Total 7 Science / R&D / Research job vacancies in Westfield, Massachusetts

This is a bargaining unit position.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist - Research Committee Manager/PD99493S and PD99586S
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Major Duties:
This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-11. At the GS-09 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-11. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds. Promotion is not guaranteed and no promise of promotion is implied.

• Serves as point of contact of the Research and Development (R&D) Committee. Responsibilities include oversight of committee to ensure compliance and quality assurance.
• Stays informed and advises on guidelines to ensure compliance with Federal, State, VA and other applicable regulations and guidelines.
• Serves as the accreditation Facility Liaison and is responsible for the preparation of accreditation applications and maintenance of standard operating procedures.
• Responsible for conducting educational sessions for the investigative community on local and external research policies and procedures.
• Establishes and maintains pre-review program coinciding with Central Institutional Review Board and R&D Committee in accordance with local policies.
• Oversees the protocol review process ensuring projects are reviewed by appropriate personnel and issues related to project management are communicated and resolved.

This is not a remote position. Work will be performed primarily in Boston, MA, which includes travel throughout the following counties:

Massachusetts: Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk
New Hampshire: Rockingham, Strafford

THIS POSITION IS PART-TIME ONLY AND DOES NOT LEAD TO FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT. THIS IS NOT ENTRY LEVEL FOR AN ECONOMIST POSITION.

The initial average hours per week will be 16 to 32 hours to start depending on workload and training requirements. Work schedule will vary week to week depending upon work requirements. This is not a job for a person who needs full-time work or who cannot be available for work when required, which includes a mix of day, evening and weekend hours as needed. Additionally, this position requires visits to retail stores, businesses, and residences to gather the required information.

Selectees must travel to the Bureau of Labor Statistics training center in Washington, D.C. or another location if scheduled for mandatory classroom training such as: One (1) week introductory commodities and services (C&S) training and One (1) week of advanced data collection. Housing training and some C&S training are accomplished through distance learning. Notice will be given of planned training events that require travel.

Economic Assistants collect prices and related statistical data on a wide variety of commodities, services, and housing for the BLS Consumer Price Index. Data for commodities and services are collected by conducting personal and telephone interviews with store managers and buyers, managers in auto dealerships, doctors, pharmacists, and other professionals. Data for the housing survey are obtained by personal visit or telephone interview with either property managers, tenants, or homeowners. The incumbent conducts the duties of this position in situations requiring written and verbal fluency in Spanish and English. Converses and writes fluently in both languages in order to communicate with various customers, as well as read and analyze documents containing Spanish language. Duties include, but are not limited to:

1. Visiting retail and service establishments such as department stores, supermarkets, medical off ices, and hotels to collect retail price data. A limited amount of data are collected by telephone/fax, video, and websites.
2. Contacting homeowners, renters, and apartment management companies by personal visit to neighborhoods and follow up telephone interviews.
3. Collecting and entering data on a handheld computer.
4. Obtaining voluntary cooperation from survey respondents.
5. Traveling to a field off ice for on-the-job training and periodic meetings.

• The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.
• The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Prepares study plans for scientific experiments, using the scientist's hypothesis; attends to all the technical/administrative concerns.
• Develops the data required; refines, verifies, justifies, and organizes the data; analyzes and evaluates findings; and writes-up results for review.
• Conducts tests and analyses of studies and evaluations of data on plant pests detected domestically or intercepted at ports of entry from all parts of the world.
• Collects and manages data, evaluates and analyzes data pertaining to risk, diagnosis, mitigation, rearing, control, treatment and quarantine status.
• Manages plant and/or pest samples and resulting data, including receipt, storage, processing, photographing, and archiving while following procedures to ensure sample integrity and custody.

