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What General Information Do I Need to Know About This Position?
Salary: $84,118 (Step 01) to $109,358 (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.
10/01/2020 to 05/26/2021
$84,118 - $109,358 per year
GS 12
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
RES-20-10927398-MNHL-KMS
580387400
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 Research Fellowship - Research Opportunity #: 19-37. Research Computing for the Advancement of Earth Science
As advanced computing architectures become increasingly more powerful and readily available, scientists have the opportunity to harness this computational power to increase the scope, complexity, and timeliness of their scientific research for greater impact on addressing societal issues. Traditional desktop computers are no longer powerful enough to handle large, complex, data-intensive scientific problems in a reasonable amount of time, pushing scientists to navigate advanced computing paradigms without traditional computer science training. The Core Science Systems' Science Analytics and Synthesis Advanced Research Computing (ARC) group helps scientists harness the power of advanced computing resources by offering access to supercomputing systems, along with training and consulting, to help advance the science mission of the USGS.
USGS Earth science projects that currently require high-performance computing include, but are not limited to: Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) geophysics; bioinformatics analysis; debris flow and landslide modeling and simulation; earthquake simulation and modeling; Landsat imagery analysis; National and regional scale watershed modeling; species distribution and demography; and volcanic ash plume and lava flow simulation and modeling. The bulk of code run on our current system is developed "in-house" in the following languages: Fortran, C / C++, Python, R, and Matlab. Commonly used libraries include: OpenMPI, MPICH/IMPI/Mvapich2, Hierarchical Data Format (HDF5), Network Common Data Form (NetCDF), Geospatial Data Abstraction Library (GDAL), Geometry Engine, Open Source (GEOS), Portable, Extensible Toolkit for Scientific Computation (PETSc), Boost, and Model Coupling Toolkit. Representative scientific applications include: Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model, OpenFOAM, NASA Ames StereoPipeline, and bioinformatics applications such as Mothur, QIIME, and Stacks.
The ARC group is seeking a postdoctoral fellow to research and apply new advanced scientific computing tools, methodologies, and architectures for the benefit of USGS earth science research. Areas of focus could include, but are not limited to: High Performance Computing; parallel programming and model optimization; scientific visualization techniques; machine learning methods; GPU optimized code development; high-performance data analytics and "big data" architectures; and high volume data management and storage tools.
Proposed Duty Station: Lakewood, CO
Areas of Ph.D: Computer science, Earth sciences-related discipline (geology, biology, hydrology, geophysics, etc.), applied mathematics, or related fields (candidates holding a Ph.D. in other disciplines, but with extensive knowledge and skills relevant to the Research Opportunity may be considered).
Qualifications: Applicants must meet one of the following qualifications for: Research Computer Scientist, Research Mathematician, Research Geophysicist, Research Biologist, Research Hydrologist, or Research Geologist (This type of research is performed by those who have backgrounds for the occupations stated above. However, other titles (see link below) 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.)
Mendenhall Basic Qualification Requirements:
https://www.usgs.gov/centers/mendenhall/basic-qualification-requirements-0
Physical/Environmental Demands: Work is usually performed in an office setting. The work area:
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 October 1, 2015 (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 2022. 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.
Budget Estimate. 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 3 MB. If a file is larger than 3 MB, applicants must split the contents of the file so that no one unit submitted is larger than 3 MB.
Applications should be prepared as follows: 1) First PDF file should contain ONLY the research proposal. 2) Second PDF file should contain: list of literature references cited in the proposal; and budget estimate. 3) Resumé. 4) A separate PDF file should contain educational transcripts; and 5) supporting veterans documentation, if applicable.
Clicking on the "APPLY HERE" 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/580387400. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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