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Research Food
Technologist/Research Chemist - Peoria, IL
Find Solutions to Agricultural Problems that Affect Americans Every Day, From
Field to Table
Your
U.S. citizenship must be verified before entrance on duty.
Seeking
a permanent full-time research scientist to develop commercially viable
processing technologies to reduce or eliminate trans fatty acid content in
margarines, spreads and shortenings based on edible vegetable oils including
soybean, sunflower, cottonseed and corn.
Major
Duties:
The
incumbent plans and conducts research to develop commercially viable
processing technologies to reduce or eliminate trans fatty acid content in
margarines, spreads and shortenings based on edible vegetable oils including
soybean, sunflower, cottonseed and corn. The research will lead to new
healthful oil-based products with little or no trans fatty acids.
Develops new technologies to utilize structurally modified vegetable oils to
formulate these products
Conducts basic studies to determine phase behavior of complex
triacylglycerols in food oil systems
Conducts basic studies to develop new knowledge about factors affecting
crystallization and solidification of emulsified fats and oils and their
effects on functionality
Develop new knowledge of the structure/function role of fats
Conduct basic studies on behavior of starch/lipid complexes as emulsifiers in
food oil systems
Publishes research results in peer reviewed journals and provides supervision
to support staff
Qualifications:
Your
education and experience will be evaluated against all qualification
requirements (basic and any additional requirements) listed below.
Basic Requirements:
Chemist
A.
Degree: physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that included
30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics
through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of
physics.
OR
B.
Combination of education and experience course work equivalent to a major as
shown in A above, including at least 30 semester hours in chemistry,
supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and
at least 6 semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience or
additional education.
Food Technologist
A.
Degree: food technology, or dairy technology, microbiology, biology,
chemistry, physics, or a related discipline or field of biological or
physical science. The course work must have been comprised of at least
30 semester hours in the basic biological and physical sciences, and included
at least 20 semester hours in food technology and closely related subjects,
or 20 semester hours in subjects that can be applied directly to food
technology.
OR
B.
Combination of education and experience courses equivalent to a major,
including the course work specified, as show in A above, plus appropriate
experience or additional education.
This position has a positive education requirement. You
must submit a copy of your academic transcripts OR a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed, and
grade point average or class ranking to verify education when applying
for this position. If this information is not provided, your education
may not be appropriately evaluated and you may lose consideration for
this position. If you are selected for this position, you will
have to provide an official copy of your transcripts prior to entering on
duty. Application materials will not be returned.
Additional Requirements:
GS-12: Ph.D. or
equivalent doctoral degree OR one year of specialized experience equivalent
to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. If
qualifying based on education, your education must demonstrate that you
possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities (see below) necessary to do the
work.
GS-13: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at
least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service.
Time-In-Grade Restrictions apply for all candidates considered
under Merit Promotion/Alternative Merit Promotion.
Specialized Experience is experience which has equipped
you with the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities - ''KSAs'' required to
perform the duties of this position:
1. Knowledge of the chemical and physical properties of fat/oil-based
materials and emulsions
2. Skill in the use of advanced analytical methods including differential
scanning calorimetry, dilatometry, NIR spectroscopy, GC, HPLC and/or GS/MS
3. Ability to conceive, plan, and conduct research and publish results in
peer reviewed journals
To be considered for a research scientist position, you must
submit a one-page abstract of your MS thesis and/or Ph.D. dissertation.
Also, submit a list of names, addresses, and phone numbers of persons
familiar with your stature, contributions, recognition; any honors or awards
received; memberships in professional or honor societies; invitations to make
presentations at scientific/technical meetings; scientific society office and
committee assignments; presentations (other than invitation); and publications.
Vacant research positions may be filled at one of several
grade levels depending upon the scientific impact of the person
selected. A peer review may be required to determine the appropriate
grade level of the position and supplemental materials may be required from
the selectee.
Research scientists have open-ended promotion potential. Research
accomplishments and their impact on the duties and responsibilities of
positions are evaluated periodically. The grade level is limited only
by the individual''s demonstrated ability to perform research of recognized
importance to science and technology. *Final grade level may be
determined by a peer review panel.
Education:
Graduate
education must be directly related to the work of the position and must have
equipped you with the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the
work.
