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What General Information Do I Need To Know About This Position?
Salary: $90,512 (Step 01) to $117,669 (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.
Learn more about this agency12/26/2019 to 01/31/2020
$90,512 - $117,669 per year
GS 12
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Not required
No
Term - This is a term appointment not to exceed 13 months with possible extensions up to a total of 4 years without further competition. Appointment to this position will not convey permanent status in the Federal service.
Full-Time
Competitive
15
No
No
SAC-2020-0097
555117600
The U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Science Center (ESC) in Menlo Park, California, is hiring a Research Geophysicist to undertake investigations into best practices in seismic monitoring and seismic hazard assessments at sites of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) stimulations. The purpose of this position is to assess the necessary instrumentation needs and array design through modeling and analyzing representative geologic settings, noise environments, and stimulation specifics at sites representative of proposed EGS projects.
The incumbent will aid in planning and independently conduct original research requiring the knowledge, application and integration of various seismic monitoring techniques. Investigations might include some, but not necessarily all, of the following activities: 1) planning and conducting field experiments that utilize local seismic networks to obtain precise locations of the induced earthquakes and to resolve their source processes in detail, augmented by geodetic, geophysical imaging and borehole data to provide additional constraints on physical processes controlling seismicity related to EGS; 2) perform full waveform modeling for a range of geologic settings and noise environments to inform the monitoring resolution a priori, 3) generate a protocol of seismic monitoring requirements for EGS-specific settings and stimulation experiments
Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?
BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic 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.
ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:
For the GS-12 level: In addition to the Basic Education Requirement listed above, applicants must meet A, B or C for GS-12 level research positions:
A. Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in an appropriate field of study that provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work,
OR
B. At least 1 year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 level, that is in or related to the duties described above, such as experience analyzing continuous seismic data from active volcanoes and subduction zones. Such work must have shown creative and outstanding research that has led or can lead to major advances in a specific area of research. The work must have been creative in the sense that it developed a basic principle, product, concept, method, approach, or technique, or provided a body of basic information that opened the way for a major advance in the discipline or field of science. This work may have been achieved by providing a method of solving problems, opening areas of researcher providing the means of exploring the application of science in a major field.
OR
C. Combination of successfully completed graduate level education beyond the second year of study in an appropriate field of study and appropriate specialized experience, as described above.
You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.
Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for and performance of higher-level duties.
Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.
Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. Agencies are permitted to hire non-citizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
--Basis of Rating: If you meet the basic qualification and eligibility requirements of this position, you will be contacted via email after the vacancy announcement closes and given 10 calendar days to submit narrative responses that address the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) required to perform the duties of this position. You may be rated and ranked based on the information you provide in your resume as well as the responses you submit to the required KSAs. The knowledge, skills, and abilities required for this position are as follows:
1. Knowledge of existing techniques and ability to develop new methods for conducting investigations into the causes and nature of the source processes of earthquakes and their damaging effects, especially those induced or triggered by human activities.
2. Analyze seismic waveform data quality and diagnoses data problems using knowledge of digital seismological data acquisition including sensor technology, digitizers, filtering, and instrument response.
3. Ability to lead, or be an effective member of, a team of scientists and technicians in research that addresses questions concerning the nature of earthquakes, natural or induced, and their hazardous effects.
4. Ability and recent experience publishing research, in a timely fashion, in scientific journals and making presentations at scientific meetings on subjects such as those detailed in above KSAs.
--NOTE: If it is determined that you have rated yourself higher than is supported in your description of experience and/or education as described in your resume/application, or that your resume or application is incomplete, you may be rated ineligible, not qualified, or your score may be lowered.
--This position requires specific educational course work to qualify. You are qualifying based in whole or part on education, 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. This proof may be faxed, document uploaded, or hand delivered to the servicing Human Resources Office (see "Required Documents" and/or "Contact Information"). Please ensure that all documentation is legible.
--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.
--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 a copy of the agency notice, your most recent Performance Rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Required documents may be faxed, uploaded, or hand delivered to the servicing Human Resources Office (see "Contact Information"). If you are a CTAP or ICTAP eligible, you will be considered well qualified if you earn a minimum score of 85 (prior to the assignment of veteran's preference points). For more information on CTAP/ICTAP please click here.
--Required documents may be: 1)faxed to the Agency Contact (see "Contact Information") 2)uploaded directly from your desktop 3)uploaded directly from your USAJOBS stored attachments 4)hand delivered to the servicing Human Resources Office (see 'Contact Information').
--Auto-Requested Fax: allows you to submit required documentation that will be electronically displayed along with your resume.
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 meet the basic qualification and eligibility requirements of this position, you will be contacted via email after the vacancy announcement closes and given a period of time to submit narrative responses that address the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) required to perform the duties of the position. Then, 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 45-60 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/555117600. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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