Biological Science Laboratory Technician

US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS); Manhattan (KS); On-site; USD 55,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Manhattan, KS, seeks professionals to support high-containment research on zoonotic pathogens. You will conduct laboratory experiments, prepare and analyze biological samples, apply immunological techniques, and maintain specialized equipment in a biocontainment facility.

Responsibilities include operating and calibrating lab instruments, recording data, and ensuring compliance with safety guidelines.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience required for GS-07: one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-06 and related to laboratory work.
• Education: one full year of graduate education leading to a master's degree, related to the position.
• GS-08: one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-07 with complex lab techniques.
• GS-09: one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-08 with leadership of technical phases.

Responsibilities

• Conduct laboratory experiments on zoonotic and emerging pathogens.
• Prepare and analyze biological samples; apply immunological techniques.
• Maintain specialized scientific equipment and calibrate instruments.
• Record, tabulate, and summarize experimental data.

Skills

Lab procedures

Sample preparation

Equipment calibration

Data recording

Education

Master's degree or higher in Microbiology/Virology/Immunology

Related graduate degrees acceptable (see listing)

Tools

High-containment laboratory equipment

Laboratory safety protocols

Job description

Summary

These positions are located in the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Field Organization, Plains Area, National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility located in Manhattan, KS. In these positions, you will support high-containment research on zoonotic and emerging pathogens by conducting laboratory experiments, preparing and analyzing biological samples, applying immunological techniques, and maintaining specialized scientific equipment.

Duties

These positions are located in the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Field Organization, Plains Area, National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility located in Manhattan, KS. In these positions, you will support high-containment research on zoonotic and emerging pathogens by conducting laboratory experiments, preparing and analyzing biological samples, applying immunological techniques, and maintaining specialized scientific equipment.

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. GS-07 Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are:

Qualifying experience for GS-07 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-06 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience performing technical laboratory procedures; collecting and preparing biological samples; operating and calibrating specialized laboratory equipment; and recording, tabulating, and summarizing experimental data. OR Education: One full year of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include Microbiology, Virology, Immunology, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Animal Husbandry, Agriculture, Zoology, Poultry Science, Animal Science, Cell Biology, Veterinary Science, Animal Biosciences, Animal Health, Biomedical Science or Infectious Disease. OR A combination of education and specialized experience as described above.

GS-08 Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are:

Qualifying experience for GS-08 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-07 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience independently performing complex laboratory techniques; troubleshooting and modifying specialized equipment; preparing biological and chemical reagents; and compiling, evaluating, and analyzing multisource experimental data. OR Education: Two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include Microbiology, Virology, Immunology, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Animal Husbandry, Agriculture, Zoology, Poultry Science, Animal Science, Cell Biology, Veterinary Science, Animal Biosciences, Animal Health, Biomedical Science or Infectious Disease. OR A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as described above.

GS-09 Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are:

Qualifying experience for GS-09 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-08 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience leading technical phases of research; designing or adapting specialized laboratory methods or equipment; determining testing parameters and resolving unexpected results; and interpreting and documenting scientific findings. OR Education: Two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include Microbiology, Virology, Immunology, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Animal Husbandry, Agriculture, Zoology, Poultry Science, Animal Science, Cell Biology, Veterinary Science, Animal Biosciences, Animal Health, Biomedical Science or Infectious Disease. OR A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as described above.

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Containment Work Requirements Working in a high containment laboratory poses some degree of risk to human health. For the health and safety of the incumbent and to prevent the spread of diseases, immunization against diseases being studied at NBAF which are transmissible to humans is required where the vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safety and effectiveness under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as amended 21 USC 321-392. While immunization with FDA investigational vaccines is strongly encouraged, the incumbent will be advised that such immunization is voluntary. Individuals who are already vaccinated or do not wish to receive the investigational vaccines will be asked to sign a declination form, assuming the risk of working with the viruses without vaccination.

Ongoing Health Status Monitoring Psychological and physical health are monitored as part of a person review. For physical health monitoring, a baseline blood sample will be required for employees entering and working in the biocontainment facility. Any medical condition which could create an unsafe environment for the individual or his/her coworkers, such as: Insufficient control of a medical disorder which could result in sudden loss of consciousness; and inadequate vision and hearing required for safety in a laboratory environment must be considered before a job offer and may be disqualifying.

Personal Protective Equipment Use of Safety protocols and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as respirators, disposable personal protective clothing, and eye protection, are used as needed. The incumbent is required to wear tight-fitting respirator when working in biological control areas; facial hair restrictions are to comply with proper operation of personal protective equipment. Approval to use a respirator requires a medical evaluation and fit test.

Decontamination/Body Requirements The incumbent must have the ability to take a full-body shower with soap and shampoo one or more times per day without assistance. The incumbent must not have a skin condition which would prevent daily showering. Jewelry of any kind is not permitted inside containment. Body jewelry in piercings must have the ability to be removed prior to entering biocontainment or the piercing and jewelry must be completely sealed off from the working environment to protect the individual from contamination. External medical devices may not be permitted. External medical devices must have the ability to be removed prior to entering biocontainment or be sealed off from the working environment to protect the individual from contamination. Facial hair restriction are required to ensure the proper fit of tight-fitting respirators.

Personal Recognizance Quarantine (PRQ) Due to the contagious nature to livestock of Foot-and-Mouth disease, and other diseases under study at NBAF, Select Agent Regulations specify a personal quarantine for the incumbent entering biocontainment. As a condition of employment, all personnel entering biocontainment facilities at NBAF must not be in contact with specific susceptible animals for a period of five (5) days after leaving biocontainment.

Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in-house research agency. Our job is finding solutions to agricultural problems that affect Americans every day from field to table. What we do matters in science and the world. For more information about Agricultural Research Service, go to https://www.ars.usda.gov/.