Research Hydrologist - Agricultural Research Service : Job Details

Summary This position is located with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Southeast Area, Southeast Watershed Research Center in Tifton, GA. In this position, you will serve as a Research Hydrologist and will conduct research to develop new knowledge about how climate and management jointly affect the physical and biological processes determining water budgets and watershed functioning across the Southeast. Responsibilities Design and supervise field investigations to understand climate and management impacts on cropping systems and vegetation, quantify the impact of management, and integrate results across the Little River Experimental Watershed (LREW). Develop new concepts and make major advances related to watershed processes, and incorporate the results into tools needed to understand a changing climate at watershed, regional, and national levels. Establish and maintain collaborations with scientists from the research unit, universities, private, and public sectors on technical matters concerning the hydrologic cycle in humid, subtropical regions. Conduct independent and team research to improve process representation in models as well as representing management impacts on forest and cropland watershed processes. Transfer research results and technology to action agency cooperators and customers through scholarly publications, model training, and presentations to scientific and resource management groups. Represent ARS to other federal and non-federal agencies and research partners in the area of research expertise. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. Basic Requirements for Hydrology Series, 1315 Degree: physical or natural science, or engineering that included at least 30 semester hours in any combination of courses in hydrology, the physical sciences, geophysics, chemistry, engineering science, soils, mathematics, aquatic biology, atmospheric science, meteorology, geology, oceanography, or the management or conservation of water resources. The course work must have included at least 6 semester hours in calculus (including both differential and integral calculus), and at least 6 semester hours in physics. Calculus and physics, as described above, are requirements for all grade levels. OR Combination of education and experience: course work as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Evaluation of Experience: Acceptable experience must have included performance of scientific functions related to the study of water resources, based on and requiring a professional knowledge of related sciences and the consistent application of basic scientific principles to the solution of theoretical and practical hydrologic problems. The following is illustrative of acceptable experience: field or laboratory work that would require application of hydrologic theory and related sciences such as geology, geo-chemistry, geophysics, or civil engineering to making observations, taking samples, operating instruments, assembling data from source materials, analyzing and interpreting data, and reporting findings orally and in writing. In some cases, professional scientific experience that is not clearly water resource experience may be acceptable if such experience was preceded by appropriate education in hydrology or by professional hydrology experience. Additional Requirements In addition to meeting the basic requirements described in the education section of the announcement, applicants must also meet additional qualification requirements as stated below. GS-12: Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service or possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or possess an equivalent combination of graduate level education and experience. Graduate education must be directly related to the work of the position and must have equipped applicants with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-12 level of this position are: Experience conducting field research related to hydrologic processes or watershed management; collecting and analyzing experimental data from environmental systems such as stream gaging sites, soil moisture sensors, or climate stations; publishing research findings related to hydrologic systems in peer-reviewed scientific journals. GS-13: Applicants must demonstrate 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. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-13 level of this position are: Experience designing and conducting collaborative field research related to hydrologic processes or watershed management; providing mentorship or guidance to other scientific personnel; utilizing SWAT modeling to analyze data; publishing research findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals; and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders on research of mutual interest. GS-14: Applicants must demonstrate 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. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-14 level of this position are: Experience leading a collaborative research program focused on hydrologic processes or watershed management; publishing independent research findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals; presenting research findings at professional meetings; managing funds on research grants; ensuring the development of well-trained scientific and technical staff; and collaborating with a diverse group of scientists and industry stakeholders. 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. To further support your qualifications, it is strongly recommended that you submit a one-page abstract of your MS thesis and/or Ph.D. dissertation. Failure to do so could result in loss of your consideration/referral. Also, please submit a list of names, addresses, and phone numbers of persons familiar with your stature, contributions, recognition; any honors or awards received; memberships in professional or honor societies; invitations to make presentations at scientific/technical meetings; scientific society office and committee assignments; presentations (other than invitation); and publications. Applicants must be available to report for duty at the time a selection is made. Selections are typically made within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement. Education Please see above for education qualification requirement information. Additional Information Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 71 out of a possible 100. Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at time of job offer. This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements. Research scientists have open-ended promotion potential. Research accomplishments and their impact on the duties and responsibilities of positions are evaluated periodically. The grade level is limited only by the individual's demonstrated ability to perform research of recognized importance to science and technology. *Final grade level may be determined by a peer review panel.