BIOLOGIST FORENSIC EXAMINER

Position: Biologist Forensic Examiner (FE), GS-9/11/12

Division: Laboratory

Unit: Federal DNA Database Unit (FDDU)

Location: Quantico, VA

Working Hours: 8:00am-4:30pm (Flexible)

Salary: GS-9 $64,957.00-$84,441.00

GS-11 $78,592.00-$102,166.00

GS-12 $94,199.00-$122,459.00

Full Performance level: GS-13

Number of Positions Available: 1

Duration: Full Time/Permanent

Additional selections may be made from this announcement to fill positions within the same division when the position includes substantially the same duties, responsibilities, and qualifications.

Key Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Must be able to obtain a Top Secret clearance
• As a condition of employment, DNA samples are required from all FBI personnel who interact with evidence or federal DNA database samples in Laboratory Division (LD) space or whose work requires them to enter LD examination areas where evidence or DNA database samples are processed or examined as part of the quality control process to detect sample/evidence contamination, in accordance with the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), 75 Federal Register (FR) 68932; 29 C.F.R. 1635.8(b)(6).
• This position may be exposed to violent acts, lewd images, or involves isolated working conditions.
• Must successfully complete up to a two-year training program necessary for qualification as an FBI Forensic Examiner (FE). Must sign a Forensic Examiner Training Service Agreement (FE TSA) to remain a FE for two years after the completion of training, with the understanding that failure to complete training may lead to termination or change to a similar position at a lower grade. Failure to fulfill the Forensic Examiner Training Service Agreement (FETSA) will require reimbursement for the prorated expense of his/her training, unless a waiver is granted. Applicant is required to serve a two-year probationary period as a FE, beginning when he/she enters on duty as a FE trainee.
• Candidates who are hired for this position will not be eligible for promotion beyond the GS 11 level until they successfully complete their Forensic Examiner training.
• ALL applicants must verify completion of the basic education requirement by submitting a copy of college transcripts and/or syllabus by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Mission Statement:

The mission of the FBI is to protect the American People and uphold the Constitution of the United States.

Major Duties:

• Serve as a Forensic Examiner responsible for planning, coordinating, and directing forensic DNA analysis activities.
• Follow technical protocols, standard operating procedures, and national quality assurance standards while conducting forensic DNA examinations that impact the entire law enforcement community.
• Meet established priorities and deadlines for completion of exams and production of forensic reports for timely dissemination to partners.
• Communicate with internal and external entities regarding unit mission, operations, and activities.

Qualifications and Evaluations

Please make sure your specialized experience/requirement(s) can be identified in your resume. Applicants must meet the qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Your application will be evaluated and rated under the FBI’s Candidate Rating Procedures. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed in this announcement and will be compared to your responses to the online assessment questionnaire. High self-assessment in the vacancy questions that is not supported by information in your resume, and/or supporting documents may eliminate you from Most Competitive status.

Your application will then be placed in one of three categories: Most Competitive, Competitive, or Least Competitive. Names of candidates in the Most Competitive category will be sent to the hiring official for employment consideration. Veterans’ preference will be applied.

All applicants will be rated on the following Competencies:

• Analytic Thinking
• Biology
• Communication
• Organizing and Planning
• Problem Solving/Judgement

Positive Education Requirement:

This position has a specific education requirement; all applicants must verify completion of this basic educational requirement by submitting a copy of their college transcripts by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Qualification requirements: All candidates must meet the basic requirements specified under A or B below.

A. Successful completion of a 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's (or higher) degree in biology, chemistry, or forensic science-related area and must have successfully completed course work (graduate or undergraduate level) in biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and statistics or population genetics. Equivalent courses may be considered if they meet the below criteria. To receive credit for an equivalent course, documentation must be provided such as a syllabus, letter from the instructor, or other document that supports the course content.

Absent a course titled “Biochemistry,” coursework used to fulfill the biochemistry subject requirement must have a variety/range of biochemistry topics as an integral component. Topics in biochemistry may include: • Structure, function, and interaction of biological macromolecules such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids • Enzymes and chemistry of enzyme-catalyzed reactions • DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis • Signal transduction • Metabolism • Cell membrane transport

Absent a course titled “Genetics,” coursework used to fulfill the genetics subject requirement must have a variety/range of genetics topics as an integral component. Topics in genetics may include: • Laws and patterns of inheritance • Basic structure and function of genes and chromosomes • Mutation • Mitosis/Meiosis • Recombination • Gene expression

Absent a course titled “Molecular Biology,” coursework used to fulfill the molecular biology subject requirement must have a variety/range of molecular biology topics as an integral component. Topics in molecular biology may include: • Prokaryotic and eukaryotic genome structure and function • Interrelationship of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis • Transcription, translation, replication • Gene expression and regulation • Recombinant DNA techniques • PCR • DNA sequencing

Absent a course titled “Population Genetics,” coursework used to fulfill the population genetics subject requirement must have a variety/range of population genetics as an integral component. Topics in population genetics may include: • Estimation and testing of measures of allelic association within and between loci (Hardy-Weinberg principle) • Description and estimation of measures of relatedness at the individual and population level (population structure) • Genetic drift, mutation, migration and selection

Absent a course titled “Statistics,” coursework used to fulfill the statistics subject requirement must have a variety/range of statistics topics as an integral component. Topics in statistics may include: • Descriptive statistics • Sampling uncertainty and sampling distributions • Confidence limits and intervals • Discrete and continuous variables • Estimation and hypothesis testing, including the use of likelihoods • Laws of probability and independence • Bayes' Theorem

OR

B. A combination of education and experience with course work equivalent to major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The quality of the combination of education and experience must have been sufficient to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation.

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements provided you can show foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States.

Specialized Experience (SE):

GS-9: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

• Knowledge of biochemistry, genetics, or molecular biology performed in a laboratory setting, which includes planning, coordinating, and/or directing work activities.

GS-11: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level. SE (in addition to above) is defined as follows:

• Experience working in biochemistry, genetics, or molecular biology performed in a laboratory setting, which includes planning, coordinating, and/or directing work activities.

GS-12: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. SE (in addition to above) is defined as follows:

• Work in biochemistry, genetics, or molecular biology performed in a forensic laboratory setting, which includes planning, coordinating, and/or directing forensic science activities; performing expert examinations and work activities of increasing complexity.

Education

All degrees must be from an accredited college or university. Education may be substituted for specialized experience as follows:

GS-9: Applicant must have a master’s or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related.

GS-11: Applicant must have a Ph.D. OR equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.M., if related.

How to Apply

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