Research Geologist; Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

What General Information Do I Need to Know About This Position?

This is a term appointment not to exceed 13 months with possible extensions up to a total of 4 years without further competition. Appointment to this position will not convey permanent status in the Federal service.

First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at Step 01.

GS-12: $101,206 (Step 01) to $131,571 (Step 10).

The proposed project would use some combination of geochemical (including stable or radiogenic isotopes), petrology, and petrography to address the evolution of and controls on mineral resources. The proposed research may directly address one or more fundamental questions that include, but are not limited to:

• What is the age of critical mineral resource formation in southwest Alaska? How are the mineral resources related in time or space to igneous systems, and how are they distributed on the landscape?
• What, if any, role does the basement terrane play in critical mineral resource potential in a deposit?
• What are potential linkages between crustal architecture, magmatic composition, and critical mineral endowment of mineral systems in southwest Alaska?
• What potential fluids are responsible for critical mineral enrichment in mineral deposits?
• How can we better predict critical mineral enrichments as co- and by-products?

These questions require a better and more integrated understanding of the framework geology and mineral resources. The ideal proposal would investigate a combination of topical and framework processes to evaluate the role of regional geologic components to critical mineral formation in ore deposits. Understanding features from the deposit to regional scale are critical in the ability to integrate ore deposit genesis to mineral system mappable criteria.

The USGS Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program provides highly motivated recent Ph.D. graduates with the opportunity to conduct concentrated research in association with selected USGS Scientists, as a final element to their formal career preparation. Selectees will utilize the excellent scientific resources available at the USGS in the conduct of scientific investigations and exploratory development associated with advanced scientific research. This program will provide selectees the opportunity to contribute to the overall research efforts of the USGS and in turn they will gain excellent professional research experience early in their careers.

Appointments under the USGS Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program will be made under the Schedule A, 213.3102 (r) excepted appointing authority for a minimum period of 13 months and may be extended up to a maximum period of 4 years.

Areas of Ph.D.:
Geology, Geochemistry, Economic Geology or related fields. Candidates holding a Ph.D. in other disciplines, but with extensive knowledge and skills relevant to the Research Opportunity may be considered.

Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic education requirement for Geologist, all grade levels.

Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in geology. In addition to the geology coursework included in the degree, it must also have included or been supplemented by 20 additional semester hours in any combination of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological science, structural, chemical, civil, mining or petroleum engineering, computer science, planetary geology, comparative planetology, geophysics, meteorology, hydrology, oceanography, physical…