Veterinary Pathologist Jobs in Kansas (NOW HIRING)

Summary
This position is located in with the United States Department (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), in the Zoonotic & Emerging Disease Research Unit (ZEDRU), at the National Bio & Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), in Manhattan, Kansas.
In this position, you will work as a research scientist on the project addressing the spread, to domestic animals, of the Hendra and Nipah viruses.
*Final grade level may be determined by a peer review panel.
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Duties
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• Provide leadership in selecting the research path for studies on susceptible species including swine, cattle, and other animal models.
• Serve as Authorized Departmental Officer's Designated Representative (ADODR) for Specific Cooperative Agreements with collaborating research institutes and as team leader of assigned projects within the research project.
• Identify and propose productive research areas, perform independent research, and collaborate with scientists from within the ARS and from academia and private industry to best achieve the research objectives.
• Provide unique leadership and research skills to contribute to the identification, description, and characterization of the effects of zoonotic pathogens in livestock.
• Develop molecular, clinical, and postmortem techniques to understand virus-host interactions, and to develop methods or therapies to minimize or avoid infection and disease.
• Organize research, establish research priorities, lead in planning research projects, supervise execution of research, evaluate and review research, lead discussions on the interpretation of results, and report and publish research progress.
• Assures the studies of this Research Unit meet the highest standards of animal welfare and address the highest priorities of the animal industry, action agencies, and other user groups.
• Serve as the Chief Veterinary Pathologist for ZEDRU.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• Successful completion of a three year probationary period.
• Testing Designated Position: Selectee must submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter. Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use.
• To prevent the spread of diseases, immunization against diseases being studied at NBAF which are transmissible to humans is required where the vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• For physical health monitoring, a baseline blood sample will be required for employees entering and working in the biocontainment facility.
• Use of Safety protocols and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as respirators, disposable personal protective clothing, and eye protection, are used as needed.
• As required, periodic fitness for duty physicals will be scheduled. Body piercings must be able to be removed prior to entry.
• Ability to shower out of biocontainment one or more times per day.
• No contact with specific susceptible animals and their premises away from NBAF for a period of five (5) days after leaving the area. Currently, restricted species are cattle, sheep, goats, deer, other ruminants, and swine.
• SAC and Full background investigation required.
• Department of Justice (DOJ) Security Risk Assessment (SRA) approval is required.

Qualifications
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.
INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT (IOR)
Basic Requirement
Degree: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree, i.e., Veterinary Medical Doctor
(VMD), obtained at a school or college of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary
Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA). The AVMA web site, http://
www.avma.org (external link), has a listing of all AVMA-accredited veterinary medical schools.
OR
Graduates of foreign veterinary medical schools that are not accredited by the AVMA Council on Education (Refer to AVMA web site, http://www.avma.org (external link) for information about schools in this category) must meet one of the following requirements.

• Proof of certification of their final transcript by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG)
• Possession of a permanent, full, and unrestricted license to practice veterinary medicine in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States that includes successful completion of the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) or its predecessors, the National Board Examination (NBE) and the Clinical Competency Test (CCT).
• Proof that the education obtained in a foreign veterinary medical program is equivalent to that gained in a veterinary medical program that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education. Under this provision, equivalency is established only if an AVMA-accredited veterinary medical school or college accepts the graduate's final transcript from the foreign veterinary medical school at full value for placement into an advanced degree, postgraduate educational program, or training program (e.g. residency or graduate program).

Graduates of foreign veterinary medical programs must also provide proof of proficiency in the English language by successfully completing one of the nationally and internationally recognized examinations that incorporate assessments of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Examples of examinations that assess mastery of the English language are shown below:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Minimum scores for the TOEFL are 560 for the paper-based version; 220 for the computer-based version; or overall score of 83 for the internet-based version (including 26 or higher in speaking, 26 or higher in listening, and 17 or higher in writing). For the computer-based and paper-based test versions, applicants must also complete the Test of Spoken English (TSE) and the Test of Written English (TWE). Minimum required scores are 55 for the TSE and 5.5 for the TWE;
• Academic tests (listening, writing, and speaking) offered by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 7.0, with at least 7.0 in speaking, 6.5 in listening, and 6.0 in writing;

OR

• Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL). Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 70, with at least 60 in speaking, 60 in listening, and 50 in writing.

