Duties
As a Research Biologist, you will perform the following duties:
- Develop, initiate, and direct, long-term research initiatives aimed at optimizing the health, physiological resilience, and sustainable cultivation of marine bivalve mollusks in the context of changing environments and emerging ecological pressures.
- Apply an authoritative One Health framework to synthesize complex interdisciplinary data across bioenergetics, immunology, pathology, and health management to address high-priority challenges in marine aquaculture and ecosystems. Utilize statistical and mechanistic models to extend findings to decision-making tools for use by constituents.
- Serve as the principal investigator (PI) for multi-year, complex research efforts. Oversee all phases of project lifecycles including original proposal development, multi-institution team building, grant/budget management, experimental execution, data synthesis, and strategic dissemination of findings. Serve as a technical expert and provide authoritative recommendations and judgments on complex scientific issues to agency leadership, internal and external stakeholders. Establish and maintain high-level strategic partnerships across government agencies, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, and commercial aquaculture sectors to align research priorities with regional and national goals.
- Author peer-reviewed scientific publications, technical reports, and comprehensive guidance briefings. Present findings at major scientific conferences and national forums. Provide peer review and editorial expertise for scientific journals, serve on scientific advisory panels, and lead professional committee initiatives. Oversee and integrate multi-disciplinary research projects, setting strategic priorities, managing resource allocations, and directing project schedules to ensure technical excellence and strategic alignment.
Qualifications
To qualify for the 0401 series:
EDUCATION:
BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position requires applicants to meet a Basic Education Requirement in addition to at least one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience OR substitution of education for experience OR combination (if applicable) in order to be found minimally qualified. Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet one of the following basic education requirements:
- Degree: Biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR
- Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.
To qualify at the ZP-3 or GS-11 level:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-2 or GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:
Participating in activities on larva development, life history stages or cultivation practices affecting all aspects of shellfish growth and health; and
Assisting with the publication of experimental results into technical reports, and scientific manuscripts.
OR
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Master’s or equivalent graduate degree.
OR
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of successfully completed graduate-level education and specialized experience may be used to meet the total experience requirements. Note: Only graduate-level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience.
To qualify at the ZP-4 or GS-13 level:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-3 or GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:
- Planning research activities on larva development, life history stages or cultivation practices affecting all aspects of shellfish growth and health; and
- Authoring peer-review scientific publications, technical reports or guidance briefings to present at conferences and national forums.
Salary range: $88,005 – $192,694 per year
Application deadline: October 21, 2026
