Research Ecologist

National-Oceanic-; Anchorage (AK); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Protected Species Division seeks a biologist to contribute to ecological research and assessment of protected species.

You will assist in fisheries research, analyze population data, and support the preparation of reports and presentations for scientific audiences, collaborating with other researchers and policy staff to inform conservation

Qualifications

• Degree in Biology or related ecological sciences with at least 30 semester hours in basic and applied biological sciences, including 9 in ecology and 12 in physical/mathematical sciences.
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09; includes assisting in research with living marine resources and contributing to reports and presentations.
• Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education may substitute for experience.
• Combination of education and experience may be used to meet total requirements; graduate-level education beyond the amount required for the next lower level may be combined with experience.

Responsibilities

• Assist in conducting research with living marine resources and their habitats (e.g., stock assessments, population dynamics, ecosystem-based management).
• Contribute to scientific written reports and presentations.

Skills

Ecology knowledge

Scientific analysis

Research coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Biology or related ecological science

Job description

This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Protected Species Division.

This position is also announced under vacancy number NMFS-26-13041148-ST, which is open to Status Candidates. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position has a positive Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of Specialized Experience OR substitution of education for experience OR combination (if applicable) in order to be found minimally qualified. Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet the following requirements:

To qualify for the 0408 series:

EDUCATION:

A. Degree: Biology, or a related field of science underlying ecological research that included at least 30 semester hours in basic and applied biological sciences. These hours must have included at least 9 semester hours in ecology, and 12 semester hours in physical and mathematical sciences.

-AND-

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. 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.

To qualify at the ZP-3 or GS-11 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:

In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-2 or GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Assisting in conducting research with living marine resources and their habitats (e.g., stock assessments, population dynamics, or ecosystem-based management); and
• Contributing to scientific written reports and presentations.

OR

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION:

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree.

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

A combination of successfully completed graduate-level education and specialized experience may be used to meet the total experience requirements.

Note: Only graduate-level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower level may be combined with experience.

To qualify at the ZP-4 or GS-13 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:

In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-3 or GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Designing ecological or populations assessments and supporting analyses for living marine resources;
• Conducting statistical analyses, designing, coding, documenting, running, and summarizing output from a variety of models;
• Preparing research results for publications and presentations.