Psychology Technician
The location of this position is in the VISN 17 Center of Excellence (CoE) for Research on Returning War Veterans at the Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System, Waco, Texas.
The CoE is one of 14 national academic clinical research centers across the United States under the direction of the Office of Mental Health at VA Central Office.
The CoE is responsible for leading clinical research and education efforts on post-deployment adjustment including biological, psychological and social adjustment and rehabilitation.
The primary purpose of this position is to provide training and certification of clinical interviewers, to ensure adherence to CoE research protocols, to ensure regulatory compliance, to ensure that recruitment and retention goals are met, and to provide oversight of data collection and data entry.
Major Duties and Responsibilities Include:
Collects research information through Clinical Interviews and research instruments, such as an MRI scanner, Quantitative Electroencephalography (qEEG), or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and trains personnel gathering research information are properly trained and certified on the use of specific clinical diagnostic interviews and instruments, in accordance with approved protocols and instructions provided in the instrument's training manual.
Gathers and records information from research participants with PTSD, mental deficits due to traumatic brain injury, and/or other mental illness or injury, through a variety of interviews and instruments.
Exercise independent judgement to identify behavior in participants through observation or review of notes, which may be significant or may possibly confound the results of the study.
Trains and instructs other Psychology Technicians on accepted practices, procedures, observation methods, and interview techniques which ensure standardization of participant treatment and control undue Influence of extraneous variables.
This Includes:
1) holding group or Individual training sessions to teach the correct application of the diagnostic instruments or procedures that will be administered in a protocol; 2) directly observing individual interviews and selecting at random recorded Interviews to assess a clinical interviewer's adherence to protocols when administering diagnostic instruments to human subjects; 3) certifying the clinical interviewers or other individuals, as meeting the adherence standards expected by the principle investigators on the study; 4) providing remedial trainings in a group or individual format as needed throughout the conduct of a protocol to insure adherence; 5) train interviewers and administer a wide variety of objective tests and clinical diagnostic instruments, which may include, but is not limited to; the Semi-Structured Clinical Instrument for the DSM, the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale, Wexler Adult Intelligence Test, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM5, or Traumatic Brain Injury questionnaires; 6) observes participant and technician behavior to ensure standardization of interview process and uses independent judgment to identify any behavior, by the interviewer, which could impact the participant and possibly confound the results of the study; 7) following procedures and protocols associated with preparing participants for MRI scans and assisting with scanning procedures where appropriate; and 8) set up Quantitative Electroencephalography (qEEG) and monitor participants with PTSD and mental deficits due to traumatic brain injury during qEEG treatments.
The selective factor for this position is:
Prior work experience related to the collection, management, and/or analysis of research data.
Work Schedule:
Monday through Friday, 8:
00 a.
m.
- 4:
30 p.
m.
This is a BARGAINING UNIT position.
Telework:
Not Available Virtual:
This is not a virtual position.
Position Description Title/PD#:
Psychology Technician, PD #674-7619TA Relocation/Recruitment Incentives:
Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, Time-In-Grade Requirement:
Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6.
The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service.
An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.
Note:
Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.
The selective factor for this position is:
Prior work experience related to the collection, management, and/or analysis of research data.
BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT:
In order to qualify for this position you must possess a Bachelor's degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university with a major in an appropriate social or biological science, which included or was supplemented by 12 semester hours in Psychology.
NOTE:
Transcript Required.
Due to the positive education requirements, applications will not be considered without appropriate transcripts.
This transcript must indicate that a Bachelor's degree or higher was conferred in a social or biological science, and that 12 semester hours of Psychology were successfully completed.
AND You must also meet ONE of the Additional Minimum Qualification requirements for the GS-07 grade level:
Experience:
One full year of technical work under the direction of a professional psychologist in a program of professional services, training, or research.
(NOTE:
In addition to the basic education requirement, candidates for this position and grade must indicate on their resume that they have had at least one year of technical work under the direction of a professional psychologist in a program of professional services, training or research; 6 months of such experience must be comparable in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade (GS-6) in the federal service, or one year comparable to the second lower grade (GS-5) in federal service).
