National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program

NIST Anticipates Recruiting Staff in Three Areas

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL) anticipates recruiting new staff in the following three areas:

1. Wind Engineering/Database Assisted Design
   Candidates with expertise in wind engineering, fluid mechanics, structural dynamics, non-linear analyses, numerical modeling, wind loads on structures, statistics/probability/risk analysis, software development.
2. Multi-hazard Failure Analysis
   Candidates with expertise in structural mechanics and modeling, finite element analysis, materials behavior and modeling, failure and disaster investigations, failure analysis, and forensic analysis.
3. Earthquake Engineering
   Seismic structural design and analysis, structural dynamics, performance-based engineering, numerical modeling, non-linear analysis, software development, building performance and design.

The first two areas are in BFRL's Structures Group, while the third is in BFRL's National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) Office. For the first areas NIST is interested in recent graduates with a Ph.D. degree or equivalent experience, as well as candidates with some years of experience in research and/or practice. These areas will likely be filled at the ZP III (GS 11 and 12) level or ZP IV (GS 13 and 14) level. For the third area, NIST also is interested in candidates with several years of experience in research and/or practice. This area may be filled at the ZP III, ZP IV, or ZP V (GS 15) levels.

These are excellent opportunities for individuals with strong technical credentials in academia or industry who want to consider public service and are interested in a challenging career in research. For those already in government service, this is an excellent opportunity to work in a premier federal science agency with top-notch scientific and engineering researchers. The NIST staff includes three Nobel laureates, a MacArthur Fellow winner, a National Medal of Science winner, an astronaut who has flown twice on the space shuttle as a mission specialist, and several members of the National Academies. NIST is integral to the American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI) announced by the President in February 2006. The ACI calls for a doubling of the inflation-adjusted budget for NIST's core laboratory and facilities programs over the next decade. BFRL is one of the Nation's primary federal laboratories serving the construction and building industries and has statutory responsibilities for fire prevention and control, earthquake hazards reduction, windstorm impact reduction, and building and fire safety investigations.

NIST would appreciate hearing from candidates as soon as possible, but will entertain applications until the positions are filled. While U.S. citizenship is required for permanent NIST positions, non-U.S. citizens employed by U.S. universities may be considered for assignments to NIST under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA).

Interested applicants should submit resumes with contact information and the area in which they are interested to Karen Miller, email: karen.miller@nist.gov, telephone: 301-975-6056. Anyone who needs additional information may contact Structures Group Leader Steve Cauffman (email: cauffman@nist.gov, telephone: 301-975-6051) for the first two areas and NEHRP Director Jack Hayes (email: jack.hayes@nist.gov, telephone: 301-975-5640) for the third area.

Employment Information

• Salary and Bonuses
  Salary will be determined based on the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate. The 2007 annual salary for a ZP III position ranges from $55,706 to $88,565, for a ZP IV position from $79,397 to $121,967, and for a ZP V position from $110,363 to $143,471. Salary limits are typically modified each year based on approved cost of living adjustments. NIST employees are also considered for performance-related pay increases and bonuses as part of the annual performance appraisal process. NIST also has authority to provide recruitment bonuses under certain circumstances.
• Benefits
  Federal employees are offered a generous benefits package. This includes a wide choice of health insurance plans, group life insurance, flexible spending accounts for dependent care and medical care, health savings accounts, long-term care insurance, and retirement plan (with a tax-deferred 401K savings plan). Detailed information on these benefit programs may be found at www.opm.gov. A child care center is available on the NIST campus.
• Location
  NIST is located on a 578-acre campus about 25 miles from the center of Washington, D.C., in Gaithersburg, MD, just off Interstate 270 in Montgomery County. NIST has free parking on site and is well connected to the Metro (subway) system via a shuttle service for official visitors and staff. The Montgomery County Public Schools are among the finest in the Nation.
• Relocation
  Where appropriate, NIST will cover relocation expenses in accordance with federal regulations, such as moving household goods, travel to NIST for the employee and immediate family members, house hunting trip, and temporary living quarters and per diem expenses. NIST will not cover costs associated with real estate transactions such as the purchase or sale of a house.

Top of Page