Duties
Researchers conduct aerospace-relevant applied research in the biomedical, biodynamics and survivability/cabin safety sciences. The research physiologist works primarily as an integral member of a multi-disciplinary environmental physiology and civil aerospace medical research team.
This team has two goals: (1) conduct research on environmental factors that may influence human performance, physiology, safety, and health in aviation/aerospace environments in response to stressors such as hypoxia, rapid decompression, and biological/chemical threats to include cabin air quality issues, and (2) develop test procedures to assess environmental hazards and the adequacy of life support systems, medical devices, and other equipment at altitude.
Incumbent will perform multiple, varying, and complex assignments under the limited direction of a section manager and research team leader. May act as a contributing associate investigator on large work activities or as a principal investigator for single or small work activities.
Applies experience and advanced technical knowledge in human physiology, aviation/aerospace physiology, and environmental physiology to accomplish assignments. Also employs technical knowledge of physiological sensor technologies, and skills in experimental set-up, instrumentation, and operation and maintenance of complex data acquisition systems to collect, record, and analyze human physiological data. Understands how his/her technical area interacts with or is affected by other disciplines and considers the objectives of the research sponsor when developing research projects addressing diverse, complex problems.
Typical assignments include formulating hypotheses; developing and carrying out research plans; determining resource needs; keeping the supervisor informed of general plans and progress; addressing novel and difficult problem requiring modification of standard methods; analyzing and interpreting results; preparing comprehensive reports of findings; and working with research sponsors to interpret and implement research findings.
Defines, plans, and organizes assigned resources to accomplish research projects and achieve research objectives. Allocates resources to accomplish small work-activities within established schedules.
Contacts are internal and external. May act as a key technical point of contact for assigned activities. Is primary author or contributes to the preparation of management/technical reports or contractual documents, and may communicate the overall results of a project or work activity to FAA management, the aviation and aerospace industries, and other external parties. Work is expected to result in selection to serve on committees and review panels of technical groups and professional organizations; recognition by the scientific community as a significant contributor in epidemiology, public health, or aerospace medicine; and invitations to make presentations to professional societies and others outside the organization on technical matters; and consultations by agency technical and managerial staff and other researchers who are respected in their fields of study.
Uses or adapts guidelines consisting of literature in the fields of human physiology, aviation/aerospace physiology, and environmental physiology; procedures; instructions; or precedents to meet the requirements of the current assignment. May need to deal with situations where the existing literature is of limited usefulness due to contradictions, critical gaps, or limited applicability, or is largely absent because of the novel nature of the work.
Provides guidance to lower-level technical staff on how to solve difficult technical issues. Resolves all but unique technical problems without the intervention of management or a more experienced technical specialist.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- US Citizenship is required.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
- This position has a positive education requirement. Transcript(s) required.
- Successful completion of a security investigation may be required.
- A one-year probationary period may be required.
- Pre-employment Physical is Required.
- Please review Required Documents & Additional Information.
Qualifications
Basic Requirements:
Degree: in one of the basic animal sciences or physiology; or a related discipline or field of science that included at least 24 semester hours in the basic animal sciences, of which 10 semester hours were in animal physiology. (transcripts must be submitted)
Evaluation of Education: Courses such as anatomy; cytology; invertebrate and vertebrate zoology; embryology; entomology; animal, dairy, and poultry husbandry; nutrition; genetics; and physiology may be used to meet the 24-semester-hour requirement in the basic animal sciences.
You must submit a transcript of your college coursework by the closing date of the announcement.
In addition to the above basic requirements:
To qualify at the FV-I (FG/GS 13) level, you must demonstrate in your application you possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-H (FG/GS 10-12) level. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.
Specialized experience includes: Conducting research on environmental factors that may influence human performance, physiology, safety, and health in aviation/aerospace environments; developing test procedures to assess environmental hazards and the adequacy of life support systems, medical devices, and other equipment at altitude; experience setting up, operating and maintenance of instrumentation; experience collecting, recording, and analyzing human physiological data; preparation of technical reports, presentations, and publications; experience identifying and recommending solutions for complex/difficult problems
Applicants should provide examples of Specialized Experience in their Work History
AND
Quality Ranking Factor (QRF): A well-qualified candidate will demonstrate all of the following:
1) Experience designing and conducting human physiology, environmental physiology.
2) Exercise science research studies as a lead/lead/principal investigator or as a research team member.
3) Record of communicating scientific findings to the broader research community through research publications, such as peer-reviewed professional journal articles, monographs, books, reviews, reports, etc.
AND
Physical Requirements: You must be able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position without hazard to yourself or others. Selectee must pass a preemployment physical prior to appointment.
