Announcement of Opportunity
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
Interagency Personnel Agreement (IPA) Assignment
Position: Research Operations and Integration Element Scientist
Location: NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX Human Health & Performance Directorate, Space Medicine Operations Division
Area of Consideration: Open to all qualified US Citizens, permanent residents, or non-residents with a US “J” Visa
Term: Two years, beginning October 2019, with potential for extension.
Response Period: Through September 26, 2019
Description:
The Space Medicine Operations Division seeks a candidate to fill the position of Research Operations and Integration (ROI) Element Scientist in the Mission Operations Branch. The ROI Element Scientist serves in the crucial role of providing scientific leadership to ensure the development of a focused and balanced flight and flight analog research portfolio that enables human space exploration. The Element Scientist ensures that the Human Research Program (HRP) utilization of the ISS is integrated and implemented to focus on the highest priority HRP research. The Element Scientist provides strategic guidance to HRP in the formulation of future utilization plans for ISS and flight analogs, and works with HRP research elements to establish realistic research plans that balance the use of ISS and available flight analog platforms within available resources. The Element Scientist also provides general technical scientific interpretation and oversight of the ROI element as it relates to exploration deliverables and the HRP Path to Risk Reduction.
Additional ROI Element Scientist duties include:
· Establish key interfaces with collaborating groups of scientists and medical personnel to expand and elaborate current project goals.
· Work with intramurals, extramurals, the Flight Crew Office, and International Partners in formulating the optimal research portfolio and implementation.
· Direct, monitor, and/or coordinate the implementation of applicable research tasks both within the Center and, to the appropriate level and as required, outside the Center.
· Manage and direct all of the element’s integration activities as they relate to the associated science tasks and deliverables.
· Work with the ROI Element Manager to assure science activities are synchronized with the project schedule, costs, and milestones.
· Continuously evaluate the results of experiments with other scientists, and plan the course of current and future experimentation.
· Ensure that interfaces with the space medicine community are established to facilitate the efficient implementation of ROI objectives pre/post/and in-flight.
Qualifications:
An advanced degree in science is preferred, and applicants should have a combination of education, research and/or research management experience The applicant should have knowledge of and professional experience in the principles and practices of the life sciences sufficient to provide consultative services on an entire range of scientific and complex policy questions within the area of human health and performance as it relates to the wide-ranging effects of the spaceflight environment on humans, current understanding of these effects, critical human health and safety issues, and the relative priority and potential impact of these is
sues in order to guide Programmatic decisions. Applicant should possess in-depth knowledge of design, development, and integration of scientific research projects, as well as advanced skill in managing, directing, and coordinating the activities of scientists, engineers and other professional personnel. Possesses knowledge of and experience with International Space Station payloads processes and human flight research integration. Knowledge and experience with flight analog environments such as bed rest and facilities that support isolation and confinement. In addition, the applicant should have knowledge of human bioethics, medical privacy, applicable laws and JSC practices (Institutional Review Board).
How to Apply:
Please submit a Curriculum Vita, references, and cover letter explaining your qualifications in a single PDF file to Ms. Nancy Srb, Chief, Mission Operations Branch, nancy.l.srb@nasa.gov.
Note: Individuals eligible for an Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) assignment with a federal agency include employees of state and local governments; private and public colleges and universities; Indian Tribal governments; federally funded research and development centers; and qualified non-profit organizations involved in public management organizations where such assignments would be of mutual benefit to the organizations involved. With special NASA flexibilities, the initial IPA appointment may be made for up to two years, with possible extensions for up to two additional two-year periods. An employee of a non-Federal organization must be employed by that organization for at least 90 days in a permanent position before entering into an IPA agreement. While on detail, the individual remains an employee of the home institution, as such remains covered under their permanent employer’s leave and benefit system. Federal Agencies do not offer permanent positions as a part of IPA assignments. NASA will negotiate funding of the detailee’s salary and benefits with the detailee’s home institution.
