Research Oceanographer – St. Petersburg Coastal & Marine Science Center

Responsibilities

As a Research Oceanographer within the St. Petersburg Coastal & Marine Science Center, some of your specific duties will include:

– Develop breakthroughs relating to coastal morphologic and oceanographic processes to determine direction for new studies.

– Work independently to design and direct collaborative research that produces technically authoritative results acceptable for review by the scientific community.

– Develop innovative methods for modeling and observation of complex ocean interactions that result in relevant solutions to social-science problems.

– Produce research results that enhance and lead coastal processes scientific efforts, evidenced by a strong publication record and recognition within the scientific community as a leading authority.

– Operate a government vehicle as an incidental driver.

Travel Required

Occasional travel – Occasional travel away from home may be required 1-5 nights per month

Conditions of Employment

Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year probationary period.
More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.
Selectee must provide a valid state driver’s license & safe driving record.
Selectee subject to successful completion of a pre-employment medical exam.

Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?

Taking and passing a pre-employment medical examination at Federal expense is required due to the physical demands of this job.
Because this position requires travel for official business, the selectee will be required to apply for a charge card within 30 calendar days of appointment. Individuals who have delinquent account balances from a previous Government charge card will be required to satisfy their existing obligation before a new card can be issued.
A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant’s successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

Qualifications

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic education requirement for Oceanographer, all grade levels.

A. Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor’s or higher degree with major study of at least 24 semester hours or the equivalent in oceanography or related discipline such as physics, meteorology, geophysics, mathematics, chemistry, engineering, geology, or biology, plus 20 additional semester hours or the equivalent in any combination of oceanography, physics, geophysics, chemistry, mathematics, meteorology, computer science, and engineering sciences. ** OR

B. A combination of education and experience-course work as shown in “A” above (24 semester hours or the equivalent in oceanography or a related discipline as specified in “A” above, plus 20 additional semester hours or the equivalent in any combination of courses as specified in “A” above), plus appropriate experience and/or additional education for a total of 4 years. The education or combined education and experience must be comparable in type, scope and thoroughness to that acquired through successful completion of a 4-year course of study as described in “A” above. (DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE)

NOTE: Applicants who qualify on the basis of major study in biology or geology must have had at least 6 semester hours in the major directly concerned with marine science or 6 semester hours in oceanography; applicants who qualify on the basis of other physical sciences or engineering must have had differential and integral calculus and at last 6 semester hours in physics.

GS-13

In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, one year of appropriate professional experience that is in or directly related to the duties of the position to be filled is qualifying if it is equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service, and if it equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

Examples of such specialized experience could include experience in any of the following fields: coastal oceanography, morphology, sediment transport, and related processes; graduate- level work or the equivalent field work and laboratory research integrating field observations of oceanography and morphology into numerical models to solve research and applied problems involving (1) making vulnerability assessments associated with coastal change forecasts, (2) evaluating the accuracy of storm vulnerability assessments, (3) making probabilistic updates of coastal change forecasts that using a combination of new data and models to automate the forecast system and (4) conducting detailed research to better understand beach processes during storms for the purpose of improving predictions. Working within broadly defined research scope and objectives; independently define specific problems and methods used in model development; and simulation, integration, assimilation, and analysis that may require innovative and complex approaches. Research contributions could include senior author of at least one scientific research publication in a peer-reviewed research journal and presentation at regional meetings of professional societies.

GS-14

In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, one year of appropriate professional experience that is in or directly related to the duties of the position to be filled is qualifying if it is equivalent to at least the GS-13 level in the Federal service, and if it equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

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.
Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/how-foreign-education-evaluated-federal-jobs .

https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/539439400