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n Synthetic Biology Scientistn
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Department of Commerce
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National Institute of Standards and Technology
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Apply
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Summary
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NIST''s Engineering Biology Program and Cellular Engineering Group is seeking a Synthetic Biology Scientist to research measurement capabilities. This role will advance wetlab automation, protocols, and quantitative evaluation of engineered parts like proteins and RNA circuits. Collaborate with stakeholders to create standards and disseminate results through publications.
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nThis notice is issued under direct-hire authority to recruit new talent for which NIST has a severe shortage of candidates.
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Summary
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NIST''s Engineering Biology Program and Cellular Engineering Group is seeking a Synthetic Biology Scientist to research measurement capabilities. This role will advance wetlab automation, protocols, and quantitative evaluation of engineered parts like proteins and RNA circuits. Collaborate with stakeholders to create standards and disseminate results through publications.
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nThis notice is issued under direct-hire authority to recruit new talent for which NIST has a severe shortage of candidates.
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Overview
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Accepting applications
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n Posted todayn ·n Apply by 05/28/26n
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n Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on May 28, 2026n
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Location
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n n Gaithersburg, MD n
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n No matching locations found.n
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Work site options
n n Telework eligiblen Yes-as determined by the agency policy.n n n Remote jobn Non nn n Relocation expenses reimbursedn n Non n nn n Salaryn n $85,447 - $133,142 per yearn n nn n Pay scale & graden n
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n n n Learn more about pay scale and graden n
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n Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.n
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n n nn n Work schedulen Full-timen nnn n Travel Requiredn Not requiredn nn
n n Appointment typen Term - 2 years, can extend upto 4 yearsn nn
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Occupations and job series
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n n n Supervisory statusn Non nn n Federal service typen This job is in the Competitive Service n nn n Represented by a unionn Non nn
n n Drug testn Non nn n Security clearancen Not Requiredn nn n Position sensitivity and riskn Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Riskn n
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n Jobs require an background check and some require an security clearance. The type depends on the job.n
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n Some jobs requiren financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.n
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nn n Announcement numbern MML-644-26-12967416-DHn n n Control numbern 870309400n n
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This job is open to
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The public
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n U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.n
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Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
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n Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.n
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Duties
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n As a Synthetic Biology Scientist supporting the NIST Engineering Biology Program and Cellular Engineering Group, your core responsibilities include:n
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Requirements
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Conditions of employment
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Qualifications
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Basic Requirements:
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Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
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Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
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nIn addition to the basic requirements: Applicants must also have 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 (ZP-II at NIST) level. Specialized experience includes designing synthetic biology pathways, optimizing cell-free expression systems, engineering diverse microbial systems, and programming high-throughput laboratory automation platforms.
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OR
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nMaster''s or equivalent graduate degree
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nA combination of graduate education and specialized experience as defined in the additional requirements.
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nExperience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; 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.
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nThe qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook.
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nIf requesting reconsideration of your qualification determination, please refer to the following site: Applicant Reconsiderationn n
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Education
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n This position has an education requirement. Transcripts must be submitted to validate that the education requirement has been met. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. However, an official copy will be required before a final offer of employment.
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nUse of foreign education for qualifications. An accredited organization must evaluate education completed outside of the U.S. to ensure that it is comparable to education received in accredited institutions in the U.S. Click here to view a listing of accredited organizations from the Department of Education''s website. A copy of the foreign education evaluation (containing the results with course-by-course listing) is required with your application.n
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Additional information
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This position is covered under NIST''s Alternative Personnel Management System (APMS), a pay-for-performance system with excellent HR flexibilities to help NIST recruit and retain top talent. Learn more about the APMS here!n
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NIST strives to build a flexible and encouraging work environment to bring out the best in our employees. To help our employees balance responsibilities at home and at work, NIST offers a variety of work-life flexibilities. For more information, please visit our Careers website.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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Benefits
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n Review our benefitsn
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How you will be evaluated
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You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
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n Please prepare a resume that is no longer than two pages; only the first two pages will be considered during the review process. Ensure your font is 11 points or larger and upload your resume as a .pdf document. This helps ensure your formatting looks exactly the way you intended.
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nHow you will be evaluated: You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed in this announcement. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.
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nSubject Matter Experts (SMEs) may be used to review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. SMEs will review ONLY two (2) pages of your resume. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume.
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nApplications will be assessed on the following competencies:
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nReferral: All applicants may be referred to the selecting official for consideration. Under Direct Hire Authority, applicants are not rated and ranked, and veteran preference does not apply.
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nCTAP or ICTAP eligibility: If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee eligible for the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP), you must be determined eligible and rated as well-qualified to receive special selection priority. "Well Qualified" means that in addition to meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective placement factor(s), if applicable, you must receive a score of 85 or higher. Please review the following site regarding required documents to support CTAP or ICTAP eligibility and additional information regarding this authority - Section 8: Hiring Paths at NIST | NISTn n
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Benefits
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Required documents
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Required Documents
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The documents required may vary based on how you''re applying (i.e., as a veteran or disabled veteran, current or former Federal employee, etc.). Please review the Required Documents for this position to find out if there are any documents required with your application. Failure to submit required documents, based upon how you apply, may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package.
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nA complete application includes: 1) A resume (not to exceed two pages), 2) vacancy question responses regarding technical qualifications, and 3) submission of any required documents. Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, or if the documents submitted are illegible you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).
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nResume: All applicants must submit a resume by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their choosing. Please prepare a resume no longer than 2 pages; only the first 2 pages will be considered during the review process. Ensure your font is 11 points or larger and upload your resume as a .pdf document. This helps ensure your formatting looks exactly the way you intended. Cover letters are optional. To receive any credit for relevant experience, please list the month/year and the number of hours worked for experience listed on your resume. We suggest you review the qualification requirements for this position as you may need to customize your resume to ensure that it supports the position qualifications. Please refer to the Resume Guidance on how to build an effective resume.
