Biologist

POSITION OVERVIEW

This position advertised has been exempted from the federal civilian hiring freeze.

Current FBI employees are ineligible to apply if serving under the same conditions as that for which is advertised, including:

• Appointing organization (FBI)
• Type of position (full-time, part-time, etc.)
• Same or higher grade
• Duty location (city or state)
• Type of appointment (permanent, temporary, etc.)

Job Opening: 67156

Opening Date: September 11, 2026
Closing Date: September 25, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (ET)

Job Title BIOLOGIST, GS-7/9

Full Performance Level GS-12

Division Laboratory Division (LD)

Unit Federal DNA Database Unit (FDDU)

Location Quantico, VA

Working Hours 8:00AM - 4:30PM

Job Type Full Time/Permanent

Who May Apply ALL U.S. Citizens

Number of Positions Available 1

Questions Email: Robert White.

Salary
GS-7: $57,736.00 - $75,059.00

GS-9: $70,623.00 - $91,815.00

Additional selections may be made from this announcement to fill positions within the same division when the position includes substantially the same duties, responsibilities, and qualifications.

JOB SUMMARY

The mission of the FDDU is to analyze the core Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) loci DNA markers from buccal and blood samples of federal convicted offenders, arrestees facing federal charges, individuals convicted of certain District of Columbia offenses, as well as non-US citizens detained under the authority of the U.S. citizens detained under the authority of the USA, for development of DNA profiles that are uploaded to the National DNA Index System.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Must be a current, permanent FBI employee
• Must be able to obtain a Top-Secret clearance
• Some travel may be required

ALL applicants must verify completion of the basic education requirement by submitting a copy of college transcripts by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work requires lifting a maximum of 50 pounds, finger dexterity and body agility.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work involves regular and reoccurring exposure to chemicals and biohazardous materials. The biologist is required to wear protective clothing, including eye protection, as warranted.

MAJOR DUTIES

GS-7:

As a trainee, the individual selected for this position will perform the following duties:

• Prepare solutions, buffers and reagents used in body fluid and human tissue identification techniques.
• Maintain a manual of quality control procedures for biological reagents used with the FDDU.

GS-9:

As a trainee, the individual selected for this position will perform the following duties, in addition to the above:

• Consult with scientists within the LD to coordinate quality control within the specialty area.

QUALIFICATIONS & EVALUATIONS

Please ensure that your specialized experience and requirements are clearly identifiable in your resume. Your application will be evaluated using the FBI's Candidate Rating Procedures. Your resume and supporting documents will be reviewed to verify that you meet the job qualifications listed in this announcement. Applicants must meet the qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

If you are found minimally qualified, your application will move forward to additional phases of the review process.

The five competencies will be used in a Structured Resume Review to objectively evaluate applicant resumes. Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather you must describe in your resume how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the competencies identified below. Your resume should demonstrate that you possess the following competencies.

Competencies:

• Communication
• Organizing & Planning
• Analytic Thinking
• Biology
• Problem Solving/Judgement

Positive Education Requirement

This position has a specific education requirement; all applicants must verify completion of this basic education requirement by submitting a copy of their college transcripts by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR

Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements provided you can show foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States.

Specialized Experience (SE)

GS-7: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of SE equivalent to the GS-5 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

• Analyzing evidentiary materials to establish facts and identify patterns.
• Performing routine and limited analyses and tests by established methods and procedures.
• Making minor adaptations to analytical methods to solve problems or respond to technical issues.

GS-9: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of SE equivalent to the GS-7 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

In addition to the above, the selectee will be:

• Evaluating and interpreting problems associated with the techniques used in the extraction of biological or evidentiary materials.

HOW TO APPLY

For detailed instructions related to applying, uploading documents, withdrawing an application or updating your application, please review instructions on . If applying online is a hardship, please use the contact information listed in the vacancy announcement prior to the closing date for assistance.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

To apply to this position, interested applicants must provide a complete application package by the closing date which includes:

Utilizing the Resume Builder, outline your relevant work experience and associated start and end dates. Uploaded resumes will not be reviewed or used for qualification purposes.

Other supporting documents (if applicable):

• College transcripts, if qualifying based on education or if there is a positive education requirement
• Memorandum for Record (MFR): Work performed outside assigned duties (that would not normally be documented on a SF-50, i. e., back-up duties), has to be documented in detail by an immediate supervisor in order to receive full credit for amount of time worked in that position. If no documentation is furnished no credit will be given for time worked in that position. The following notations must be specified in the documentation:
  • Percent of time worked in the particular position (cannot conflict with main duties)
  • The month/year work began
    Frequency worked (i.e., daily, monthly, etc.)
  • Specific duties performed

Attach the Memorandum for Record to your application in the "Cover Letters and Attachments" section of My Career Tools on the Careers Home page. Please upload the attachment as type "Other."

While applicants might see these documents in their profile, HR Specialists may be unable to access them. Therefore, all applicants MUST upload another copy to ensure that staffing units can review the complete application.

Please note: Failure to provide the necessary and relevant information required by this vacancy announcement may disqualify you from consideration. Incomplete applications will not be supplemented with additional requests for information; your application will be evaluated solely on the information you submit. You must complete the application process and submit all required documents by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the announcement's closing date.

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT

Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The Most Competitive candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of your status throughout the process.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• The FBI is in the Executive Branch of the federal government. It is one of the components of the Department of Justice (DOJ). The FBI is the principle investigative arm of the DOJ. All FBI positions are in the excepted service.
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens and consent to a complete background investigation, urinalysis, and polygraph. You must be suitable for Federal employment; as determined by a background investigation.
• Positions with fitness for duty requirements or those that require international travel may require proof of certain vaccinations.
• Management may select any grade for which this position has been announced.
• If you are selected, you will be required to serve a two-year probationary period. Probationary employees are precluded from being considered for all job opportunities until 12-months of their 24-month probationary period has concluded. Probationary Employees may be considered for competitive vacancies that are advertised within their respective division or field office after serving 90 days within the FBI.

Veterans' Preference

If you are entitled to veterans' preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume and application. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency.

Nepotism

Nepotism is the act of favoring relatives in the hiring process and is prohibited by law. Public officials are prohibited from hiring or promoting relatives or relatives of officials in their chain of command, as well as actively or indirectly endorse a relative's appointment or promotion. During the hiring process, all selected candidates and FBI hiring managers will be required to certify they are not related to anyone involved in the hiring process.

Reasonable Accommodation

The FBI provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application and/or hiring process, please contact the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Affairs (OEEOA) Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Program by email at REASONABLE_ACCOMMODA@fbi.gov, phone at 202-324-2158, or fax at 202-324-3976. This email address is for reasonable accommodation requests only. Do not send applications or unrelated inquiries to this address, as they will not be considered.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The FBI is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for this vacancy. Unless explicitly authorized by law, selection will be made without regard to, and there will be no discrimination because of, color, race, religion, national origin, marital status, parental status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, age (40 or over), sex, pregnancy and related conditions, or on the basis of personal favoritism, or any other non-merit factors.

Benefits

The Bureau matches your dedication with a commitment to professional growth, a supportive work environment, and a robust benefits package that prioritizes you. As a member of our team, you'll enjoy comprehensive health and life insurance benefits, paid vacation, sick leave, and federal holidays. For more details about benefits available to all federal employees, visit the Office of Personnel Management's .