Senior Scientist For Astrobiology

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Job description

Summary

NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) is currently seeking interested candidates for the Senior Scientist for Astrobiology position. The position reports to the Ames Science Director and is responsible for providing the Center and Agency leadership with expert advice on astrobiology, with a particular emphasis on the science of life detection.

This announcement has been modified to extend the closing date.
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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates
  
  10/18/2021 to 01/10/2022
• Salary
  
  $135,522 - $189,947 per year
• Pay scale & grade
  
  ST 00
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  Location
  
  1 vacancy in the following location:
  
  • Moffett Field, CA 1 vacancy
• Telework eligible
  
  Yes-as determined by the agency policy.
• Travel Required
  
  Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
• Relocation expenses reimbursed
  
  Yes-NASA may consider reimbursement of relocation expenses based on Agency discretion and/or organizational needs; relocation expense reimburse is not guaranteed
• Appointment type
  
  Permanent
• Work schedule
  
  Full-time
• Service
  
  Competitive
• Promotion potential
  
  None
• Job family (Series)
  
  1301 General Physical Science
• Supervisory status
  
  No
• Security clearance
  
  Not Required
• Drug test
  
  No
• Position sensitivity and risk
  
  Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
• Trust determination process
  
  Suitability/Fitness
• Announcement number
  
  ARC-22-ST-
• Control number
  
  

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This job is open to

• The public
  
  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

Notice of opportunity for receipt of applications for Scientific and Professional (ST) position.

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Duties

The Senior Scientist for Astrobiology:

- Provides Center and Agency leadership with expert advice on astrobiology, with a particular emphasis on the science of life detection.

- Serves a key Agency role in advancing strategic studies on the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe.

- Works with NASA and academic scientists from throughout the world to formulate approaches consistent with the Agency's strategies in research, technology development, and mission formulation and implementation pertinent to the search for life.

- Responsible for creating and/or synthesizing knowledge that will aid in distinguishing between biosignatures and abiotic phenomena, while improving our understanding of the potential for biosignatures to be preserved over long planetary timescales.

- Conducts an active model-based, space-based, planetary surface-based, or laboratory-based, research program focused on life detection.

- Keeps abreast of recent advances in understanding the evolution and fate of life in space in order to develop and recommend strategies for advancing life detection technologies as well as to explore synergies and science returns from both astrobiology and fundamental space biology.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• The individual selected will be required to file an 'Executive Branch Personnel Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-278) in accordance with the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.
• Successful completion of a background investigation commensurate with the risk and sensitivity level of the position.
• Must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
• Please see the "Additional Information" section for important information about COVID-19 vaccination requirements for federal employees.

Qualifications

Candidates must possess expert knowledge and at least 3 years of directly related specialized experience in one or more of the following research fields: laboratory astrophysics, space-based life detection, planetary surface-based life detection, life detection pertaining to exoplanets. Experience is demonstrated by publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals, leadership of international research consortia, and leadership of major projects including space flight missions.

At least 1 year of this experience must have been in planning and executing difficult programs of national significance or planning and executing specialized programs that show outstanding attainments in the field of research or consultation. At least 1 year of the directly related specialized experience must be at least equivalent to experience at the GS-15 level.

Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement, or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you MUST address each Scientific or Professional (ST) Evaluation Criteria separately not to exceed a total of ten (10) pages. If you fail to do so, your application will be rated ineligible. Where applicable, please cite experience directly related to the specialized experience requirements outlined above. For the full definition of the ST Evaluation Criteria and Process please click here. Please include your full name on all documents submitted.

ST EVALUATION CRITERIA:

1. Education Level and Training

2. Technical Excellence and Contributions
a. Experience/Accomplishments
b. Technical and Strategic Problem Solving
c. Publications and Information Transfer

3. Awards and Recognition

4. Outside Professional Activities

5. Corporate Cooperation and Technical Leadership Skills

Education

This position has a positive education requirement. To be eligible, you must clearly state in your resume the following: degree, major and/or minor, and college/university.

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major study in engineering, physical science, mathematics, life sciences, computer science, or other field of science.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. These education credentials must be deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, click here.

Additional information

As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination by November 22, 2021 or before appointment or onboarding with the agency, if after November 22. We will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required exception from this requirement.

Due to COVID-19, NASA is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement within 30 days. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework one or more days a pay period depending upon the terms of the agency's telework policy.

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How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

All qualifications requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applicants that meet minimum eligibility requirements outlined in the Qualifications and Education sections of the vacancy announcement will be referred to a panel of subject matter experts for further evaluation. The panel reviews the resume and responses provided to the ST Evaluation Criteria, which are standard for all NASA ST opportunities, as outlined above..... click apply for full job details