Education
completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above
requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that
received in an accredited educational institution in the United States.
It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.
Please visit the Office of Personnel Management''s website at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/SEC-II/s2-e4.htm#e4a
for additional information on this topic.
How
You Will Be Evaluated:
You
will be evaluated to determine if you meet the basic and any additional requirements.
The Agricultural Research Service uses a category rating process. Based
on evaluation of all written materials submitted in application for the
position, you will be determined to be Ineligible, if you do not meet
eligibility and/or minimum qualifications criteria; Eligible, if you meet all
eligibility and minimum qualifications criteria; OR Quality, if you meet
quality criteria in addition to eligibility and minimum qualifications
criteria. For information about how to address KSAs, please visit
our website at www.ars.usda.gov/careers,
click on ''How to Apply,'' then click on ''What are those KSAs
anyway?'' For more information about the evaluation process, please
visit our website at: www.ars.usda.gov/careers,
click on ''How to Apply,'' then click on the link to ''Qualifications
and What They Mean.''
Benefits:
A
Benefits Package is authorized for this position.
Additional information about Federal benefits can be obtained at www.usajobs.opm.gov/ei61.htm.
Other
Information:
Veteran''s Preference:
For
further details, call the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) at
703-724-1850 or TDD 978-461-8404. Select General Information on the
Federal Employment Policies and Procedures, and then Veteran''s
Preference and Special Appointing Authorities for Veterans. Visit their
VetGuide website at http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetguide.asp.
Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA):
Qualified candidates eligible under the Veterans Employment
Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA), a special hiring authority, will be
considered. VEOA eligibles are preference eligibles or veterans who
have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after 3
years or more of active service. Veterans who are released under honorable
conditions shortly before completing a 3-year tour are also eligible.
Creditable Service:
Service
credit for annual leave accrual may be granted for directly related
non-Federal work experience or uniformed service for newly appointed
individuals, or those individuals reappointed after a break in service from
civilian Federal employment of at least 90 calendar days. The amount of
non-Federal service to be credited will be based on the amount of directly
related and documented experience that the selectee possesses as documented
by the employee and which is approved by agency management.
Relocation Expenses:
Payment
of relocation expenses will be determined in accordance with P&P 412.5,
Recruitment and Retention Incentives and Other Special Pay, Sections 6 and 7,
as amended by Bulletins 03-402 and 05-412.5, which may be found at http://www.afm.ars.usda.gov/ppweb/Bulletins/05-412-5.pdf.
See also http://www.afm.ars.usda.gov/hrd/staffing_recruit/reloweb.htm.
Financial Disclosure Requirement:
Federal
employees are subject to prohibitions against officially dealing with outside
organizations in which they have a financial interest. You may
be required to submit a financial disclosure report if hired for this
position.
False statements:
If
you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be
hired; may be fired after beginning work; or may be fined or jailed.
Optional Form 306, (Declaration for Federal Employment):
If you are selected for this position, you will be required to complete this
form before an offer may be made.
Displaced/Surplus Employees:
Individuals
eligible under the USDA Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well
qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority
selection. CTAP and ICTAP eligibles within the local commuting area
will be considered well qualified if that applicant meets the qualification
standard and eligibility requirements for the position, meets minimum
education and experience requirements, meets all selective factors where
applicable and is able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position
upon entry. Employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit
a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent performance rating
and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade
level and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect
that you are applying as a CTAP or ICTAP eligible. Additional
information on CTAP and ICTAP is available at http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp.
Selective Service System:
Males
over age 18 who were born after December 31, 1959, must have registered with
the Selective Service System (or have an exemption) to be eligible for
Federal employment.
ARS Reasonable Accommodation
If
you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and
hiring process, or have questions regarding reasonable accommodation and/or
accessibility for any part of the application and hiring process, please
contact the Disability Program Manager on 202-720-6161 or through the DC
Relay Service on 202-855-1234 (TDD).
How To
Apply:
Applications
may be mailed, faxed, or e-mailed to the appropriate address and/or facsimile
number, but they must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard
Time on the closing date.
If sending your application as an attachment to an email, do not send zipped
files. They will be removed in accordance with standard electronic
security procedures.
