Physical Scientist

Full Job Description

You will serve as a Physical Scientist in the development, implementation, and performance rheological, physicochemical, and biochemical methods for characterizing the end-use functional properties of cereal grains, oilseeds, and related commodities.

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 REQUIREMENT: Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.

or Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Creating and maintaining quality control and quality assurance data for methods to include interpreting and evaluating the results of analyses to determine statistical validity and scientific significance.

Communicating verbally and in writing with federal officials, defending methodology recommendations, and communicating technical information in a variety of situations.

Following operating principles and calibration procedures for physical and chemical tests which may include but is not limited to instrumental methods for moisture, protein, and oil.

OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. This education must be directly related to the position.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

TRANSCRIPTS are required if: This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified. You are qualifying for the position based on education.

You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education.

This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-11 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements.

The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level.

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. Major Duties:

• The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.
• Evaluates new instruments, including those that may automate methods currently performed manually.
• Designs and conducts experiments to evaluate the practical application of new and improved methods for the analysis of constituents in grain.
• Evaluates, analyzes, and interprets laboratory data to determine their validity and scientific meaning. Prepares progress and final reports summarizing experimental findings.
• Determines the major error contributions for each method and incorporates quality assurance and quality control procedures for the method being developed
• Coordinates and conducts validation of new and improved methods according to the standard branch validation protocol.
• Orders, sets up, maintains, and troubleshoots lab instrumentation such as Farinograph, Glutomatic, Alveograph, Mixolab, Glutograph E, GC, LC and CE.