Biological Science Technician

Summary

The Department of Commerce ranked top 5 in the 2023 Best Places to Work in the Federal Government amongst large agencies for the 12th year in a row! The ranking showcases the Department's continued commitment to increasing our employee engagement, employee satisfaction, and positive perceptions towards diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. Come join our team!

Duties

In this position, you will: ZT-II - Performing routine cell culture maintenance tasks, including media changes and passaging, following established protocols. - Assist with basic PCR experiments, such as preparing reaction mixtures and operating thermocyclers, under the guidance of a senior researcher. - Perform DNA/RNA extractions from a limited range of sample types using commercially available kits and established protocols. - Maintain accurate records of experiments and results. - Adhere to laboratory safety protocols and maintain a clean working environment. - Maintain laboratory equipment and general lab supplies/consumables. - Seek guidance from senior technicians or researchers when encountering unfamiliar procedures or problems. ZT-III - Support NIST's Biomanufacturing Measurement Services by independently performing complex cell culture techniques, including cell line characterization. - Design and execute PCR experiments, including primer design and optimization. - Independently carry out protein expression protocols, including monoclonal antibody (mAb) purification from mammalian cell lines. - Perform and Optimize DNA/RNA extraction protocols for various sample types (e.g., cells, viruses, lipid nanoparticles) and research needs. - Analyze DNA/RNA quality and quantity. - Troubleshoot experimental issues and optimize protocols. - Contribute to the development of new laboratory procedures. - Maintain accurate records of experiments, including detailed documentation of any deviations from established protocols. - Adhere to laboratory safety protocols and maintain a clean working environment. - Maintain laboratory equipment and general lab supplies/consumables. - Analyze and interpret experimental data, contributing to research reports and publications.

Qualifications

For ZT-II IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION YOU MUST HAVE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: One year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-4 level (ZT-I at NIST). Specialized experience is defined as 1) Performing routine cell culture maintenance tasks following protocols. 2) Assist with performing nucleic acid extractions and PCR-based measurements. 3) Maintains laboratory operational readiness. OR Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours of courses must be directly related to the position to be filled. OR Successful completion of a full course of study of at least 12 months in a school for clinical laboratory technicians OR An equivalent combination of specialized experience and education. NOTE: Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to l year of specialized experience. For ZT-III IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION, APPLICANTS MUST POSSESS ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:Specialized experience: One year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-8 level (ZT-II at NIST). Specialized experience is defined as: 1) Performing complex cell culture maintenance and characterization techniques. 2) Perform and optimize nucleic acid extractions and PCR-based measurements. 3) Performing protein expression protocols, including monoclonal antibody (mAb) purification from mammalian cell lines. 4) Maintains laboratory operational readiness and analysis of data. OR Education: Two full years of graduate education or a master's degree in a field of study directly related to the work of the position. OR Combination of specialized experience and graduate education: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook. If requesting reconsideration of your qualification determination, please refer to the following site: Applicant Reconsideration