Qualifications must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
Education
This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcripts(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. You may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS or fax it to fax number provided in the announcement (please include announcement number on each page).
Failure to do so will result in loss of consideration.
Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: www.ed.gov/accreditation.
Foreign education must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials or an accredited U.S. educational institution in terms of equivalence to a degree acquired at an American college or university. A copy of the evaluation results must be included, otherwise your foreign education will not be considered.
KSA Information:
As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are not required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA.
In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA, in your work history please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a Human Resource Specialist as appropriate.
Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective factor(s), if applicable, may be further evaluated on the KSA's listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or alphabetical and referred to the selecting official for consideration.
Preview Job Questionnaire
Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.
Benefits
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.
Review our 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.
Required Documents
Transcripts are required, please see below. Other supplemental documentation will be accepted in combination with your on-line application and must be uploaded or emailed to 9-AMC-AHF-S210@faa.gov on or before the closing date of this announcement. All submitted documents should reference the announcement number.
This position has a positive education requirement; college transcripts are required for ALL candidates newly appointed to the FAA in the 413 series.
College transcripts must be submitted from current FAA employees applying for internal vacancies if they have never held a position in the 413 series with the FAA.
College transcripts are not required from current FAA employees who are currently occupying a 413 series.
If selected, official transcripts are required prior to employment.
All Veterans: If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit either a DD Form 214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member 4 Copy or equivalent), or a document from the armed forces certifying that within 120 days you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty service under honorable conditions. If you are claiming 10 point preference, you must also submit a completed SF-15, Application for 10-Point Veteran's Preference, and supporting documents outlined on the SF-15. Documents must be uploaded or faxed to the Servicing Human Resource Management Office listed in this announcement and all documents must be received by the closing date of the announcement. If you fail to submit documentation, you will be assessed as a non-veteran.
If you are claiming 10 point preference but fail to submit the supporting documents outlined on the SF-15, you will be tentatively assessed as a 5 point preference eligible provided your DD Form 214 reflects that you have the service required to qualify for preference. Documents must be uploaded or faxed to the Servicing Human Resource Management Office listed in this announcement and all documents must be received by the closing date of the announcement. If you fail to submit documentation, you will be assessed as a non-veteran.
Veterans currently on active duty claiming veterans' preference: You will be granted tentative preference if you submit a document from the armed forces certifying that within 120 days you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty service under honorable conditions and your application shows that you have the required service. Prior to being appointed, you must provide to the Servicing Human Resource Management Office a DD Form 214 documenting discharge/release and showing that the service was honorable or general. If you are on terminal leave, you must provide documentation certifying authorized terminal leave.
If you want consideration for one or more of the Special Hiring Authorities, documentation that must be submitted at time of application can be found at
Direct Hiring Authorities | Federal Aviation Administration (faa.gov).
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
You must apply online to receive consideration. Your application must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the Close Date for it to be accepted. If you are applying for positions associated with FAA registers, your application must be submitted at the time a referral list is created in order to receive consideration for positions associated with a register.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE AND/OR EDUCATION, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE OR EDUCATION.
We strongly encourage applicants to utilize the USAJOBS resume builder in the creation of resumes.
Please ensure EACH work history includes ALL of the following information:
- Job Title (include series and grade if Federal Job)
- Duties (be specific in describing your duties)
- Employer's name and address
- Supervisor name and phone number
- Start and end dates including month and year (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
- Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)
- Salary (optional)
Determining length of General or Specialized Experience is dependent on the above information and failure to provide ALL of this information may result in a finding of ineligible.You may upload completed documents to your USAJOBS Account. This will provide you the opportunity to utilize the uploaded information again when applying for future vacancies. Please see this guide,
Document Upload Guide, for more information on uploading and re-using the documents in your applications.
Next steps
Once we receive your complete application, the Human Resources Office will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications. Eligible and qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. You will be contacted directly if selected for an interview.
For instructions on how to check the status of your application, please go to: USAJOBS Help Guide.
Important - If you make any changes to your application, you must resubmit it. If you make changes to your application and do not resubmit it, your changes will not be considered part of your application package, and only your previously submitted application will be evaluated.
All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of political affiliation, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or other non-merit factors. DOT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency contact listed in the Agency Contact Information section of this announcement or the hiring manager. An employee with a disability must notify the decision-maker of the accommodation request. Job applicants and employees are required to follow up oral requests in writing. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Additional information on reasonable accommodations procedures or on EEO Programs is available on Office of Civil Rights (ACR) or by contacting the local FAA Civil Rights Office.