If hand delivered, be sure your application is received in the Human Resources Division on or before closing date.
If application packages do not contain all of the requested
information, you may lose consideration for the job. To help you ensure your application fully
outlines your qualifications and eligibility for this position, please submit
the following documentation as appropriate. Some of the items
listed may not apply to you. NOTE: Applications received in
postage paid government envelopes will not be considered.
APPLICATION PACKAGE CHECKLIST
__ Optional Form 612 (Optional Application for Federal
Employment), Resume, Curriculum Vitae, or other document outlining your
qualifications (Go to http://www.opm.gov/forms/html/of.asp and
scroll down to obtain the OF-612).
The following information is required of all applicants:
__
Announcement number, title, and grade(s) of the position
__ Full name, mailing address (including zip code) and day and evening phone
numbers (with area code)
__ Statement that you are a U.S. citizen (if not using the OF-612)
__Copy of DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty)
(only if claiming veteran''s preference) (Visit the following web site for
additional information: http://www.opm.gov/employ/veterans/html/vetguide.asp
__SF-15 (Application for 10-point Veteran''s Preference) plus the support
documentation required by this form (if claiming 10-point veteran''s
preference) (Go to the web site at http://www.opm.gov/forms/html/sf.asp to
obtain form.)
__ Paid and non-paid work experience related to the position. For each
period of work experience include:
___Job title
___Series/grade (if
Federal employment)
___Duties and
accomplishments
___Employer''s name
and address
___Supervisor''s name
and contact information
___Starting and ending
dates of employment (at least month/year)
___Number of hours
worked per week
___Salary
___Indicate if we may
contact current supervisor/employer
__ Other job related information, such as training courses (title &
year); skills (e.g., other languages, computer software/hardware, tools,
etc.)
___Certificates/licenses (current)
___Honors, awards, and
special accomplishments
___Supplemental
questionnaire if applicable
(usually for Federal Wage System positions - WG, WL, WS)
__ Copy of college transcripts (if qualifying all or in part on the basis of
education for this position) (If you have non-conventional education, e.g.,
foreign study, continuing education units, life experience, etc., go to the
web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/SEC-II/s2-e4.htm#e4a and
look under the heading oOther Education for information governing
acceptability of this type of education.)
__ Copy of SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) to verify possession of
competitive civil service status (if you are a current or previous federal employee)
__ Copy of most recent performance appraisal (if you are a current federal
employee)
__ Second copy of application package IF you are a candidate with competitive
status. (NOTE: All status candidates who wish to be considered
under both alternative merit promotion and non-status competitive examining
must submit two (2) complete applications when the position is open to both
status and non-status candidates. When only one (1) application is
received, it will be considered under the alternative merit promotion
procedures if the applicant is a current or former Federal employee with
reinstatement eligibility.)
__
Support documentation for eligibility for special hiring authorities, such as
disability, Peace Corps service, etc. (If you have questions about
whether you are eligible for a particular hiring authority, please call the
servicing HR specialist or visit the web site at http://www.opm.gov/Strategic_Management_of_Human_Capital/fhfrc/default.asp .
__ Support documentation if you are a USDA surplus or federal displaced
employee (See pertinent section under oOther Important Information below.
__ Self-certification of typing speed (if required as a basic qualification
for the position)
__ While not required, a separate response to the required knowledge, skills,
and abilities (KSAs listed under Specialized Experience) and Selective
Placement Factor(s), if present, for this position may better highlight your
specific qualifications for this position. (For an explanation of KSAs,
go to the web site at http://www.ars.usda.gov/careers/whatksa.html).
As an Applicant for a Research
Scientist Position, you must also submit the following:
__ A one-page abstract of MS thesis and/or Ph.D. dissertation
__ A resume of any honors or awards received; memberships in
professional or honor societies; invitations to make presentations at
scientific/technical meetings; scientific society office and committee
assignments; presentations (other than invitations); and publications.
__ A list of names, addresses, and phone numbers of persons familiar
with your stature, contributions, and recognition.
If this is your first time applying for a federal job, or if you wish to view more detailed
information about various aspects of applying for federal jobs, go to http://www.opm.gov/forms/html/of.asp and
scroll down to access the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Optional Form
510.
Location Mike Horn (309)-681-6478
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