Job Information
Environmental Protection Agency Computational Biologist/Toxicologist/Physical Scientist in Durham, North Carolina
Summary This Title 42 position is in the Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division. This is an office-centered position*--you must physically report to the duty station stated in this announcement on a regular basis. *EPA offers work-from-home and work schedule flexibilities as described in the Benefits section. About ORD. Responsibilities The Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE) is a scientific organization responsible for carrying out EPA's mission to protect human health and the environment by developing and applying cutting edge innovations in methods to rapidly evaluate chemical toxicity, toxicokinetics, fate, transport, and exposure in human and ecological species and systems. To accomplish its mission, CCTE conducts fundamental and applied research across a range of disciplines important for evaluating chemical safety. Part of the mission of CCTE is to enable regulatory and non-regulatory Agency programs to integrate data from new technologies and the underlying computational, mathematical, and statistical models used to analyze the data into chemical safety decisions. The Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division (BCTD) of CCTE performs research to develop and advance laboratory experimental and computational approaches to rapidly evaluate and characterize the potential human toxicity of chemicals. This position is located in BCTD and will require an individual who is a recognized expert in integrating data from new technologies and the underlying computational, mathematical, and statistical models used to analyze the data into chemical safety decisions. Specific duties of the position include, but are not limited to: Providing expert leadership for the development and application of computational biology/toxicology/physical science approaches to analyze data from high-throughput in vitro assays, genomics, in vivo toxicity studies, chemical properties, and other sources to discover relevant information regarding potential human health and ecological effects of chemicals. Designing and conducting independent research in response to EPA’s priorities. Developing new insights in the field and identifying critical research and technical issues involved with computational toxicology to assist the Agency in assessing the broader research needs in computational biology/toxicology/physical science. Providing expert guidance, training, and support in the application of research in biology/toxicology/physical science to chemical safety and Agency policy-setting for scientists within CCTE and throughout EPA. Designing and leading comprehensive studies for a variety of program initiatives to form the technical basis of new standards, program direction, and/or an understanding of scientific problems. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. citizen. You must submit a resume and required documents--see How to Apply section. Position has education requirements--see Qualifications/Education section. EPA and non-EPA applicants must submit transcripts/course listings. The Ethics in Government Act, P.L. 95-521, requires the applicant selected for this position to submit a financial disclosure statement, OGE-278, prior to assuming the Title 42 position, annually, and upon termination of employment. This position is designated as High Risk and requires a background investigation. Unless an appropriate background investigation is already on record with the Office of Personnel Management, you must undergo a background investigation. All conditions of the pre-employment security process must be met before an official letter of employment can be issued with a report for duty date. #LI-Onsite Qualifications To meet the qualifications requirements of this position, you must have a doctoral degree in biology, toxicology, physical science, or related field. You must have experience in analyzing and interpreting high-throughput screening and transcriptomic data. You must have an established track record in managing multiple projects simultaneously and strong data analysis expertise. You must be a nationally and internationally recognized authority and leader in computational biology/toxicology/physical science and chemical safety. You must be sought as an advisor or consultant on scientific and technological programs and/or problems which extend beyond your own field. Your reputation as a biologist/toxicologist/physical scientist is such that you may also serve as a recruiting attraction for recent graduates who seek opportunities to work at EPA/ORD under your guidance in order to benefit from your critical judgement and scientific leadership. Evidence of your qualifications and scientific contributions may include 1) holding elected position(s) in scientific societies; 2) serving on editorial boards of scientific journals; 3) receiving an extensive number of invitations to write and speak on issues in your field; 4) having written numerous book chapters and peer reviewed publications in high quality journals; 5) serving in leadership roles on numerous taskforces and committees; and 6) serving as an advisor to national and international institutions or governments. Education You must have a doctoral degree in a scientific discipline related to CCTE’s mission to qualify for this position. Biologist: You must have a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position; OR a combination of education and experience with courses equivalent to a major, as listed. Toxicologist: You must have a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in toxicology; or an appropriate discipline of the biological, medical, or veterinary sciences that included at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, biochemistry, or physiology, and 12 semester hours in toxicology. Physical Scientist: You must have a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics; OR a combination of education and experience with education equivalent to one of the majors listed that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education. For information about accreditation requirements, visit EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures. Additional Information The salary may be up to $250,000 per year. However, this is dependent on qualifications, experience, and other factors (e.g., current salary and/or current market rates). The selectee's academic credentials will be verified upon selection. EPA participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. For additional information: EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values at EPA. Our excellence can only be fully realized by staff who share our commitment to these values. Successful candidates are committed to advancing equity and inclusion in the Agency’s workplace and mission. We encourage applications from candidates with a variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance. At EPA, diversity is a vital element in bringing a balance of perspectives to bear on every challenge we face. We are committed to creating a diverse workforce because we know that the individual strengths and abilities of our employees make us a stronger organization. The more inclusive our employee base is, the greater the variety of ideas that are generated, and the more representative we are of the nation we serve. To learn more about how EPA values and supports our diverse workforce, visit Equal Opportunity Employment at EPA. If you are selected, travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid by EPA. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting to work in this position will be your responsibility.