Technical duties include experience with clinical diagnostic instruments (such as the Semi-Structured Interview for the DSM or the Clinician Administered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale); experience with the requirements of Institutional Review Boards and regulatory oversight of research protocols; experience with research methods and design in social science research; experience working with clinical research participants; and experience utilizing evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines.
OR EDUCATION:
One full year of graduate study in Psychology (usually 18 semester hours) at an accredited college or university may be substituted for the one full year of experience.
NOTE:
A copy of your transcript is required.
Applications will not be considered without appropriate transcripts.
OR SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT:
(SAA) at the baccalaureate level in the coursework detailed above is fully qualifying.
Applicants who wish to apply under this provision must submit proof from their educational institution that they meet one of the criteria listed below.
To qualify for SAA, applicants must have completed all the requirements for a bachelor's degree in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled and meet one of the following:
1.
Rank in the upper one-third of your class in the college, university, or major subdivision.
2.
A grade-point average of B a (GPA of 2.
95 or higher out of a possible (4.
0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study.
3.
A grade point average of B+ (a GPA of 3.
45 or higher out of a possible 4.
0) for all courses in your major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study.
4.
Membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies.
For a list of recognized honor societies please visit http:
//www.
achsnatl.
org/quick_link.
asp.
For more information regarding SAA please visit http:
//www.
opm.
gov/qualifications/SECII/s2-e5.
asp#e4f.
GS-5:
1 year specialized experience to at least GS-4 or 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation, if required.
GS-6:
1 year equivalent to at least next lower grade level OR Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position.
For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the US Office of Personnel Management's website at http:
//www.
opm.
gov/qualifications You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
Data Collection Research Analysis and Problem Solving Data Management Experience 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; religions; 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.
Note:
A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.
Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.
Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
Physical Requirements:
The work is primarily sedentary.
Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to perform portions of the work.
However, there is periodic walking, standing, bending, and carrying of light items such as medical records, lab supplies, instructional material, books and manuals (.
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
The CoE is one of 14 national academic clinical research centers across the United States under the direction of the Office of Mental Health at VA Central Office.
The CoE is responsible for leading clinical research and education efforts on post-deployment adjustment including biological, psychological and social adjustment and rehabilitation.
The primary purpose of this position is to provide training and certification of clinical interviewers, to ensure adherence to CoE research protocols, to ensure regulatory compliance, to ensure that recruitment and retention goals are met, and to provide oversight of data collection and data entry.
Major Duties and Responsibilities Include:
Collects research information through Clinical Interviews and research instruments, such as an MRI scanner, Quantitative Electroencephalography (qEEG), or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and trains personnel gathering research information are properly trained and certified on the use of specific clinical diagnostic interviews and instruments, in accordance with approved protocols and instructions provided in the instrument's training manual.
Gathers and records information from research participants with PTSD, mental deficits due to traumatic brain injury, and/or other mental illness or injury, through a variety of interviews and instruments.
Exercise independent judgement to identify behavior in participants through observation or review of notes, which may be significant or may possibly confound the results of the study.
Trains and instructs other Psychology Technicians on accepted practices, procedures, observation methods, and interview techniques which ensure standardization of participant treatment and control undue Influence of extraneous variables.
This Includes:
1) holding group or Individual training sessions to teach the correct application of the diagnostic instruments or procedures that will be administered in a protocol; 2) directly observing individual interviews and selecting at random recorded Interviews to assess a clinical interviewer's adherence to protocols when administering diagnostic instruments to human subjects; 3) certifying the clinical interviewers or other individuals, as meeting the adherence standards expected by the principle investigators on the study; 4) providing remedial trainings in a group or individual format as needed throughout the conduct of a protocol to insure adherence; 5) train interviewers and administer a wide variety of objective tests and clinical diagnostic instruments, which may include, but is not limited to; the Semi-Structured Clinical Instrument for the DSM, the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale, Wexler Adult Intelligence Test, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM5, or Traumatic Brain Injury questionnaires; 6) observes participant and technician behavior to ensure standardization of interview process and uses independent judgment to identify any behavior, by the interviewer, which could impact the participant and possibly confound the results of the study; 7) following procedures and protocols associated with preparing participants for MRI scans and assisting with scanning procedures where appropriate; and 8) set up Quantitative Electroencephalography (qEEG) and monitor participants with PTSD and mental deficits due to traumatic brain injury during qEEG treatments.
