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Salary Information:
For GS-13: $115,928 (Step 01) to $150,703 (Step 10);
For GS-14: $136,992 (Step 01) to $176,300 (Step 10);
NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01.
There are 2 vacancies to be filled; however, this announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies if they become available.
03/07/2022 to 03/25/2022
$115,928 - $176,300 per year
GS 13 - 14
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Occasional travel - Travel is required to attend meetings and workshops.
No
Permanent
Full-time
Competitive
15
No
No
USGS-SAC-22-11375079-DE-ML
640781600
The purpose of this position is to conduct laboratory and theoretical studies in rock mechanics aimed at developing a further understanding of failure processes under a broad range of conditions that may be expected at seismogenic depths, and to interpret how these failure processes relate to earthquake nucleation, pore fluid/rock interaction, slip velocity, attenuation, permeability, resistivity and other geophysical parameters.
As a Research Geophysicist within the Earthquake Science Center, some of your specific duties will include:
In addition to what is listed above, at the GS-14 level, the researcher is expected to:
Key Requirements:
BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic education requirement for Geophysicist, all grade levels. A. Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included at least 30 semester hours in mathematics (including calculus) and the physical sciences (geophysics, physics, engineering, geology, astronomy, meteorology, electronics, etc.).
**OR
B. A combination of education and experience -- at least 30 semester hours in mathematics (including calculus) and the physical sciences (geophysics, physics, engineering, geology, astronomy, meteorology, electronics, etc.), plus appropriate experience and/or additional education for a total of 4 years. The education or combined education and experience must be comparable in type, scope and thoroughness to that acquired through successful completion of a 4-year course of study as described in "A" above. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE)
For GS-13:In addition to the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Namely, working in a Rock Deformation or equivalent laboratory involving problems related to faulting and earthquakes.
The specialized experience requirements for the GS-13 level of this position include measurement and analysis one or more of the following research disciplines: stable creep and stick-slip behavior on simulated faults; seismic velocity and attenuation; time-dependent compaction, dilatancy, strength recovery; transport properties such as permeability and electrical conductivity in rock; acoustic emission generated during fault nucleation and growth as an analog to seismicity patterns in the earth; fluid injection related to induced seismicity and enhanced geothermal stimulation. These studies were applied to problems in earthquake forecasting, the earthquake nucleation process, the earthquake cycle, crustal processes (including fluid circulation), borehole fluid injection, borehole stability, and the disposal of nuclear waste.
The complexity of this work typically required modification and adaptation of standard procedures, methods, and techniques, and the development of new methods and techniques to address novel or obscure problems for which guidelines or precedents were not substantially applicable. At this level, Geophysicists have extensive knowledge of the principles of geology, physics and/or chemistry, a highly developed ability in their application, and wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment to perform scientific work of marked difficulty.
For GS-14:In addition to the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Namely, working in a Rock Deformation or equivalent laboratory involving problems related to faulting and earthquakes.
The specialized experience requirements for the GS-14 level of this position include measurement and analysis one or more of the following research disciplines: stable creep and stick-slip behavior on simulated faults; seismic velocity and attenuation; time-dependent compaction, dilatancy, strength recovery; transport properties such as permeability and electrical conductivity in rock; acoustic emission generated during fault nucleation and growth as an analog to seismicity patterns in the earth; fluid injection related to induced seismicity and enhanced geothermal stimulation. These studies were applied to problems in earthquake forecasting, the earthquake nucleation process, the earthquake cycle, crustal processes (including fluid circulation), borehole fluid injection, borehole stability, and the disposal of nuclear waste.
The complexity of this work typically required extensive modification and adaptation of standard procedures, methods, and techniques, and the development of new methods and techniques to address novel or obscure problems for which guidelines or precedents were not substantially applicable. At this level, Geophysicists have extensive knowledge of the principles of geology, physics and/or chemistry, and a highly developed ability in their application. The applicant will have demonstrated aptitude in developing new research directions, exercising independent judgment to perform scientific work of marked difficulty, as well as organizing and leading an effective research team.
Other Information:
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
--Vacancy Related Questions: As part of the online application process, you will need to respond to a series of questions designed to assess your possession of the following knowledge skills, abilities and/or competencies:
Required documents may be: (1) uploaded directly from your desktop; or (2) uploaded directly from your USAJOBS stored attachments.
Transcripts
--This position requires specific educational course work to qualify. You are required to provide ALL unofficial transcripts (undergraduate, graduate, etc.) or list of course work, which includes semester hours earned and grade received, by the closing date of this announcement or you will be disqualified from further consideration. Please ensure that all documentation is legible.
Veterans' Preference Eligibles
--If you are claiming veterans' preference you must provide a legible copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, member 4 copy or any official documentation or statement from the Armed Forces that confirms your dates of service and that your separation, discharge, or release from active duty was under honorable conditions (i.e., Honorable or General Discharge). Note: If you have more than one DD-214 for multiple periods of active duty, submit a copy for each period of service.
--If you are currently on active military duty, you must provide documentation (e.g., campaign document, award citation, etc.), that verifies entitlement to veterans' preference and that your character of military service is honorable.
--If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, in addition to the documents specified above, you must also submit documentation that supports your claim, e.g., an official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs (dated 1991 or later) or from a branch of the Armed Forces certifying the existence of a service-connected disability, or the award of the Purple Heart, etc. The overall rating must be identified on your certification letter or separation orders. Documentation must be received by the closing date shown in this vacancy announcement. If you fail to submit any of the required documentation, you will not be granted veterans' preference.
Additional information on veterans' preference can be found in the VetGuide.
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) & Inter-agency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) Eligibles
--If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, the Servicing Human Resources Office must receive proof by the closing date of this announcement that you meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330 Subpart F for CTAP and 5 CFR 330 Subpart G for ICTAP or you will not receive priority consideration. This includes:
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.
--Applications (resume and application questions) for this vacancy must be received on-line via USAJOBS BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington, D.C. time) on the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to submit a complete online resume, you will not be considered for this position. Requests for extensions will not be granted. Most libraries, employment offices, and all USGS personnel offices can provide access to the Internet. If applying online poses a hardship for you, you must speak to someone in the Servicing Human Resources Office listed on this announcement PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE for assistance.
--Instructions for Applying Online for this Vacancy Announcement: 1)Click the blue "Apply Online" button. 2)If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please create a new account and follow the instructions to complete your application process. If you are a registered user, login to access your existing USAJOBS profile. 3)As a registered user, select a stored resume and select one or more of your stored documents to attach to your application. 4)Check the "Certification" box and click the "Apply for this position now!" button located at the bottom of the screen. 5)Address the eligibility questions as well as the questionnaire containing questions and/or task statements that address the knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies for this vacancy. 6)Submit required documents using one of the available methods listed below. 7) If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk.
--If you are rated as one of the most highly qualified candidates, you will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 30-45 days of the closing date of this announcement. You will be notified via email of the outcome. You can also go to "My Account" within USAJOBS to review your Application Status.
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/640781600. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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