Research Career Research Career DevelopmentDevelopment

GovernmentGovernment

Gail P. TaylorGail P. Taylor

Fall 2010Fall 2010

F 2010

ReferencesReferences

► Jump Start Your Career in Bioscience.Jump Start Your Career in Bioscience. Chandra B. Louise, Ph.D. Peer Productions, Chandra B. Louise, Ph.D. Peer Productions, Durham NC, 1998Durham NC, 1998

► Opportunities in the Biological Sciences.Opportunities in the Biological Sciences. Kathleen Belikoff. VGM Career Books, 2004Kathleen Belikoff. VGM Career Books, 2004

► http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2009_10_23/science.opms.r0900081

So…..So…..You’ve gotten your You’ve gotten your

Ph.D. Ph.D.

Now What?Now What?

What Happens after Your What Happens after Your Degree?Degree?

► PostdocPostdoc AcadAcad IndustryIndustry GovernmentGovernment

► Get a job…Get a job… AcademiaAcademia GovernmentGovernment

► Federal/LocalFederal/Local► Research/Other paths…Research/Other paths…

IndustryIndustry Other…Other…

Government Government ResearchResearch

Trends in Government Trends in Government ScienceScience

►Tends to fewer layoffs than Tends to fewer layoffs than industry/Job securityindustry/Job security

►Fewer demands of obtaining funding Fewer demands of obtaining funding and grantsand grants

►Competitive benefits and salaryCompetitive benefits and salary►Good retirement benefitsGood retirement benefits►Learning opportunitiesLearning opportunities►Diverse working environmentsDiverse working environments

Variable levels of Variable levels of GovernmentGovernment

►LocalLocal►StateState►FederalFederal

What Happens in Government What Happens in Government Science?Science?

►Different agencies do different things!Different agencies do different things! ResearchResearch Grant AdministrationGrant Administration Make or enforce LawsMake or enforce Laws Science PolicyScience Policy Technology TransferTechnology Transfer Provide information/services, etc., to the Provide information/services, etc., to the

public. public.

Federal PositionsFederal Positions

Federal Facts (2007)Federal Facts (2007)

► The 1.6 million federal employeesThe 1.6 million federal employees 15 cabinet-level agencies15 cabinet-level agencies 20 large, independent agencies (>1,000 20 large, independent agencies (>1,000

employees)employees) Over 80 percent of government jobs are located Over 80 percent of government jobs are located

outside of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan outside of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, area,

► BaltimoreBaltimore► PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia► AtlantaAtlanta► San DiegoSan Diego► New York City) New York City)

Best Places to Work in GovtBest Places to Work in Govt

►http://www.bestplacestowork.org/BPTW/rankings/

What are the Mechanisms of What are the Mechanisms of Employment?Employment?

►Student jobs:Student jobs: http://www.studentjobs.gov/

►Post-GraduationPost-Graduation Postdoctoral (Postdoctoral (www.training.nih.gov)) Permanent civilian employmentPermanent civilian employment Civilian contract employmentCivilian contract employment Enlisted researchers…Enlisted researchers…

► http://www.usajobs.gov

Job Grades - FederalJob Grades - Federal► The following table shows the amount and level of education typically required for The following table shows the amount and level of education typically required for

each grade for which education alone can be qualifying. At GS-13 and above, each grade for which education alone can be qualifying. At GS-13 and above, appropriate specialized experience is required for appropriate specialized experience is required for allall positions. positions.

► GRADEGRADE QUALIFYING EDUCATIONQUALIFYING EDUCATION► GS-1GS-1 None None ► GS-2GS-2 High school graduation or equivalent High school graduation or equivalent ► GS-3GS-3 1 academic year above high school 1 academic year above high school ► GS-4GS-4 2 academic years above high school 2 academic years above high school or or Associate's degreeAssociate's degree► GS-5GS-5 4 academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree, 4 academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree, or or

Bachelor's degree Bachelor's degree ► GS-7GS-7 Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement for two-grade Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement for two-grade

interval positions,interval positions,or or 1 academic year of graduate education (or law school, as specified in 1 academic year of graduate education (or law school, as specified in qualification standards or individual occupational requirements) qualification standards or individual occupational requirements)

