Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services (VS)
Science and Technology Analysis Services (STAS) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) Diagnostic Bacteriology Laboratory (DBL)
Biologist (Computational Bioinformatics) GS-0401-13
Master Record Number: 4VS737
Salary $64,649 - $84,049 per year Pay scale & grade GS 11 Location: Ames, IA (Can be remote)
A. Introduction
Diagnostics and Biologics (D&B) brings together the VS science centers that provide: diagnostic capability and capacity; regulatory activities related to the approval and monitoring of veterinary biologics; and scientific analysis expertise for addressing animal and public health related issues. It provides a solid scientific and technical foundation to link the multiple disciplines needed to support VS in meeting its mission responsibilities.
The National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL), one division of D&B, is a world standard laboratory in veterinary sciences and deals with many complex and life-threatening diseases and pathogens, affecting both animals and humans. The NVSL's scientists travel the world in helping solve intricate veterinary disease problems and foreign officials regularly visit the facility. The NVSL also has branch laboratories, the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (FADDL), located at Plum Island, New York, and the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), located at Manhattan, Kansas. The NVSL diagnostic laboratories provide scientific and technical support to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Program Units engaged in regulations enforcement and animal disease control and eradication.
At the full performance level, the position serves as a Project Leader for bioinformatics and computational diagnostic services within the Computational Biology and Informatics Services (CBIS) section at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL). The incumbent will be expected to have expertise in genomics, proteomics, computer programing, database design and computational biology as well as broad knowledge of eukaryotic and prokaryotic biological systems, and be able to develop and apply computational solutions to animal diseases, forensics, and epidemiological tracing of both disease organisms and their host animals. The incumbent will be responsible for developing, organizing, and providing scientific leadership to a team of microbiologists/bioinformaticists with the goal of developing new methods of data analysis, creating databases and pipelines for new diagnostic assays, and interacting with external and internal researchers to transfer and/or adapt new technologies to veterinary diagnostic field applications.
Note: This position may be filled as a GS-11/12/13 multi-grade career ladder. Attached responsibilities are for the full performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence, and may reflect limited complexity and personal contacts. At developmental levels, incumbent will be acquiring background necessary to function at the full performance level.
APHIS is an emergency response agency. This means that all Agency employees may be asked or assigned to participate in rotating temporary duty assignments away from their assigned duty station to support emergency programs at some time during their careers with APHIS.
B. Major Duties
Designs and develops program solutions and provides leadership and technical guidance for laboratory personnel on databases and software for our laboratory information management system (LIMS), next generation sequencing, microarrays and other new technologies that may be adapted into diagnostic laboratories.
Recognizes vulnerabilities and inefficiencies in laboratory databases and information management systems and creatively develops plans to solve such issues, effectively communicate those ideas/plans and successfully direct staff to implement such plans.
Collaborates and consults with diagnosticians, bioinformaticists, IT staff and APHIS-VS staff to analyze problems, recommend technology based solutions, and design and develop computational strategies for a wide range of veterinary diagnostic assays.
Works on advanced laboratory processes such as next-generation sequencing. Analyzes data to provide modifications and trouble-shooting input on laboratory processes.
Plans, organizes and provides training to state, Federal and university personnel at USDA sponsored training courses.
Presents scientific data related to veterinary diagnostics at local, regional, national, and international meetings, and publishes material in appropriate scientific peer-reviewed journals.
C. Factors
1. Knowledge Required by the Position
Incumbent must have skills in applying advanced theories, principles, concepts, practices, standards and methods of biological science and computational bioinformatics sufficient to serve as a recognized authority, performing assignments involving initiating, formulating and planning special projects and studies.
The incumbent should be knowledgeable about computer programing, database design, data mining and computational biology as well as broad knowledge of eukaryotic and procaryotic biological systems, genomics and evolution.
This includes having the following:
a. Familiarity with nucleic acid and proteomic sequence data and analyses for pathogen detection, identification, characterization, and genomic epidemiology.
b. Ability to write scripts and perform programming to develop, customize or optimize software. Ability to work in a UNIX environment with open-source software is required. Proficiency in computer programming languages such as: Python, R, XML, and SQL. Familiarity with relational databases and Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) a plus.
c. Ability to learn quickly and apply new computational techniques, including implementing solutions and open-source code described in the primary literature, in order to resolve novel or obscure problems and issues that may arise.
d. Ability to methodically document software, analysis pipelines, and other work to meet quality management standards in line with ISO17025.
