Summary The Research Health Scientist - Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC) Service, functions as an independent Principal Investigator (PI) and Team Leader of a specialized research program investigating the methodologies of cellular signaling and metabolic diseases of aging as they relate to geriatrics and gerontology. The position is located at the Audie L. Murphy Campus, South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS), in San Antonio, TX. Responsibilities THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION Conducting original investigations related to the involvement of intracellular calcium signaling in the pathophysiology, complications, and treatment of metabolic diseases of aging, cellular disease mechanisms, and signal transduction research; Participating in qualitative data collection and quantitative analysis, serving as the principal investigator for currently funded research project through National Institutes of Health (NIH) and/or VA Merit Review Program level, or equivalent; Maintaining active federal/non-federal funding support for research activities; Originating independent research and has full responsibility for the management and operation of these research activities; Leading a team of professional, technical, and support staff in diverse research areas at all levels through delivery of program functions in a cost effective, efficient, and productive manner; Training and advising other research staff at graduate and postdoctoral levels of training; Collaborating with investigators from a variety of disciplines, including geriatrics, gerontology, chemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, metabolism, immunology, and pathology; Coordinating the expenditure of support funding and ensures the laboratory functions in a cost effective, efficient, and productive manner; Obtaining grant funding from VA, NIH, and other public sector and private sources to fund research in the areas of emphasis; Administering all aspects of research funding and resources and executing grant budgets; Presenting papers at meetings of regional and national societies and preparing and submitting manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals for areas of emphasis; Coordinating GRECC Service led educational activities to include didactics on topics relevant to specific area of research; Performing related duties as required. Work Schedule: To be determined upon selection, 35 hours per week. NOTE: This is a part-time position (35 hours/week). The salary listed represents full-time employment and will be pro-rated based on the actual number of hours worked each pay-period. Likewise, benefits and time-off accrual will also be prorated and based on your part-time work schedule. NOTE: This is a TERM appointment (not-to-exceed 4 years). Term appointments are non-status, nonpermanent appointments of limited duration (more than 1 year but not more than 4). Term employees are eligible to earn leave and generally have the same benefits as permanent employees including health and life insurance, with-in grade increases and Federal Employees Retirement System and Thrift Savings Plan coverage. Term appointments may be extended without further competition (up to the 4-year maximum). The appointment to a Term position does not confer eligibility for promotion or reassignment to other positions or the ability to be noncompetitively converted to permanent employment. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Qualifications BASIC EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT: A bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree with a major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. You must submit transcripts to support this requirement. ~AND~ MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS GS-13: One year of specialized experience that equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in Federal service. Specialized experience includes: Providing direction and guidance on critical and complex geriatric problems; developing new methods, approaches, and procedures for active grant funding research projects including translational studies; Leading an active merit grant funding project team; ensuring effective, efficient, and productive research study efforts seeking funding through NIH and public/private sector grant approval: Administering all aspects of funding research to include complete execution of assigned project grant salary and resource budgeting. This experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit. Selective Placement Factors: This position includes Selective Placement Factors (skills, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristics basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. The Selective Placement Factors for this position are: SPF1: Completing investigations and dissemination of active research funding in the specialized fields of geriatric pathophysiology, complications, and treatment of metabolic age-related diseases, cellular disease mechanisms, and signal transduction research. SPF2: Leading a grant funding project team of staff at all levels by collaborating to ensure effective, efficient, and productive geriatric research efforts (e.g. grants options available from VA, NIH, Department of Defense (DOD), and/or public/private sector). This experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Analytical Thinking Database Administration Manages and Organizes Information Research Technical Documentation 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: Work is primarily sedentary but involves some walking and extended hours for the completion of experiments. Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to perform portions of the work. However, there is periodic walking; standing; bending; and carrying light items such as equipment, instructional material, books and manuals. No special physical demands are required to perform the work although it is recommended the incumbent is physically capable of lifting 40 lbs. Work is usually performed in an office and/or laboratory environment. Some travel may be required and conditions unpredictable. 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/. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application to support the basic educational requirement. There is no educational substitution for the experience required at this grade level. NOTE: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov). Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
