This section shows how different types of expertise can be used as evidence of meeting the expert level for different applicants (e.g. graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty members). The answers are also cross-referenced with the typical GSA payscale associated with a particular level of scientific expertise. Your experience may not be reflective of these levels.
How to use this section: Common USAJobs questions are grouped by themes. Under each theme, you will find one or more questions that are commonly asked on 601-series USAJobs announcements. We provided possible general answers that you can modify for your background and scientific expertise.
Scientific Expertise Questions
- Deliver presentations to senior medical/health practitioners, professional societies, and academia on pertinent matters relating to biomedical, behavioral health, or clinical health-related research.
- Write/Prepare major components of position papers or reviews on policy or critical scientific issues related to biomedical, behavioral health, or clinical health-related research.
- Present briefings on research to high level officials providing multiple alternatives and advice on the best course of action.
- Provide advice to government agencies, private firms, or other organizations regarding biomedical, behavioral health, clinical, or health-related research.
- Grad Students (GS-12 level responses)
- What you did: Conducted thesis project on topic X; authored primary literature; authored reviews; presented posters at national and international meetings, gave platform presentations at national and international meetings; gave seminars;
- Authored XX peer-reviewed manuscripts on X topic
- Briefed senior faculty and University officials while working on my graduate degree during seminars on myriad topics as well as specific and detailed analyses of my research. These briefings required recommendations for actions that included funding decisions, experimental direction, and laboratory procedures
- Presented my research on topic X at XXX conferences (spell out a few of these) and gave XX platform talks on my expertise at national and international conferences
- Organized and facilitated meetings where I presented research results to faculty and government officials
- Postdoctoral Fellows (GS-12 to 13 level responses)
- What you did: Conducted research projects on topic X; authored primary literature; authored reviews; presented posters at national and international meetings, gave platform presentations at national and international meetings; gave seminars;
- Authored XX peer-reviewed manuscripts on X topic
- Briefed senior faculty and University officials while working on my graduate degree during seminars on myriad topics as well as specific and detailed analyses of my research. These briefings required recommendations for actions that included funding decisions, experimental direction, and laboratory procedures
- Presented my research on topic X at XXX conferences (spell out a few of these) and gave XX platform talks on my expertise at national and international conferences
- Organized and facilitated meetings where I presented research results to faculty and government officials
- Faculty (GS 14 to 15 level responses)
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What you did: Conduct and supervise a research program on XXX; consulted for expertise on XXX; authored XX papers and review articles on XXX; member of standing study section for NIH/USDA/NSF; chaired and organized sessions on XXX at scientific meetings; authored book chapters;
- After receiving funding for research in the area of (health-related) I was required to follow up with the funding source to provide advice regarding the direction they should take based on the results. This oftentimes included taking into account factors related to pecuniary decisions the government/company would have to make. Provide examples of how your research benefited the government, private firms, or other agencies…
Scientific Merit Questions:
- Analyze the scientific merit of current and projected research programs
- Evaluate the technical and scientific merit of grant applications and proposals requesting grant or contract funding
- Evaluate the technical and scientific merit of funding applications and proposals being submitted for approval. (Have you reviewed grants or project proposals?)
- Grad Students (GS-12 level responses)
- What you did: Participated in lab meeting, journal clubs, and writing qualifying exams; Selected your thesis project, including and evaluating possible projects and evaluating which projects had the most scientific merit
- Provided technical expertise and evaluated research projects of lab members and other investigators
- Made recommendations for project selection and new avenues of research
- Drafted a research proposal and modified based on feedback
- Evaluated ongoing research in the lab to prioritize research topics
- Edit faculty grant applications (name the grant and/or funding body)
- Wrote section of NIH Grant for Faculty Mentor (name the grant and/or funding body). If funded, cite grant Number
- Requesting grant funding was essential when conducting my thesis research at the graduate level. In order to be prepared to successfully solicit grant money I had to understand the process from the application to the disbursement of funding and all applicable laws and guidelines
- When undergraduate and junior graduate students were learning the process I was able to successfully mentor them to ensure they would be able to receive funding through the same process throughout their career
- Postdoctoral Fellows (GS-12 to 13 level responses)
- What you did: Reviewed research proposals; plan future research, as well as evaluate research programs from mentors; faculty search committee;
- Provided technical expertise and evaluated research projects of lab members and other investigators
- Made recommendations for project selection and new avenues of research
- Drafted a research proposal and modified based on feedback
- Evaluated ongoing research in the lab to prioritize research topics
- Planned future research for undergraduates and graduate students and evaluated their research proposals
- Reviewed grant applications (State study section, what agency/private funding body)
- Edit faculty grant applications (name the grant and/or funding body)
- Wrote section of NIH Grant for Faculty Mentor (name the grant and/or funding body). If funded, cite grant Number
- Faculty (GS 14 to 15 level responses)
- Faculty search committee; grant reviewer; thesis committee member, journal reviewer,
- Permanent member of NIH/USDA/NSF (etc.) Study Section (Name the Study Section)
- Ad hoc reviewer for NIH/USDA/NSF (etc.) Study Section (Name the Study Section)
- Served as reviewer for XYZ Private or Non-profit Granting Body
- Editor for XX journals (name journals)
- Reviewer for XX journals (name journals)
- Ad hoc reviewer for XX journals (name journals)
- Led team of scientists and evaluated research proposals from students
- Served on faculty search committees to review applications packets
- Analyzed merit of proposed research of grad students, postdocs and other faculty
- Served on XX thesis committees
- Chair of XX thesis committees
Scientific Trends Questions
- Analyze trends and new scientific fields to assess the adequacy of research being conducted and proposed in a given area
- Grad Students (GS-12 level responses)
- What you did: Write and publish a literature review on a specified topic; Attend and present at scientific conferences; Review manuscripts
- As an expert my field of research, and in order to obtain a graduate degree, I remained abreast of the latest trends in my field of research. Analysis of these trends contributed to my ability to both conduct and direct research in my field.
