Seasonal Biological Science Technician (Biochemistry)

Full Job Description

The purpose of the position is to perform a wide variety of complex biological science technical support functions.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-01/26/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience.

To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time).

If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.

To qualify for this position at the GS-06 grade level, you must possess at least one or all of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: Possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the federal service.

Specialized experience demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position.

Specialized experience is leading or coordinating field work in natural resource management, bacteriological water quality testing, or experience following water sampling and laboratory standard operating procedures (SOPs) for processing water samples.

Experience collecting field data and ensuring adequate quality control of data collected, providing a preliminary assessment and classification of the information.

Evaluates observed conditions and problems and makes preliminary determinations on the case of problems noted. You must include hours per week worked.

-OR- EDUCATION: Have successfully completed one full year (18 semester hours or equivalent) of graduate level study in of scientific or technical study, directly related to the position, such as biology, microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry, aquatic/wetland ecology, etc.

You must include transcripts. -OR- COMBINATION: Have a combination of specialized experience and education as described above that when combined must equal 100%.

Only graduate level coursework in microbiology, biochemistry, or watershed management is considered qualifying when combined with specialized experience. You must include transcripts.

You must include hours per week worked.

To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess at least one or all of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 level in the federal service.

Specialized experience demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position.

Specialized experience is leading or coordinating field work in natural resource management, leading a volunteer natural resource monitoring program, wetland restoration, macroinvertebrate or amphibian inventory and monitoring, or assisting a higher-level specialist in developing field aquatic resources projects and initial analysis of data.

You must include hours per week worked.

-OR- EDUCATION: Have successfully completed one full year (18 semester hours or equivalent) of graduate level study in of scientific or technical study, directly related to the position, such as biology, microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry, aquatic/wetland ecology, etc.

You must include transcripts. -OR- COMBINATION: Have a combination of specialized experience and education as described above that when combined must equal 100%.

Only graduate level coursework in biology, microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry, geology, watershed management is considered qualifying when combined with specialized experience.

You must include transcripts. You must include hours per week worked.

Volunteer Experience: 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. Major Duties:

Park Information: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore GS-06 Duties: Assist with sampling water quality of inland lakes, rivers, and at Lake Michigan beach sites throughout the Lakeshore.

Assist in the preparation of reports, plans, and guidelines. Draft project reports may include literature research, descriptions of methods, preparation of graphs and charts, and summary of findings.

Perform routine and recurring testing of water quality, both chemical and bacteriological; using qPCR to analyze water samples for the presence of aquatic invasive species; maintaining a laboratory for fecal bacteria and eDNA testing; recording all data collected and providing preliminary assessment and classification of the information; u Use a Global Positioning System device to locate and mark sampling sites in remote locations.

Portaging and paddling a canoe for long distances to sample interior lakes.

Process water samples for laboratory analysis according to detailed standard operating procedures; installing, operating, maintaining, and calibrating water quality sampling equipment; and entering data into computer spreadsheets or databases.

GS-07 Duties: Perform all GS-6 duties, as well as using qPCR to test for DNA of bacteria as well as aquatic invasive species in water samples.

The GS-07 position will have an expanded role in running the qPCR testing and require less direct oversight. The position will also be responsible for daily supervisory duties of interns.