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How to Apply
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Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments, and required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
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As part of the application process, you will be asked to respond to four narrative questions. While your responses to these questions is not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot.
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nOnce your application has been submitted, you will receive a confirmation notification by email. The Human Resources Office will evaluate your application to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
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nTo update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
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nTo view the announcement status or your application status: Click on this: USAJOBS Help Center - How to see your application and job status Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.
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nNeed help applying?
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Agency contact information
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n n Jason Travisn
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n n Emailn n jason.travis@nist.govn n n n Addressn n n Biosystems and Biomaterials Division
n 100 Bureau Drive
n Gaithersburg, MD 20899
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Next steps
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We will update applicant statuses when:n
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nPlease notify us if your contact information changes after announcement''s closing date. Also, note that if you provide an inaccurate email address or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication, which could affect your consideration for this position.n
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Fair and transparent
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The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
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n n Criminal history inquiriesn n n Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policyn n
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n n Financial suitabilityn n n New employee probationary periodn n
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n n Privacy Actn n n Reasonable accommodation policyn n
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n n Selective Servicen n n Signature and false statementsn n
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n n Social security number requestn n
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Required Documents
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The documents required may vary based on how you''re applying (i.e., as a veteran or disabled veteran, current or former Federal employee, etc.). Please review the Required Documents for this position to find out if there are any documents required with your application. Failure to submit required documents, based upon how you apply, may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package.
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nA complete application includes: 1) A resume (not to exceed two pages), 2) vacancy question responses regarding technical qualifications, and 3) submission of any required documents. Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, or if the documents submitted are illegible you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).
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nResume: All applicants must submit a resume by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their choosing. Please prepare a resume no longer than 2 pages; only the first 2 pages will be considered during the review process. Ensure your font is 11 points or larger and upload your resume as a .pdf document. This helps ensure your formatting looks exactly the way you intended. Cover letters are optional. To receive any credit for relevant experience, please list the month/year and the number of hours worked for experience listed on your resume. We suggest you review the qualification requirements for this position as you may need to customize your resume to ensure that it supports the position qualifications. Please refer to the Resume Guidance on how to build an effective resume.
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How to Apply
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Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments, and required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
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As part of the application process, you will be asked to respond to four narrative questions. While your responses to these questions is not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot.
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nOnce your application has been submitted, you will receive a confirmation notification by email. The Human Resources Office will evaluate your application to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
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nTo update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
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nTo view the announcement status or your application status: Click on this: USAJOBS Help Center - How to see your application and job status Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.
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nNeed help applying?
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Agency contact information
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n n Jason Travisn
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n n Emailn n jason.travis@nist.govn n n n Addressn n n Biosystems and Biomaterials Division
n 100 Bureau Drive
n Gaithersburg, MD 20899
n USn n n n
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Next steps
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We will update applicant statuses when:n
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nPlease notify us if your contact information changes after announcement''s closing date. Also, note that if you provide an inaccurate email address or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication, which could affect your consideration for this position.
n n Expand Hide next steps
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nn
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Fair and transparent
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The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
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n n Criminal history inquiriesn n n Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policyn n
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n n Financial suitabilityn n n New employee probationary periodn n
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n n Privacy Actn n n Reasonable accommodation policyn n
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n n Selective Servicen n n Signature and false statementsn n
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n n Social security number requestn n
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n National Institute of Standards and Technologyn
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n NIST works with industry and science to advance innovation and improve quality of life.n
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Agency contact information
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n n Jason Travisn
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n n Emailn n jason.travis@nist.govn n n n Addressn n n Biosystems and Biomaterials Division
n 100 Bureau Drive
n Gaithersburg, MD 20899
n USn n n n
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Visit our careers page
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n Learn more about what it''s like to work at National Institute of Standards and Technology, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.n
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n https://www.nist.gov/careersn
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Summary
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NIST''s Engineering Biology Program and Cellular Engineering Group is seeking a Synthetic Biology Scientist to research measurement capabilities. This role will advance wetlab automation, protocols, and quantitative evaluation of engineered parts like proteins and RNA circuits. Collaborate with stakeholders to create standards and disseminate results through publications.
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nThis notice is issued under direct-hire authority to recruit new talent for which NIST has a severe shortage of candidates.
n n Learn more about this agencyn n
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Overview
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Accepting applications
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n Posted todayn ·n Apply by 05/28/26n
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n Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on May 28, 2026n
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Location
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n n Gaithersburg, MD n
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n No matching locations found.n
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Work site options
n n Telework eligiblen Yes-as determined by the agency policy.n n n Remote jobn Non nn n Relocation expenses reimbursedn n Non n nn n Salaryn n $85,447 - $133,142 per yearn n nn n Pay scale & graden n
ZP 3
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n n n Learn more about pay scale and graden n
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n Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.n
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n n nn n Work schedulen Full-timen nnn n Travel Requiredn Not requiredn nn
n n Appointment typen Term - 2 years, can extend upto 4 yearsn nn
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Occupations and job series
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n n n Supervisory statusn Non nn n Federal service typen This job is in the Competitive Service n nn n Represented by a unionn Non nn
n n Drug testn Non nn n Security clearancen Not Requiredn nn n Position sensitivity and riskn Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Riskn n
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n Jobs require an background check and some require an security clearance. The type depends on the job.n
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Background check type
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nn n Financial disclosure requiredn Non n n
n Some jobs requiren financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.n
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nn n Announcement numbern MML-644-26-12967416-DHn n n Control numbern 870309400n n
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