Careers at NIH: Navigating USAJobs as an Academic Scientist
Real Examples of Postdoctoral Experience and How They Translate to USAJobs Questions at the Expert Level

This section shows real examples of a USAJobs resume that indicates the applicant is an expert in several common questions . These are types of accomplishments in the USAJobs resume that can be listed to show your expertise. The academic CV does not indicate that the applicant has expertise in these areas .

Example 1: Initiated, developed and conducted neuroscience research projects using methods in behavioral pharmacology and rodent models of reward, reinforcement, and drug abuse/addiction

  • Scientific Merit:
    • Analyzing the scientific merit of current and projected research programs
  • Scientific Trends
    • Analyzing trends and new scientific fields to assess the adequacy of research being conducted and proposed in a given area
  • Forward Thinking
    • 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

Example 2: Learned sophisticated techniques to implement in my research, including; optogenetics, chemogenetics, immunohistochemisty, confocal microscopy, fast scan cyclic voltammetry, and fiber photometry

  • Scientific Trends Questions
    • Analyze trends and new scientific fields to assess the adequacy of research being conducted and proposed in a given area
  • 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

Example 3: Presented research findings at nine national and international academic meetings and nine invited talks

  • 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.
    • Present briefings on research to high level officials providing multiple alternatives and advice on the best course of action.

Example 4: Organized a panel of talks for a national academic conference

  • Scientific Expertise Questions
    • Provide advice to government agencies, private firms, or other organizations regarding biomedical, behavioral health, clinical, or health-related research.
  • Scientific Merit Questions:
    • Analyze the scientific merit of current and projected research programs
  • Scientific Trends Questions
    • Analyze trends and new scientific fields to assess the adequacy of research being conducted and proposed in a given area
  • Identifying Gaps in the Scientific Literature Questions:
    • Identify gaps in scientific research

Example 5: Established effective collaborative projects with principal investigators both within and outside my institution

  • 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

Example 6: Published four first author peer-reviewed journal articles – three additional manuscripts are currently in preparation

  • 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.
  • 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
  • Identifying Gaps in the Scientific Literature Questions:
    • Identify gaps in scientific research

Example 7: Developed a research training plan and independent line of research which resulted in the award of a Postdoctoral National Service and Research Award from NIDA

  • Forward Thinking Questions: Where should the science go?
    • 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)

Example 8: Reviewed and provided advice on the scientific integrity of grant submissions to NIH

  • 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?