2. Supervisory Controls
The incumbent is under the general supervision of the Section Head of the Computational Biology and Informatics Services section within the Director’s Office of the NVSL. The supervisor outlines overall objectives and available resources. The incumbent has full responsibility for (a) providing timely bioinformatic analysis and interpretation of data (b) planning, organizing, and conducting developmental projects; (c) identifying, defining, and selecting specific problems and diagnostic procedures; and (d) defining the objectives of independent projects and activities in collaboration with scientific subject matter experts. Although the supervisor is available for advice, the incumbent must be prepared to justify his/her findings. Work is reviewed in terms of results and effectiveness in responding to the Agency's needs.
The incumbent analyzes, interprets and reports laboratory results and is authorized to address problems related to computational procedures and developmental projects and present findings to professional groups, representatives of industry and other interested parties on a local, regional, national and international level. Incumbent keeps the supervisor informed of progress and potentially controversial problems and issues.
There is a general requirement to correlate activities regarding problems that have a significant impact on industry as well as for staff time and budget constraints.
3. Guidelines
Guidelines consist of APHIS Directives, VS Memorandums, general policy statements,
literature in the field of bioinformatics, statistics, veterinary medicine, microbiology, biology, bacteriology, molecular biology and other scientific literature. The incumbent must use considerable judgment in interpreting agency guidelines, and is frequently called upon for an authoritative opinion on the particulars of these guidelines.
As a technical authority on computational and analysis procedures for the NVSL, the incumbent is responsible for initiating and developing policies, instructions, and guidelines relating to his/her area of expertise and responsibility.
4. Complexity
The incumbent has the responsibility of organizing and directing a service that has a highly significant impact on several national Veterinary Services programs. In addition to directing complex activities involving computational diagnostic procedures, the incumbent has a continuing responsibility to provide (a) scientific leadership in the development of new procedures; (b) improving procedures used in current diagnostic methods; (c) coordinating laboratory activities with other scientists in the United States to meet program goals and objectives; (d) collaborating with and providing assistance to foreign scientists; and (e) providing expert scientific advice and guidance with regard to the development, production and use of diagnostic bacterial reagents (proficiency panels) to agency management, public and private laboratories, public health officials and livestock and industry representatives. Changes in diagnostic procedures or the introduction of new methods to diagnose microbial diseases involves ongoing comprehensive reviews and interpretations of the appropriate data from scientific literature.
5. Scope and Effect
The incumbent must have and maintain the scientific stature to gain national and international recognition of the laboratory as a reliable source of bacterial diagnostic procedures and scientific expertise. The incumbent is a recognized authority on computational biology and bioinformatics relating to veterinary diagnostic assays. He/she is responsible for selecting problems in the area of bioinformatics which will benefit APHIS-VS programs. The decisions made by the incumbent have an impact on the scientific community, the livestock and poultry industry, the VS national eradication programs and public health.
6. Personal Contacts
Personal contacts are with members of the APHIS-VS Staff, Federal and state animal health and public health officials, epidemiologists, scientists at international and U.S. universities, governmental and private laboratories, and representatives of the livestock industry.
7. Purpose of Contacts
The purpose of the contacts is to
(a) provide and exchange information of mutual interest;
(b) clarify and explain agency requirements and policies relating to the current diagnostic methods for animal and public health diseases in use in order to assure that there is a uniform and complete approach to overall laboratory diagnostic procedures and to the national animal disease eradication and control objectives that are consistent with any state-federal cooperative program policies, procedures and regulations. Correlating uniform national program directions and guidelines involves dealing with contacts individually and collectively. The incumbent must have the ability to influence and persuade contacts who may be skeptical or uncooperative in order to gain compliance with policies and methods.
8. Physical Demands
Requires long periods of working at a computer. The normal physical demands may include walking, standing, bending, reaching and pushing and lifting up to 50 pounds. Although not required, there is potential for some laboratory bench work for team projects performed in biological safety hoods and/or within a Biosafety Level 2 or 3 laboratories. If actively participating in laboratory duties, possessing and maintaining a health status such that you can safely work in a BSL 3 laboratory such as ability to use and dress in PPE, use shower in and shower out facilities, wear respiratory protection, work in a contained glove box, and safely handle infectious organisms or hazardous chemicals would be required.
9. Work Environment
A majority of work will be remote or in an office environment. If bench work is performed it will be in a Biosafety Level 2 or Biosafety Level 3 laboratory where microorganisms pathogenic to humans and animals are isolated and identified. However, careful adherence to prescribed laboratory procedures minimizes the risk of infection. The health status of personnel is monitored periodically using biologic and serologic tests and physical examinations. Laboratory work clothing is required and provided. This position requires some or all of registration with the federal select agent program, SRA- approval, safety and security training, and successful participation in the Suitability Evaluation and Assessment Program. Ability to obtain and maintain any required safety and security elements or clearances is required.
To apply, please fill out an application on USAJobs: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/628423900
