USGS Mosquito Monitoring Student Hire

Student Services Contract Availability Announcement

LABORATORY/FIELD RESEARCH CONTRACT

U.S. Geological Survey, Kilauea Field Station, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Part time 24 hours/week,
Funding available August 2017-January 2018,
1 vacancy available
Application Deadline: August 31, 2017

Under this program, students do not become employees of the USGS and are not entitled to benefits as Federal employees.

1. Project Description:
Investigators at the U.S. Geological Survey Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center are working to document the current distribution of Aedes mosquito vectors of dengue virus along the coast and lowlands of leeward Hawaii Island and understand the environmental determinants of spatial-temporal patterns. Understanding the distribution of vector species will assist Hawaii Island vector control in monitoring and targeting the control of dengue vectors as well as provide a basis for disease risk assessment in the area.

2. Description of Duties:
· Participates in the planning and establishment of an adult mosquito trapping grid.
· Prepares, installs and maintains gravid mosquito traps.
· Plans and conducts day to day logistics of mosquito monitoring.
· Collects geospatial data with GPS.
· Collects and identifies mosquito specimens.
· Collects, manages and enters mosquito survey data.
· Drives and cleans 4x4 vehicles.

3. Required Expertise/Skills:The candidate should have finished at least two years of college education toward a degree in Biology, Geography, Entomology, Environmental Science, Public Health or related fields to be considered for this position and have 3 months of field work experience. Applicants must possess a valid Hawaii state driver’s license and be comfortable
driving 4x4 vehicles. Familiarity with the use of GPS units and microscopes and the collection, management, and entry of scientific data into Excel spreadsheets is necessary. They must perform duties listed above responsibly and safely in a field and laboratory setting. The applicant must be able to work in the field independently with moderate supervision from the supervisor. The supervisor/scientist outlines program objectives and the materials and logistics for conducting project studies. The supervisor/scientist consults with incumbent on work plans and objectives as required. The incumbent follows established standard operating procedures and when unusual or unconventional study conditions are encountered, or where problems require modification of established methods or procedures, the incumbent generally discusses the action he/she plans to take beforehand with the supervisor/scientist, as appropriate. Completed work is reviewed for technical adequacy and soundness, as well as accomplishment of overall objectives for assigned project responsibilities.

4. Description of Working Conditions:
The work requires some physical exertions such as long periods of driving, standing, sitting walking over rough, uneven or rocky surfaces and recurring bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activity. The incumbent may be required to lift and carry as much as 50 lbs for short distances. Field conditions include exposure to high levels of heat and UV radiation.

5. Compensation:
Compensation is commensurate with the required level of education and experience and does not include benefits.  Based on the research-based nature of the contract and the level of education necessary to perform listed duties, the pay rate of $15.5 per hour will be paid directly to the student located in Hawaii.

6. Duty Station:
The principal duty station for the position is at the U.S. Geological Survey Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center office in Hawaii National Park, HI. Candidates are responsible for all costs of transportation to and from the principal duty station location. The Government does not provide housing, meals or other living expenses while working at the principal duty station.

7. Eligibility:
1. USGS employees, their spouses, and children are not eligible to participate in this program.
2. Former students who graduated more than 12 months ago or who left school without graduating are not eligible to work under these contracts.
3. Students employed by USGS may not be taken off the employment rolls and converted to work under a contract or purchase order.
4. A student previously employed by USGS may compete for a student services award as long as the student departed for other reasons at least 4 months earlier, the student otherwise meets the criteria for award under this program, the student was involved in no plans or discussions about possible contract work while still a USGS employee, the student has gained no unfair competitive advantage from contacts or other information gained while employed by USGS, and the total period of employment plus contract service does not 2 years.
5. Students must be at least 18 years of age.
6. Non-US citizens may be eligible to participate, depending on their immigration status and the applicable regulations of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. Before we can issue an order for services of anyone without a Social Security Number (SSN) or with restrictive markings on his/her Social Security Card, the student must provide documentary evidence from USCIS of authority to work in the US. Foreign students in the U.S. under F-1 visas are usually not able to participate in this program, due to USCIS restrictions on off-campus work [8 CFR 214.2 (f)(9)]. (Note: In no case is the USGS the legal "employer" of students working under this authority, so we must never sign immigration forms as such. The student is either a self-employed, independent contractor or is the employee of the university receiving the award.)
7. Other Considerations:
If selected for this service contract, the contractor must:
1) Have a DUNS Number (http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform)
2) Be registered in the Federal contracting registry – SAM (https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/)

8. To Apply:
No later than August 31, 2017, please provide your most recent transcript, resume and references to Dennis LaPointe, Ph.D., Research Ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey
Email: dennis_lapointe@usgs.gov
Tel: 808-985-6413