Biological Science Laboratory Technician

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement 11/26/2026 Including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. GS-7 Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised.

The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-07 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-06 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

For this position, specialized experience is experience collecting and analyzing plant or crop samples; operating standard laboratory equipment; and collecting and documenting experimental data. OR Education: Completion of one full year of study leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related. Related degrees may include crop science, plant science, plant pathology, horticultural science, or agricultural science.

OR A combination of specialized experience and graduate level education as described above. GS-8 Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised.

The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-08 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-07 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

For this position, specialized experience is experience participating in a research project including collecting and analyzing plant or crop samples; operating and maintaining specialized laboratory equipment; and recording and analyzing scientific data related to plant or crop research. OR Education: Two full years of graduate level education or a Master's degree, if directly related to the position.

Related degrees may include crop science, plant science, plant pathology, horticultural science, or agricultural science. OR A combination of graduate education and specialized experience as described above. GS-9 Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised.

The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-09 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-08 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

For this position, specialized experience is experience contributing to the planning and development of procedures and experiment techniques related to plant or crop research; collecting and analyzing plant or crop research samples; and documenting data and developing scientific reports. OR Education: Two full years of graduate level education or a Master's degree, if directly related to the position.

Related degrees may include crop science, plant science, plant pathology, horticultural science, or agricultural science. OR A combination of graduate level education and experience as described above. Physical Demands: The work requires some physical exertion, such as regular and recurring walking or bending. 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, there may be special requirements for agility or dexterity such as exceptional hand/eye coordination. Working Environment: The work involves regular and recurring moderate risks or discomforts which require special safety precautions, e.g., working with contagious diseases or irritant chemicals or working outdoors. The employee is required to use protective clothing such as gowns, coats, boots, goggles, gloves.

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.

Maintains inventory of chemicals, stock solutions, etc., prepares solutions and reagents for use in the laboratory, field, or greenhouse, and safely disposes of waste material (both chemical and biological).,Performs the full range of techniques and studies using a variety of specialized equipment.,Independently initiates action to resolve or correct technical difficulties and results, or recommends resolution to supervisor.,Collects, prepares, evaluates, and verifies samples and supporting records; maintains records and locates and compiles data and other information from various sources.,Contributes to the planning of various steps in experiment or project and to interpretation and documentation of findings.,Tabulates, statistically analyzes and summarizes data using personal computers and software packages.