Physical Scientist

As a Physical Scientist within the Geology, Energy, and Minerals Science Center at USGS, your major duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Interprets subsurface geophysical data and has experience interpreting seismic reflection data, or collects and describes drill cuttings and cores from test wells and samples them for laboratory analyses, or compiles and interprets complex geologic and geographic data for energy resource assessment.
• Creates, manages, edits and customizes spatial data using ESRI and/or other GIS file formats, and compiles and interprets complex geologic maps and geographic data for energy resource assessments.
• Use spreadsheets, databases, graphics, and visualization, and statistical applications to display and analyze complex datasets
• Utilize professional knowledge of the principles and theories of geology, geochemistry, sedimentology, and stratigraphy to conduct surface and subsurface geologic investigations and uses knowledge of stratigraphy, structural geology, geophysics, and GIS to prepare maps of sedimentary basins.
• Participate in team-based collaborative communication to provide technical guidance, summarize results of scientific investigations into complete written reports using tables, figures, and charts, and present complex findings on geologic energy resources to scientific peers at national or international meetings.

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit
• You will be required to operate a government-owned or
  -leased vehicle in the performance of your official duties. Applicants for this position must meet the following requirements: (1) possess a valid State license, and (2) possess a safe driving record. If selected, you will be required to provide proof of a valid State license & a copy of your driving record.
• Taking and passing a pre-employment medical examination at Federal expense is required due to the physical demands of this job.
• You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

This Probationary Period Is An Extension Of The Appointment Process And Therefore Requires The Agency To Determine If Continued Employment Would Advance The Public Interest, Meet The Organization Goals And Mission Of The Agency, And/or Otherwise Promote The Efficiency Of The Service. In Determining If Your Employment Advances The Public Interest, The Agency Will Consider

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.

Upon completion of your probationary your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/26/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours…