Research Biologist - Without Compensation

Full Job Description

This position serves as Without Compensation Research Assistant within the Office of Research and Development (ORD).

The VA Research Program strives to promote Veteran-centered care to improve patient experiences and outcomes across VA healthcare and community settings, and to advance value-driven care by providing Veterans the highest quality care at the lowest financial burden.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/23/2026.

Experience: You must possess general experience establishing a research program and project to conduct grant-specific studies; developing, adapting and pursuing new experimental methodology as needed to fulfill research objectives; coordinating ongoing studies with other investigators, collaborate with expertise, and design/write VA research applications and publish study results; and providing and presenting oral and written research presentations and identify clinically relevant areas for future investigations.

AND Education: You must possess a bachelor or graduate degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines, OR do you possess a combination of education and experience that includes courses equivalent to a major such as biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines, plus appropriate experience.

(Copies of transcripts are required at the time of application) 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.

Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.

Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment Physical Requirements: The work is predominantly sedentary.

Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work.

However, there will be some walking, standing, bending and carrying of items of moderate weight such as large binders, banker style file boxes, meeting materials, papers, books or small parts.

Hand and eye coordination for delicate testing procedures may be the only special physical demand required to perform the work.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Major Duties:

Please note this is a without compensation appointment and no pay is associated with this position.

Major Duties: Incumbent will establish a research program and project to conduct grant-specific studies. Develop, adapt and pursue new experimental methodology as needed to fulfill research objectives.

Coordinate ongoing studies with other investigators, collaborate with expertise, and design/write VA research applications and publish study results.

Provide and present oral and written research presentations and identify clinically relevant areas for future investigations. Work Schedule: Full-time (Without Compensation)