Research Physical Scientist

**Duties**:
**As a Research Physical Scientist, you will perform the following duties**:

- Follow guidance on accepted research principles and methods to improve understanding of climate variability, predictability, and change on seasonal to multi-decadal time scales. Develop information into reports and briefs and analyze reports from internal and external partners to determine the validity of findings.
- Study seasonal to multi-decadal predictions and projections using climate models. Keep informed of advances in science and new requirements affecting areas of research. Participate in the development of seasonal to decadal weather predictions.
- Communicate research findings through meetings, seminars, and by publishing papers in the peer reviewed scientific literature. Offer research ideas and use accepted practices and research methods to execute assignments. Support research proposals.

**Requirements**:
**Conditions of Employment**:
**This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel Systems (CAPS). This system replace the Federal GS pay plan and structure. Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band.**

The ZP-3 is equivalent to the GS-11/12.
The ZP-4 is equivalent to the GS-13/14.

**Key Requirements**:

- Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
- Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
- More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.
- Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (ww.sss.gov)
- **This position is not in the bargaining unit.**

**Qualifications**:

**To qualify for the 1301 series**:
**EDUCATION**:
A. **Degree**: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.
- **OR**

B. **Combination of education and experience**: education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
- **AND**

**SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE**:Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.
- 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.
- **To qualify at the ZP-3 or GS-11 level**:
**SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE**: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZP-2 or GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

- Coordinating and collaborating on research projects with internal and external partners in accomplishing mission goals;
- Analyzing large weather or climate data sets using computational methods, including machine learning, to describe climate and variability under a variety of atmospheric conditions; and
- Serving as lead author on peer-reviewed research publications in the Earth Sciences.

**OR**

**SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION**: Master's or equivalent graduate degree.
- **OR**

**A combination of education and professional experience**. Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. (**Note**: Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience.)

**Education**:
Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: OPM Foreign Education Evaluation

**Additional information**:
**CTAP** applicants MUST submit the following documents:

- A copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a no