Graduates of foreign veterinary medical programs must submit test results with their application. Results of more than one test or testing session cannot be combined to meet the standard.
All applicants must meet the Basic Requirement outlined above, as well as the Minimum Qualification Requirement(s) outlined below.
FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL: Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service, conducting research related to infectious animal diseases; analyzing experimental data and publishing research findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals and presenting research findings at professional meetings.
OR
Successful completion of a Master's degree in an area of specialization including, but not limited to: animal science, avian medicine, food safety, infectious diseases, veterinary clinical sciences, pathobiology, biomedical sciences, veterinary anatomy, veterinary preventive medicine, comparative biological sciences, epidemiology, veterinary parasitology, molecular veterinary biosciences, public health, microbiology, pathology, immunology, laboratory animal medicine, toxicology, wildlife, zoological animal medicine, or other sciences related to the work of a veterinary medical officer position.
OR
RESIDENCY/POST GRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THE GS-12 GRADE LEVEL: Successful completion of two years of an internship, residency program, or fellowship training program in a discipline related to the position. Applicants will need to provide a certificate or letter documenting the completion of this program.
FOR THE GS-13 LEVEL: Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service, planning and conducting research focused on infectious animal diseases; analyzing experimental data and publishing research findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals; developing animal models; presenting research at local and national scientific meetings; and developing and executing analytical techniques used to detect animal disease pathogens.
OR
Education Substitution: Successful completion of a Ph.D. degree in an in an area of specialization, including but not limited to, animal science, avian medicine, food safety, infectious diseases, veterinary clinical sciences, pathobiology, biomedical sciences, veterinary anatomy, veterinary preventive medicine, comparative biological sciences, epidemiology, veterinary parasitology, molecular veterinary biosciences, public health, microbiology, pathology, immunology, laboratory animal medicine, toxicology, wildlife, zoological animal medicine, or sciences related to the work of a veterinary medical officer position.
OR
Residency/Post-Graduate Training Programs: Successful completion of three years of an internship, residency program, or fellowship training program in a discipline related to the position. OR Board Certification: Specialty boards that are recognized by the American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) certify eligible candidates as specialists in specific veterinary medical fields. Veterinarians who successfully complete all requirements for Diplomate status in an ABVS-recognized veterinary specialty organization may qualify for the GS-13 grade level.
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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
To further support your qualifications, it is strongly recommended that you submit a one-page abstract of your MS thesis and/or Ph.D. dissertation. Failure to do so could result in loss of your consideration/referral. Also, please 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.
Applicants must be available to report for duty at the time a selection is made. Selections are typically made within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.
Education
FOR THE GS-14 LEVEL: Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service, planning, conducting, and leading research focused on infectious animal disease; analyzing experimental data and publishing research findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals; developing new analytical techniques to study virus-vector-host interactions of foreign animal disease pathogens; presenting research results at national and international scientific meetings; managing funds on research grants; and ensuring the development of well-trained scientific and technical staff.
Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level.
FOR THE GS-15 LEVEL: Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service, developing and leading an interdisciplinary, collaborative research program focused on the prevention and control of
foreign animal diseases in livestock animals; publishing research findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals; presenting research results at national and international scientific meetings; developing new analytical techniques to study virus-vector-host interactions of foreign animal disease pathogens; managing funds on research grants; and developing collaborative relationships with government officials, scientific organizations, and internal and external industry stakeholders to coordinate research efforts and validate research results.
Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level
Additional information

• This position requires the selectee to undergo a pre-employment check and a full background investigation. Any offer made is considered a tentative job offer pending the outcome of the pre-employment check. Retention in the position is based upon a fav