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 aftermust be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more visit 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.

• 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.

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

Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

Basic Educational Requirement AND/OR Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying.

Basic Educational Requirements: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position you must meet at least one of the following:

• A. Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelors or higher degree in physical science engineering or mathematics that included 24 semester hours or the equivalent in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics dynamics properties of materials and electronics. You must submit transcripts.

• B. Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in A above plus appropriate experience or additional education. education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above (24 semester hours or the equivalent in physical science engineering or mathematics) that included at least 24 semester hours or the equivalent in physical science and/or related engineering science as described above plus appropriate experience and/or additional education for a total of 4 years. The education or combined education and experience must be comparable in type scope and thoroughness to that acquired through successful completion of a 4-year course of study as described in A above.

-AND-

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level:

• Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Examples of such experience may include independent responsibility for a well-defined study or for a phase of a larger study that required the planning and carrying out of routine physical science work. This work would have required the individual to select and make minor adaptations to procedures and accepted practices and handle unexpected conditions arising in the normal course of the work. At this level physical scientists have the ability to independently perform moderately difficult and responsible scientific work. You must include hours per week worked.

• Education: Successful completion of at least Three years of progressively higher level graduate education (54 semester hours 81 quarter hours or the equivalent) leading to a Ph.D. degree in physical science or other directly related field of study or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in physical science or other directly related field of study if it provided the knowledge skills and abilities necessary to do the work of the position to be filled. You must include transcripts.

• Combination of education and experience: To combine education and experience first take the percentage of qualifying education required for the grade level. Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include hours per week and transcripts.

To qualify for this position at the GS-12 grade level:

• Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Examples of such experience may include independent responsibility for a well-defined study or for a phase of a larger study that required the planning and carrying out of routine physical science work. This work would have required the individual to select and make minor adaptations to procedures and accepted practices and handle unexpected conditions arising in the normal course of the work. At this level physical scientists have the ability to independently perform moderately difficult and responsible scientific work. You must include hours per week worked.