As a Physical Scientist within the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, some of your specific duties will include:

• Coordinates research on wetland processes that drive ecological and geomorphic change of estuaries and salt marshes and associated ecosystem services, including mitigation of coastal hazards.
• Leads teams of scientists and technicians in observational studies of wetland response to restoration.
• Designs and leads appropriate analytical programs for accomplishing research objectives.
• Analyzes geospatial and/or time-series data in estuaries and wetlands. Integrates expertise in wetland processes, including time-series analysis, numerical modeling, and/or geospatial synthesis.
• Prepares peer-reviewed journal articles, data products, and scientific reports discussing the results of multidisciplinary studies and their significance to the fields of coastal change hazards and wetlands evolution.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:
The primary purpose of this position is to provide field, laboratory, and data management support and leadership for a broad set of research activities on coastal and marine processes. The incumbent uses a broad range of field, laboratory, and data processing expertise to support multidisciplinary research that addresses biogeochemical and sediment transport issues in coastal ecosystems.

• The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.
• The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Prepares study plans for scientific experiments, using the scientist's hypothesis; attends to all the technical/administrative concerns.
• Develops the data required; refines, verifies, justifies, and organizes the data; analyzes and evaluates findings; and writes-up results for review.
• Conducts tests and analyses of studies and evaluations of data on plant pests detected domestically or intercepted at ports of entry from all parts of the world.
• Collects and manages data, evaluates and analyzes data pertaining to risk, diagnosis, mitigation, rearing, control, treatment and quarantine status.
• Manages plant and/or pest samples and resulting data, including receipt, storage, processing, photographing, and archiving while following procedures to ensure sample integrity and custody.

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

NOTE: This is a TERM appointment (not-to-exceed 4 years). Term appointments are non-status, nonpermanent appointments of limited duration (more than 1 year but not more than 4). Term employees are eligible to earn leave and generally have the same benefits as permanent employees including health and life insurance, within-grade increases and Federal Employees Retirement System and Thrift Savings Plan coverage. Term appointments may be extended without further competition (up to the 4-year maximum). The appointment to a Term position does not confer eligibility for promotion or reassignment to other positions or the ability to be non-competitively converted to permanent employment.

Duties include but may not be limited to:

• Processes samples of blood, tissue, organ, or other body fluids or substances according to standard operating procedures.
• Ensures samples are processed according to the correct on-going study protocols to ensure the quality of the specimen.
• Maintains responsibility for the accuracy of the results and for the adequacy of the results in furthering the professional clinical or research objectives.
• Performs data analysis including arithmetic calculations, algebra, graphing of data using interactive computer programs.
• Prepares reports, presentations, figures etc. associated with the studies.
• Programs equipment used for blood processing, DNA extraction and DNA normalization.
• Maintains and controls laboratory records.
• Develops and maintains detailed records of all experimental or other protocols, and ensures results are neatly kept and catalogued in appropriate format.
• Maintains laboratory equipment and supplies used, proper records of research data, and assists the supervisor in performing data analysis.
• Calibrates and maintains laboratory instrumentations at timely intervals so as to minimize breakdown and delay of procedures.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

DUTIES:

• Serves as Veterinary Medical Unit (VMU) Supervisor, overseeing the operations of all Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston animal facilities (Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury).
• Completely responsible for the management of the Veterinary Medical Unit (VMU), reporting to the Deputy Associate Chief of Staff (D-ACOS).
• There are approximately fifty (50) active protocols, and thirty (30) Principal Investigators utilize the Veterinary Medical Unit, using different species of animals for biomedical research studies in many scientific fields.
• Controls the animal population level by setting limitations, approving new animal purchases, and working with investigators to ensure population levels are consistent with the facility's ability to provide proper care.
• Ensures the proper transfer and transport of animals per regulations and guidelines.
• Maintains the barriers necessary for the prevention of cross contamination and the restrictions, separations, and precautions necessary to maintain a virus antibody-free facility.
• May order disposal, quarantine, or other measures as necessary, and may restrict the purchase of animals from sources found to be unreliable regarding the condition of animals.
• Performs other duties assigned.