Volunteer Health Science Specialist: Neurodegeneration

Please note:

There is no pay associated with this position. This position serves as Without Compensation (WOC) Research Health Science Specialist within the Office of Research and Development (ORD). The VA Research Program strives to promote Veteran-centered care to improve patient experiences and outcomes across VA healthcare and community settings, and to advance value-driven care by providing Veterans the highest quality care at the lowest financial burden.

Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree: 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.

• (1) experience conducting or collaborating on biomedical or basic science research related to neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, Alzheimer's Disease, and/or microbiome science, including contributing to study design and applying scientific methods to formulate research questions and interpret results;
• (2) experience analyzing and interpreting scientific or biomedical data, including accessing and working with research datasets, applying appropriate methodological approaches, and contributing to manuscript preparation and dissemination of research findings;
• (3) experience collaborating on multidisciplinary research projects, including participating in research meetings and scientific discussions, and assisting in the preparation of grant applications or collaborative research proposals involving external research partners.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, Ameri Corps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; 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.

Note:

A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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.

The work is predominantly sedentary. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work. However, there will be some walking, standing, bending and carrying of items of moderate weight such as large binders, banker style file boxes, meeting materials, papers, books or small parts. Hand and eye coordination for delicate testing procedures may be the only special physical demand required to perform the work.