Forensic Biologist - Direct Hire (Open Continuous Announcement)

This position is located under the Office of Science and Technology, Forensic Sciences Division, Laboratory Services Branch, Forensic Crime Gun Intelligence Laboratory in Wichita, Kansas. Laboratory work encompasses a broad range of responsibilities critical to ATF's mission of combatting violent crime.

This is an open continuous announcement, open until July 10, 2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available.

Qualifications:

To qualify for the position of Forensic Biologist, at GS-0401-11, you must meet the basic qualification requirements listed below by the closing date of the announcement.

Basic Requirements

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

OR

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

AND

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level, candidates must also have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) by the closing date of this announcement.

Specialized experience is demonstrated experience, which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position. Experience must be in the normal line of progression or must be related to the work of the position advertised and must be reflected in resume.

Specialized experience must include all of:

• Examining a wide variety of evidence from criminal investigations for the presence of biological material; AND
• Analyzing, interpreting, and applying statistical calculations to the results of forensic DNA examinations to draw conclusions about the evidence; AND
• Preparing laboratory reports detailing the conclusions and comparisons of forensic DNA examinations performed; AND
• Formal training or experience providing court testimony as an expert witness based on laboratory examinations of biological evidence.

-OR-

Successful completion of a Ph.D. or an equivalent doctoral degree, or successful completion of at least 3 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education toward either a Ph.D. or an equivalent doctoral degree. Degree must have included a major field of study or specific course requirements generally required to successfully perform the duties of the position. You must include transcripts.

-OR-

Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. You must include your resume with hours worked per week annotated, as well as transcripts.

Experience as a qualified forensic DNA examiner in an accredited crime laboratory is preferred.

Your resume must support your responses to the application questionnaire and the qualification requirements. Failure to do so may result in an ineligible rating.See the Required Documents section for important notes about what must be included in your resume.

Responsibilities:

The incumbent serves as a Forensic Biologist in a Forensic Science Laboratory within the Office of Science and Technology (OST) responsible for providing forensic support of the Bureau's primary law enforcement missions and technical guidance to laboratory personnel. ATF Laboratory Services conducts scientific, technical, and physical analyses on evidentiary material and analyzes data connected with criminal investigations. Typical work assignments include:

• Performs routine forensic DNA examinations with limited technical guidance.
• Performs DNA extractions, quantifications, amplifications and short tandem repeat (STR) DNA typing techniques, along with data analysis, mixture interpretation and statistical calculations.
• Draws conclusions based on fully documented physical examination of the evidence and interpretation of the analytical results and prepares laboratory reports.
• Works with senior examiners to conduct research or evaluate new technology and scientific equipment for adoption or acquisition by Laboratory Services.
• Provides expert witness testimony on the basis of laboratory examinations.

Salary : $74,678