Biological Science Laboratory Technician

Applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for this position: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Requires at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-6) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of this position. Qualifying Experience must have been related to the work of the position. The specialized experience required for some positions in this series is normally work performed in a controlled environment. Examples of qualifying specialized experience includes Research activity or control program work; Nursery work that required the growing and maintenance of plants in a controlled environment; Work comparable to that with a large dairy farm where production records, animal environment, and sanitary conditions were kept in accordance with modern dairy practice. In addition, the specialized experience requires working in a research laboratory; collecting specimens and samples; and maintaining research records and files. (Resume(s) must clearly support the required experience to be creditable.) -OR- SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: Successful completion of at least one (1) year of graduate education in a field of study directly related to the work of this position. (Transcripts required.) -OR- COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate-level education and specialized experience as described above.(Transcripts required.) You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Biomedical Equipment Technology Information Technology Research and Development Quality Assurance Technical Competence IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. 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. Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion, such as regular and recurring walking, bending, or climbing scaffolds to add or remove specimens from cryo-tanks. Must be able to handle cryogenic materials with proper protective equipment including lifting 50 pounds. blocks of dry and 20 pounds. racks containing specimens from cryo-tanks and freezers. In many situations the duration of the activity (such as most of a workday) contributes to the arduous nature of the job. In other situations, such as in a laboratory, there are special requirements tor agility or dexterity such as exceptional hand/eye coordination in order to carry out the work. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management’s website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
Employee will serve as a Biological Science Laboratory Technician in the VA Central Biorepository (VACB) located at the Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center (MAVERIC), located in Boston, Massachusetts.