► GS-9GS-9 Master's (or equivalent graduate degree such as LL.B. or J.D. as specified in Master's (or equivalent graduate degree such as LL.B. or J.D. as specified in qualification standards or individual occupational requirements), qualification standards or individual occupational requirements), or or 2 academic 2 academic years of progressively higher level graduate education years of progressively higher level graduate education

► GS-11GS-11 Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or or 3 academic years of progressively 3 academic years of progressively higher level graduate education, higher level graduate education, or or For research positions onlyFor research positions only, completion of all , completion of all requirements for a master's or equivalent degreerequirements for a master's or equivalent degree

► GS-12GS-12 For research positions onlyFor research positions only, completion of all requirements for a doctoral or , completion of all requirements for a doctoral or equivalent degree equivalent degree

Jobs Vary GreatlyJobs Vary Greatly

►Agencies will determine the jobsAgencies will determine the jobs AvailabilityAvailability ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities TitlesTitles

About the JobsAbout the Jobs

► Can assess a position or institution before Can assess a position or institution before applying for a federal job.applying for a federal job.

► The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) ( The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) ( www.opm.gov) ) information on federal benefits and salaries as information on federal benefits and salaries as

well as the demographics of the federal work force. well as the demographics of the federal work force.

► FedScope ( FedScope ( www.fedscope.opm.gov), statistics ), statistics such as demographic breakdowns by state, such as demographic breakdowns by state, department, and/or type of position. department, and/or type of position.

Science and the Science and the Federal Federal

Government…Government…

http://www.science.gov/

Department of Health and Department of Health and Human ServicesHuman Services

http://www.hhs.gov/

National Institutes of Health (NIH)National Institutes of Health (NIH) MedicareMedicare Centers for Disease Control (CDC)Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

National Institutes of HealthNational Institutes of Health

►http://www.nih.gov/

Centers for Disease ControlCenters for Disease Control

►http://www.cdc.gov/

Food and Drug Food and Drug AdministrationAdministration

►http://www.fda.gov/

Department of AgricultureDepartment of Agriculture

►http://www.usda.gov

►Agricultural Research ServiceAgricultural Research Service

Department of the InteriorDepartment of the Interior

►http://www.doi.gov/ http://www.doi.gov/

►Fish and Wildlife and Parks DivisionFish and Wildlife and Parks Division►National Parks ServiceNational Parks Service►Etc…Etc…

Environmental Protection Environmental Protection AgencyAgency

►http://www.epa.gov/ http://www.epa.gov/

►Many research offices!Many research offices!► http://www.epa.gov/epahome/http://www.epa.gov/epahome/

program2.htm#research program2.htm#research

National Science FoundationNational Science Foundation

►http://www.nsf.org http://www.nsf.org

► Independent federal agency Independent federal agency ►Promote the progress of sciencePromote the progress of science►Generally funds basic researchGenerally funds basic research

NASANASA

►All sorts of different fields!!All sorts of different fields!!

►http://www.nasa.gov http://www.nasa.gov

Department of EnergyDepartment of Energy

►http://www.doe.gov http://www.doe.gov

►Major Research Areas:Major Research Areas: http://www.doe.gov/majorresearchareas.htmhttp://www.doe.gov/majorresearchareas.htm

Office of Science and Office of Science and Technology PolicyTechnology Policy

►http://www.ostp.gov/ http://www.ostp.gov/

Department of DefenseDepartment of Defense

►http://www.defenselink.mil/ http://www.defenselink.mil/

US Department of CommerceUS Department of Commerce

►http://www.commerce.gov/ http://www.commerce.gov/

►Patents and Trademark OfficePatents and Trademark Office►National Oceanic and Atmospheric National Oceanic and Atmospheric

AdministrationAdministration http://www.noaa.gov/ http://www.noaa.gov/

Federal Bureau of Federal Bureau of InvestigationInvestigation

►http://www.fbi.govhttp://www.fbi.gov

►What they research:What they research: http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/org/http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/org/

labchart.htm labchart.htm

Job SecurityJob Security

►Difficult to fire ANY federal employee.. Difficult to fire ANY federal employee.. ;);) Much better than most IndustryMuch better than most Industry

PayPay

►Generally a little better than Generally a little better than academic, worse than Industry…academic, worse than Industry…

Finally….Finally….

►What is the NAS?What is the NAS?

►http://www.nationalacademies.org/ http://www.nationalacademies.org/