postdoctoral scholar will be able to leverage a large, multi-institution, multi-disciplinary project starting in Louisiana coastal wetlands that will assess all components (e.g., stocks, fluxes) of the net ecosystem carbon budget. The researcher will work within Eagle and Stagg research groups, with full access to a variety of field and laboratory equipment for vertical, lateral, and soil carbon measurements.
Proposed Duty Station: Woods Hole, Massachusetts
Areas of Ph.D: Environmental science, chemistry, oceanography, geology, ecology, or related fields (candidates holding a Ph.D. in other disciplines but with knowledge and skills relevant to the Research Opportunity may be considered).
Qualifications: Applicants must meet one of the following qualifications: Research Chemist, Research Geologist, Research Physical Scientist, Research Ecologist, Research Oceanographer.
(This type of research is performed by those who have backgrounds for the occupations stated above. However, other titles may be applicable depending on the applicant's background, education, and research proposal. The final classification of the position will be made by the Human Resources Specialist.)
Physical/Environmental Demands: Work is usually performed in an office setting. The work area normally involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of an office. Some work may involve exposure to moderate risks and discomforts, such as those due to fieldwork that includes some physical exertion such as walking over wet, rough, uneven or rocky surfaces; and bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activities; adverse weather conditions, such as high winds and low or high temperatures; travel in safety approved small air and water craft and off-road vehicles; irritating chemicals; noxious fumes; flammable liquids; falling trees; hostile wildlife; and/or poisonous insects, plants, or snakes. Work requires special safety precautions and/or protective clothing and equipment.
Key Requirements:
Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?
General Information
The Mendenhall Research Fellowship Program provides an opportunity for postdoctoral fellows to conduct concentrated research in association with USGS scientists, often as a final element to their formal career preparation. The Program also provides: 1) research experiences that enhance the scientific stature and credentials of the Fellows; and 2) scientific expertise to assist in the implementation of the USGS Strategic Plan and the science strategy of its programs. Mendenhall Fellows are expected to publish their results in peer-reviewed scientific outlets.
Eligibility Requirements
In order to be considered for these opportunities, candidates must:
(1) have successfully completed a Ph.D. in a field related to the described Research Opportunity no earlier than September 5, 2018 (5 years before the announcement opening date); OR
(2) if close to completion, have all Ph.D. requirements completed and must submit proof of completion prior to receiving an official start date;
(3) meet the qualification requirements described in the Research Opportunity. The research proposal submitted must demonstrate that the applicant is equipped with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties for the specific Research Opportunity.
Start Date and Completion of PhD:
It is anticipated that this position will start no later than March 2025. The person selected must have all PhD requirements completed and MUST submit proof of completion prior to receiving an official start date. Exceptions may be made for a later start date on a case-by-case basis.
NOTICE TO NON-CITIZENS
Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. A Federal agency is permitted to hire non-citizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position, AND the non-citizen meets the appropriation act and immigration laws. Read the information provided in the following link. If a non-citizen does not meet the appropriation act and immigration laws, then they cannot be considered for this Mendenhall Opportunity. Please contact the person under Agency Contact Information for questions about eligibility and further assistance. https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/non-citizens/.
Foreign Education. You must provide proof, if the foreign education determines your qualifications for the position. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if the applicant can show that the foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. It is the applicant's responsibility to provide such evidence when applying for Federal jobs. If selected, you will be required to provide official proof that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/how-foreign-education-evaluated-federal-jobs .
You must meet all eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.
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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
The Human Resources Office will provide the hiring official with application material for review and consideration. The Research Advisor and/or hiring official will review the application material and contact candidates for interviews as needed. A subject matter expert panel will be convened. If an applicant is chosen for an opportunity and meets the qualification requirements, the Human Resources Office will contact the applicant and make a firm job offer. For Research Opportunities with multiple duty stations, the selection of the official duty station will be made by the USGS.
Applicants must submit the following for each individual Research Opportunity for which they are applying.
Applications should be prepared as follows (preferably in PDF): 1) Research proposal ONLY; 2) Budget estimate; 3) Resum? or CV; 4) Educational transcripts; 5) List of literature references cited in the proposal, if applicable; and 6) supporting veterans documentation, if applicable.
Clicking on the "APPLY NOW" button in each Research Opportunity will take applicants to the USAJOBS application for that particular Opportunity. For technical assistance for submitting an application through USAJOBS, contact the HR Specialist listed as the Point of Contact listed in this announcement.
PDF conversion tools are readily available via the Internet. Some examples can be accessed at the following sites: http://www.ps2pdf.com/ http://www.pdf995.com/ Disclaimer: Hypertext links and other references to non-USGS products and services are provided for information only and do not constitute endorsement or warranty, express or implied, by the USGS, DOI, or U.S. Government, as to their suitability, content, usefulness, functioning, completeness, or accuracy. In addition, documents that do not easily lend themselves to conversion may be faxed. Contact the appropriate Human Resources Office to make arrangements.
If a complete application package is not submitted, the applicant will not be considered for the position. Requests for deadline extensions will not be granted. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure the successful conveyance of the application package. Applicants will receive a confirmation e-mail upon receipt. Application packages must be received by 11:59 p.m. (U.S. Eastern Time) on the closing date of the announcement. It is against the law to submit applications for employment using Government paid postage envelopes or mail services (18 USC 1719). Such application packages will not be considered. Application material will not be returned.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
If an applicant is chosen for an opportunity and meets the qualification requirements, the Human Resources Office will contact the applicant and make a firm job offer.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/746982400. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.