- I reviewed the scientific literature for manuscripts/review articles/thesis
- I looked through NIH Reporter to see current research in the field and to help me design fellowship applications
- I presented at scientific conferences to disseminate new research and to learn about new fields
- Postdoctoral Fellows (GS-12 to 13 level responses)
- What you did: Write and publish a literature review on a specified topic; Attend and present at scientific conferences; Review manuscripts;
- As an expert my field of research, I remained abreast of the latest trends in my field of research. Analysis of these trends contributed to my ability to both conduct and direct research in my field.
- I reviewed the scientific literature for manuscripts/review articles/thesis
- I looked through NIH Reporter to see current research in the field and to help me design fellowship applications
- I presented at scientific conferences to disseminate new research and to learn about new fields
- Faculty (GS 14 to 15 level responses)
- What you did: Write grants to explore new topics; Develop courses on new techniques; Serve on grant review; Review manuscripts; Present at scientific conferences; Write primary literature, reviews and opinion pieces
- Obtained R21 exploratory funding (or other exploratory awards, e.g. DP1, DP2, etc.)
- Permanent member of NIH/USDA/NSF (etc.) Study Section (Name the Study Section)
- Ad hoc reviewer for NIH/USDA/NSF (etc.) Study Section (Name the Study Section)
- Served as reviewer for XYZ Private or Non-profit Granting Body
- Editor for XX journals (name journals)
- Reviewer for XX journals (name journals)
- Ad hoc reviewer for XX journals (name journals)
- Gave XX platform presentations at My Favorite Conferences
- Wrote primary literature, reviews and opinion pieces
Forward Thinking Questions: Where should the science go?
- Identify and recommend the program direction of new research
- Propose comprehensive and cohesive research plans outlining the direction and long term goals to be accomplished
- Obtain independent grant funding for research from either the private or public sector (GS-13-15)
- Write or co-write research grants (GS-13-15)
- Grad Students (GS-12 level responses)
- What you did: Developed a research project; Changed research direction based on new studies and review of the literature; Wrote research proposals for my qualifying exam and for fellowship proposals
- Led thesis research program – developed hypothesis based on review of the literature
- Informed senior faculty and lab members regarding state of the literature
- Entrusted to inform and evaluate senior faculty of new research in the field
- Discuss new research through journal clubs and coursework
- Postdoctoral Fellows (GS-12 to 13 level responses)
- What you did: Developed a research project; Changed research direction based on new studies and review of the literature; Wrote research proposals for fellowship proposals and grants; Wrote research statement for tenure track applications
- Developed multiple research projects
- Determined new areas of research for research projects
- Informed senior faculty of new research avenues and strategies
- Faculty (GS 14 to 15 level responses)
- What you did: Developed a complete research program, write grant applications; recommend research program of new tenure track hires; evaluate new tenure track research programs; establish collaborations with faculty outside of expertise; establish research consortia; chair sessions at meetings
Identifying Gaps in the Scientific Literature Questions:
- Identify gaps in scientific research
- Grad Students (GS-12 level responses)
- What you did: Write a literature review and state the gaps; Write a research proposal; Write a grant; Propose new areas of research
- Wrote and published review on XYZ topic and identified research gaps to address during my thesis project
- Wrote a research proposal for my thesis
- Wrote fellowship applications to address gaps in the literature
- Postdoctoral Fellows (GS-12 to 13 level responses)
- What you did: Developed a research project based on careful review of the literature to identify important gaps; Changed research direction based on review of the literature; Wrote research proposals for fellowship proposals and grants; Wrote research statement for tenure track applications;
- Wrote and published review on XYZ topic and identified research gaps to address for research projects
- Wrote fellowship applications to address gaps in the literature
- Faculty (GS 14 to 15 level responses)
- What you did: Developed a complete research program, write grant applications; recommend research program of new tenure track hires; evaluate new tenure track research programs; establish collaborations with faculty outside of expertise; establish research consortia; chair sessions at meetings;