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What General Information Do I Need to Know About This Position?
Salary: $82,721 (Step 01) to $107,542 (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.
09/30/2019 to 01/06/2020
$82,721 - $107,542 per year
GS 12
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Occasional travel - Overnight travel of 1 to 2 nights per month may be required.
No
Term - This is an Excepted Appointment Not-to-Exceed 2 Years
Full-Time
Excepted
12
No
No
RES-2019-0362
547363600
Open to all qualified candidates. Because this Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research 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 Research Fellowship - Research Opportunity # 18-24. Using ocean bottom seismograph (OBS) data for natural hazard studies
Detailed seismic observations of subduction-zone related processes, including major hazards such as great subduction earthquakes, tsunamis, and island volcanic eruptions, require the use of ocean bottom seismographs (OBS) for accurate imaging and detailed earthquake localization. Passive margins like the U.S. Atlantic, the North Slope of Alaska, and the Gulf of Mexico, host major oil, gas, and hydrate reservoirs and are prone to submarine slope failures and potentially landslide-generated tsunamis. Shear-wave measurements, which can only be recorded directly by on-bottom instruments, provide valuable constraints on mechanical properties of marine sediments in situ, enabling us, for example, to model forearc deformation and tsunami generation during large subduction earthquakes, assess the potential for submarine slope failures, and measure natural gas hydrate concentrations. The advent of passive seismological techniques such as beam forming, seafloor compliance, and ambient noise imaging provide new tools to analyze data and learn new information about the seafloor and the hazards it contains. The USGS Woods Hole Science Center (WHSC), located within the campus of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), owns many of the short-period OBS in the academic fleet, and two intermediate-period seismographs, and has access to additional intermediate-period seismographs. It maintains a close working and technical relationship with the National OBS facility (OBSIC) located at WHOI. The USGS is also building jointly with WHOI a new fleet of light-weight, state-of-the-art OBS for rapid-response capability in response to earthquakes and volcanic events. Data from these short-term rapid-response deployments will also be available for analysis.
Proposed Duty Station: Woods Hole, MA
Areas of Ph.D.: Seismology, marine geophysics or related disciplines (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 Geophysicist
(This type of research is performed by those who have backgrounds for the occupations stated above. However, other titles (such as Research Physical Scientist) 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.)
https://www.usgs.gov/centers/mendenhall/basic-qualification-requirements-0
Physical/Environmental Demands: Work is usually performed in an office environment. However, the candidate is encouraged to participate in the occasional deployment or retrieval of ocean bottom seismometers aboard ships of opportunity and to participate in overnight planning and scientific meetings. Work at sea will be as part of a small team of technicians and scientists under the safety supervision of the ship’s master. Work at sea may occasionally involve exposure to moderate discomfort and will require special safety precautions and protective clothing as specified by the ship’s master.
Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?
The Mendenhall Research Fellowship Program provides an opportunity for postdoctoral fellows to conduct concentrated research in association with selected members of the USGS professional staff, often as a final element to their formal career preparation. The Program is also intended to provide research experiences that enhance their personal scientific stature and credentials. The Mendenhall Program is envisioned to bring current scientific expertise to assist in the implementation of the USGS Strategic Plan and the science strategy of its programs (refer to http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2007/1309/ and http://www.usgs.gov/start_with_science/). Mendenhall Fellows are expected to publish their results in peer-reviewed scientific outlets.
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; the Ph.D. degree requirements must have been met no earlier than September 30, 2014 (5 years before the announcement opening date), and must be completed by the time employment starts;
(2) 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.
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 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.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Applicants are to submit the following for each individual Research Opportunity for which they are applying.
In addition to the 8-page proposal, a separate budget estimate is required. This estimate should detail anticipated operating expenses for fieldwork, access to specialized equipment/facilities, conference travel, publications, computer hardware/software, and so on. The Research Proposal is the most important part of the application package, and we strongly urge applicants to coordinate the development of the Proposal with the appropriate RAs.
USGS strongly encourages the electronic submission of applications. All materials should be submitted in PDF format through the USAJOBS web link. PDF files submitted should not be larger than 4 MB. If a file is larger than 4 MB, applicants must split the contents of the file so that no one unit submitted is larger than 4 MB.
Applications should be prepared as follows: 1) First PDF file should contain ONLY the research proposal. 2) A second PDF file should contain: list of literature references cited in the proposal; budget estimate; and resumé. 3) A separate PDF file should contain: educational transcripts; supporting veterans documentation.
Clicking on the "APPLY" button next to each Research Opportunity in the Table of Research Opportunities 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/547363600. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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