Job Description
Summary
As a Biological Science Laboratory Technician, you will organize and manage a wide variety of standard techniques in performing diagnostic tests, reagent production, developmental studies, and training assignments related to animal pathogens having significant economic importance to the livestock industry.
Duties Help
- 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.
- The duties may include, but are not limited to:
- Receives diagnostic specimens for pathogen examination, reads history or specific requests of field personnel, selects appropriate test or identification procedure.
- Prepare diagnostic reagents which include bacterial culture, histology preparations, entomology preparation, inoculation of cell cultures, animals, and embryonating chicken eggs.
- Following a standard outline plans working details, makes measurements, and observes results of tests.
- Assumes responsibility for conducting sections of developmental projects.
- Takes references such as laboratory protocols, journal articles, or rough outlines from a professional and conducts virologic, bacteriological, parasitological, pathological or chemical techniques.
- Recognizes problems in assignments and procedures, make pertinent observations, draw conclusions, and make suggestions for improvement.
- Prepares accurate, written reports describing test procedures and results and summarizes findings.
Requirements Help
Conditions of employment - You must be a US Citizen or US National.
- Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
- Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
- Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
- Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
- Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at
- Testing Designated Position: Selectee must submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use.
- All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions.
- Using laboratory equipment including computers in a sitting position for two consecutive hours is required.
- Work in biosafety level 3 facilities may require long periods of working in containment and up to 70% of time in a Class II or Class III biosafety cabinet.
- The physical demands may include walking, standing, bending, reaching and pushing and lifting up to 50 pounds, sometimes in personal protective equipment (PPE) that can be hot and/or heavy, restrict breathing efficiency, or impair range of vision.
- There is a high noise level due to the air exhaust system (no recirculated air) and laboratory equipment used almost continuously such as centrifuges and freezers. Protective devices such as face masks and latex/nitrile gloves are used.
- Must apply strict safety regulations to prevent the escape of pathogens from the laboratory which may include restrictions on contact with birds, sheep, goats, cattle, and swine outside of the laboratory.
- Periodically, the diagnostic workload during a disease outbreak may require considerable overtime.
- Regular duties may involve mandatory participation in rotating overtime work schedules, and import/export or other time-sensitive testing may be required in the evenings, on weekends, and holidays.
- Immunization against diseases being studied which are transmissible to humans may be required.
- Criminal Justice Information Services database check required for work involving Biological Select Agents and Toxins.
- Applicants selected to Orient Point, NY will require daily travel to and from either Orient Point, New York and Plum Island, or Old Saybrook, Connecticut and Plum Island aboard Government-provided marine vessels.
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.
FOR THE GS-05 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-04 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:
- Processing serum or tissues for serological assays or bacteria/virus isolation.
- Preparing reagents and controls for tests.
- Documenting testing procedures using modern laboratory management systems.
OR 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, mathematics or related fields, with at least 6 semester hours in microbiology, biology or chemistry.
FOR THE GS-06 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:
- Processing serum or tissues for serological, molecular assays or bacteria/virus isolation.
- Preparing reagents and controls for tests.
- Documenting testing procedures using modern laboratory management systems.
- Preparing work instructions for standardized testing methods.
OR Successful completion of 18 semester hours of graduate level education in biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, mathematics, or related fields with at least 6 semester hours in microbiology, biology or chemistry.
FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-06 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:
- Processing serum or tissues for complex diagnostic assays such as sequencing or other molecular methods.
- Preparing reagents and controls for tests.
- Documenting testing procedures using modern laboratory management systems.
- Writing standard operating procedures for test methods.
OR One full year of graduate education in biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, mathematics, or related fields with at least 6 semester hours in microbiology, biology or chemistry.
Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying at the GS-[click to reveal phone number]05/06/07 grade levels.
TRANSCRIPTS are required if:
- 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-[click to reveal phone number]05/06/07 GRADE LEVELS: 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.
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 85 out of a possible 100.
- First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected.
- A Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized
- Locality pay will vary based upon the selectee's duty location. A final salary determination will be made upon selection.
- Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty will be the responsibility of the selectee.
- Positions in Ames, IA and Orient Point, NY are represented by a collective bargaining unit (union), specifically:
- Ames, IA - American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2315
- Orient Point, NY - American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1940
- Positions in Manhattan, KS are not represented by a collective bargaining unit (union).
- Promotion Potential: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits Help
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Job Tags
Full time, Part time, Local area, Relocation, Relocation package, Weekend work, Afternoon shift,