The selective factor for this position is:
Prior work experience related to the collection, management, and/or analysis of research data.
Work Schedule:
Monday through Friday, 8:
00 a.
m.
- 4:
30 p.
m.
This is a BARGAINING UNIT position.
Telework:
Not Available Virtual:
This is not a virtual position.
Position Description Title/PD#:
Psychology Technician, PD #674-7619TA Relocation/Recruitment Incentives:
Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, Time-In-Grade Requirement:
Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6.
The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service.
An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.
Note:
Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.
The selective factor for this position is:
Prior work experience related to the collection, management, and/or analysis of research data.
BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT:
In order to qualify for this position you must possess a Bachelor's degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university with a major in an appropriate social or biological science, which included or was supplemented by 12 semester hours in Psychology.
NOTE:
Transcript Required.
Due to the positive education requirements, applications will not be considered without appropriate transcripts.
This transcript must indicate that a Bachelor's degree or higher was conferred in a social or biological science, and that 12 semester hours of Psychology were successfully completed.
AND You must also meet ONE of the Additional Minimum Qualification requirements for the GS-07 grade level:
Experience:
One full year of technical work under the direction of a professional psychologist in a program of professional services, training, or research.
(NOTE:
In addition to the basic education requirement, candidates for this position and grade must indicate on their resume that they have had at least one year of technical work under the direction of a professional psychologist in a program of professional services, training or research; 6 months of such experience must be comparable in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade (GS-6) in the federal service, or one year comparable to the second lower grade (GS-5) in federal service).
Technical duties include experience with clinical diagnostic instruments (such as the Semi-Structured Interview for the DSM or the Clinician Administered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale); experience with the requirements of Institutional Review Boards and regulatory oversight of research protocols; experience with research methods and design in social science research; experience working with clinical research participants; and experience utilizing evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines.
OR EDUCATION:
One full year of graduate study in Psychology (usually 18 semester hours) at an accredited college or university may be substituted for the one full year of experience.
NOTE:
A copy of your transcript is required.
Applications will not be considered without appropriate transcripts.
OR SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT:
(SAA) at the baccalaureate level in the coursework detailed above is fully qualifying.
Applicants who wish to apply under this provision must submit proof from their educational institution that they meet one of the criteria listed below.
To qualify for SAA, applicants must have completed all the requirements for a bachelor's degree in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled and meet one of the following:
1.
Rank in the upper one-third of your class in the college, university, or major subdivision.
2.
A grade-point average of B a (GPA of 2.
95 or higher out of a possible (4.
0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study.
3.
A grade point average of B+ (a GPA of 3.
45 or higher out of a possible 4.
0) for all courses in your major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study.
4.
Membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies.
For a list of recognized honor societies please visit http:
//www.
achsnatl.
org/quick_link.
asp.
For more information regarding SAA please visit http:
//www.
opm.
gov/qualifications/SECII/s2-e5.
asp#e4f.
GS-5:
1 year specialized experience to at least GS-4 or 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation, if required.
GS-6:
1 year equivalent to at least next lower grade level OR Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position.
For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the US Office of Personnel Management's website at http:
//www.
opm.
gov/qualifications You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
Data Collection Research Analysis and Problem Solving Data Management Experience 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; religions; 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.
Note:
A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.
Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.
Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
Physical Requirements:
The work is primarily sedentary.
Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to perform portions of the work.
However, there is periodic walking, standing, bending, and carrying of light items such as medical records, lab supplies, instructional material, books and manuals (.
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
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