Ecologist, GS-0408
Definitions:
EXPERIENCE: One year of work experience is twelve months working full-time (at least 35-40 hours per week). Part-time experience can be pro-rated (i.e., a year at 20 hours per week is credited as 6 months of experience). If your position consisted of mixed duties, experience credit is given for the percentage of time that you spent on qualifying duties (i.e., if you held a position for 2 years, full-time, consisting of 25% personnel work and 75% budget work, and then applied for a budget position you could calculate your experience as follows: 2 yrs = 24 months. 24 months x 75% [percentage of time spent on budget duties] = 18 months of qualifying experience.)
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION: A year of undergraduate education is 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours or the equivalent of college study. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent was a prerequisite.
GRADUATE EDUCATION: In the absence of specific graduate program information, a year of graduate education is 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours of graduate level college course work, or the number of credit hours the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full time study. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.
For GS-05:
BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Applicants must meet A below to satisfy the basic education requirement for Ecologist, 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 in biology or a related field of science underlying ecological research that included at least 30 semester hours or the equivalent in basic and applied biological sciences. These hours must have included at least 9 semester hours or the equivalent in ecology, and 12 semester hours or the equivalent in physical and mathematical sciences.
For GS-07:
In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-07 level:
**One year of successfully completed graduate level education (18 semester hours, 27 quarter hours or the equivalent) in ecology or other directly related field of study if it provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of the position to be filled.
**OR Super Academic Achievement based on undergraduate study. (CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT).
**OR one year of appropriate specialized experience that is in biology or a related field of science underlying ecological research is qualifying if it is equivalent to at least the GS-5 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 to be filled.
Examples of GS-5 level work may include: 1) collecting basic data from field investigations; 2) preparing samples; 3) making observations on biological conditions; 4) assisting in data entry and routine data analysis; 5) searching published technical sources for information on designated topics and preparing summaries for reference of others. For examples 1-5, the work performed was routine and closely controlled and a designated person assigned the work with clear, specific, and detailed instructions as to the methods, procedures, and guidelines to use.
**OR a combination of successfully completed graduate level education, as described above, and professional experience, as described above. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE GRADUATE EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE)
For GS-09:
In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-09 level:
**Two full years of successfully completed progressively higher-level graduate education (36 semester hours, 54 quarter hours or the equivalent) or masters or equivalent graduate degree in ecology, biology or other directly related field underlying ecological research if it provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of the position to be filled.
**OR one year of appropriate specialized experience that is in ecology, biology or a related field of science underlying ecological research is qualifying if it is equivalent to at least the GS-7 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 to be filled.
Examples of GS-7 level work may include: 1) assisting in planning, organizing/implementing scientific investigations; 2) performing data analyses on portions of larger investigations; 3) participating in organizing and interpreting biological, ecological, pathological, public use, or other pertinent research information. **OR a combination of successfully completed graduate level education, as described above, that is beyond the first year of progressive graduate study, and professional experience, as described above. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE GRADUATE EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE)
For GS-11:
In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-11 level:
**Three full years of successfully completed progressively higher-level graduate education (54 semester hours, 81 quarter hours or the equivalent) or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in ecology, biology or other directly related field underlying ecological research if it provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of the position to be filled.
**OR one year of appropriate specialized experience that is in ecology, biology or a related field of science underlying ecological research is qualifying if it is equivalent to at least the GS-9 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 to be filled.
Examples of GS-9 level work may include: 1) participating in the planning and execution of ecological or biological studies with a limited number of variables; 2) performing established, standardized tests and analyses on a broad range of biological samples; or 3) conducting studies using established fact-finding and evaluation procedures. **OR a combination of successfully completed graduate level education, as described above, that is beyond the first two years of progressive graduate study, and professional experience, as described above. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE GRADUATE EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE)
For GS-12:
In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-12 level:
**One year of appropriate specialized experience that is in ecology, biology or a related field of science underlying ecological research is qualifying if it is equivalent to at least the GS-11 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 to be filled.
Examples of GS-11 level work may include: 1) design, development and conduct of protocols to analyze spatial and temporal data; 2) conduct of sampling, experimental design, statistical analyses and biometrics relative to wetlands ecology; 3) independent planning and conduct of comprehensive biological studies/investigations and requests for proposals; 4) modifying and adapting standard biological techniques and procedures; 5) serving as a technical resource on biological issues; 6) design and management of projects, studies to provide an understanding of the effects of environmental perturbations in study areas.
For GS-13:
In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-13 level:
**One year of appropriate specialized experience that is in ecology, biology or a related field of science underlying ecological research 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 to be filled.
Examples of GS-12 level work may include: 1) planning and coordinating projects of considerable depth and/or breadth; 2) analyzing and interpreting data on projects which include novel and obscure problems; 3) developing new or significantly modified biological techniques, methods or criteria; 4) providing biological advisory, planning or reviewing services.
For GS-14:
In addition to the basic education requirements as stated above, applicants must have one year of specialized experience at or equal to the next lower grade level.
Examples of GS-13 level work may include: 1) planning and leading ecological projects of substantial depth and/or breadth; 2) analyzing and interpreting biological related project data with novel and obscure problems and publishing or preparing results of findings; 3) developing new or significantly modified biological techniques, methods, or criteria; 4) providing advisory, planning, or reviewing services as a technical specialist on a ecological or biological issue. For examples 1-4, the work provided wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment to perform scientific work of marked difficulty and responsibility.
For GS-15:
In addition to the basic education requirements as stated above, applicants must have one year of specialized experience at or equal to the next lower grade level.
Examples of GS-14 level work may include: 1) Developing and managing major interdisciplinary projects that may impact regional scientific objectives; 2) developing or directly influencing the scientific, administrative and technical policies, standards, procedures, and instructions necessary for the effective direction and operation of a multi-discipline scientific program; 3) resolving critical problems resulting from the unprecedented complexities of a multi-discipline scientific study; 4) serving as the principal contact with other Federal agencies, state and local government organizations, and other groups that may affect the success of a major interdisciplinary scientific program. The work involved advising or counseling other recognized senior technical experts.