Lead Research Chemist
What you'd do
This position is located in the Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Environmental Health, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. This announcement will close at 11:59 PM, on the day that 100 applications have been received or on the closing date, whichever is first.
Major duties
WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING DAY TO DAY As a Lead Research Chemist, you will use your knowledge and experience to optimize business results and customer experience by: Leading and overseeing basic and applied research investigating human exposure to high-threat chemical terrorism agents, toxins, and drugs of abuse through measurement of exposure biomarkers in biological matrices. Implementing new analytical approaches for measuring exposure biomarkers in biological matrices. Overseeing development and application of advanced analytical chemistry methods, including tandem and high-resolution mass spectrometry, chromatography, and related technologies. Overseeing data analysis techniques and evaluating research findings supporting exposure assessments and epidemiologic investigations. Serving as a Team Leader providing scientific leadership and technical oversight of laboratory staff performing advanced scientific research. Planning, organizing, prioritizing, distributing, and monitoring complex research projects to ensure quality, timeliness, and accomplishment of program objectives.
What you need to qualify
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR Basic Qualifications: A. Degree: physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that included 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics. OR B. Combination of education and experience -- course work equivalent to a major as shown in A above, including at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience or additional education. AND Minimum Qualifications: You must have one year of specialized experience to perform successfully the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service performing ALL of the following: Leading and conducting complex scientific and technical research projects focused on human exposure assessment, public health threats, and emergency response priorities. Developing, implementing, and evaluating innovative research methods, laboratory approaches, and analytical processes to support surveillance, exposure assessment, and public health investigations. Analyzing and interpreting scientific data, translating research findings into actionable recommendations, and supporting evidence-based strategies that strengthen emergency preparedness, response capabilities, and public health outcomes. Providing scientific leadership and technical oversight for multidisciplinary teams, coordinating research activities, establishing priorities, monitoring progress, and ensuring the quality and timeliness of project deliverables. Documenting experience: IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Qualifications are based on breadth/level of experience. In addition to describing duties performed, applicants must provide the exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) and the number of hours worked per week if part time. As qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information, failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Applicants are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to develop their federal resume. Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational application questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. In accordance with Office of Personnel Management policy, federal employees are assumed to have gained experience by performing duties and responsibilities appropriate for their official series and grade level as described in their position description. Experience that would not normally be part of the employee's position is creditable, however, when documented by satisfactory evidence, such as a signed memorandum from the employee's supervisor or an SF-50 or SF-52 documenting an official detail or other official assignment. The documentation must indicate whether the duties were performed full time or, if part time, the "percentage of times" the other duties were performed. It is expected that this documentation is included in the employee's official personnel record. In order to receive credit for experience in your resume that is not within the official series and grade level of your official position, you must provide a copy of the appropriate documentation of such experience as indicated 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; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to gain employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. If such experience is on a part-time basis, you must provide the average number of hours worked per week as well as the beginning and ending dates of the experience so it can be fully credited. OPM Qualification General Policies Website
Before you apply
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