Patent Examiner (Biology)

Summary Do you aspire to use your engineering or science background to serve on the cutting edge of innovation?

Now you can, by being the first to examine new inventions to determine and grant patents as a Patent Examiner at America's Innovation Agency!

>> EXPLORE becoming a patent examiner >> MEET our diverse employees >> LEARN key details about the role Learn more about this agency Help Overview * Accepting applications * Open & closing dates 10/23/2023 to 06/24/2024 * Salary $61,325 - $107,186 per year Salary ranges according to grade levels.

GS-07: $61,325 to $79,722; GS-09: $71,581 to $93,052; GS-11: $82,453 to $107,186.

* Pay scale & grade GS 7 - 11 * Help Location Many vacancies in the following location: * Alexandria, VA * Remote job No * Telework eligible Yes-and includes 100% remote option.

* Travel Required Not required * Relocation expenses reimbursed No * Appointment type Permanent - * Work schedule Full-time - * Service Competitive * Promotion potential 13 * Job family (Series) 1224 Patent Examining * Supervisory status No * Security clearance Other * Drug test No * Position sensitivity and risk Moderate Risk (MR) * Trust determination process Suitability/Fitness * Announcement number PATS - DCOM-24-12173911-DE * Control number 756444500 Help This job is open to * Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL) Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

* Individuals with disabilities * The public U.S.

Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency Applications will be accepted from all U.S.

Citizens or Nationals.

*One or more cut-off dates may occur at management's request during the open period for this announcement.

1st cutoff: January 21, 2024; 2nd cutoff: March 12, 2024; 3rd cutoff: May 1, 2024; 4th cutoff: June 24, 2024.

Help Duties Patent examiners may choose to perform their duties throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

A patent examiner (PE) reviews applications to determine whether patents can be granted for inventions.

Patents give inventors the right to exclude others from making or selling their inventions for a limited time.

As a U.S.

patent examiner, you will handle these basic patent examining functions: * Search prior art to ensure that an invention is new and unique.

Prior art is information that has been disclosed to the public about an invention before a given date - including any related patents, published articles and public demonstrations.

* Review patent applications to ensure conformity to formal requirements.

* Write legal office actions on patentability and respond to patent applicants.

GS-7: Perform basic patent examining functions with extensive instructions from the supervisor.

Training will develop the ability to apply technical concepts to the patent examining process.

Assignments combine performance of productive work with supervised on-the-job training.

GS-9: Independently perform intermediate patent examining functions with some supervision.

Assignments are of average difficulty and require the application of technical concepts to the patent examining process.

May perform advanced patent examining functions with supervision (e.g., the evaluation of special claim constructions, the requirement of restrictions, the recognition and development of probable interferences, etc.). These advanced activities are supported by close review.

GS-11: Independently perform patent examining functions and formulate or recommend appropriate action with respect to: * Checking applications for technical accuracy and compliance with formal requirements * Treating disclosure statements and claims of priority * Analyzing disclosure and claims for compliance with 35 USC 112 * Planning a field of search * Conducting search * Formulating rejections under 35 USC 102 and 103 with supporting rationale, or determining how claim(s) distinguish over the prior art * Determining whether amendment introduces new matter * Determining whether restriction is proper * Determining whether claimed invention is operable/useful as disclosed Almost all of the PE's work is performed using a computer and is visually very demanding.

Please search USAJOBS for "Patent Examiner" or consult our Careers Website for further information.

Note: Applications will be accepted from students who expect to complete qualifying education within 9 months from the date of application.

USPTO requires verification of successful completion before extending a final offer.

Help Requirements Conditions of Employment * Applications will only be accepted from United States Citizens and Nationals.

* Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related competencies.

* You must meet the definition of specialized experience.

* Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.

* Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable * If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.

* You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

* Suitable for Federal Employment Qualifications You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position.

You must meet the following United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements for the advertised position.

OPM's prescribed Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Patent Examiner Series, GS-1224, can be found at Patent Examining Series 1224 (opm.gov) The Individual Occupational Requirements are General Nature Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series can be found at, General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series 0401 (opm.gov) BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To be considered for this position, you must have either: (1) Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resources management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the positions; --OR-- (2) Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major, as shown in (1), plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In additional to the BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS, you must meet SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE requirements.

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; religious; 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.

For documentation requirements, see REQUIRED DOCUMENTS.

Candidates for the GS-7 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position is defined as experience performing at least one of the following functions: (1) Interpreting and applying basic biological sciences and/or scientific principles, theories, concepts, and methodologies related to the application of life processes and transitions, problems of living matter as they related to human issues; preserving and repairing the natural environment; and/or research and development, regulatory activities, testing and analysis of laboratory samples; (2) Planning and conducting technical research to draft technical papers; or (3) Applying appropriate references and case law to claimed inventions.

A) Superior Academic Achievement (SAA). This can be defined by one of the following: 1) Class standing-Upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the "School of Engineering and Applied Science" or "College of Science and Technology" based on completed courses.

2) Grade point average (GPA) as recorded on the final transcript- i) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on the official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or ii) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.

The GPA is rounded to one decimal place.

(2.95 = 3.0 and 2.94 = 2.9). The final transcript must cover the period being used to determine the GPA.

3) Honor Society membership--Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society.

Click here for a list of qualified honor societies.

B) Have at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-5 level in the Federal service interpreting and applying basic biological science and/or scientific principles, theories, concepts and methodologies used in the evaluation of technology; planning and conducting research; applying appropriate references to the claimed invention, etc.

OR C) Have at least one year of graduate level education from an accredited college and/or university in the fields of study as described in the Basic Qualification Requirements.

If the number of credit hours representing one year of full-time study cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours will be considered an academic year of graduate study.

OR D) Have less than the full amount of graduate education as described in "C" above and less than the amount of experience described in "B" above, but have a combination "B" and "C" above A) Candidates for the GS-9 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position is defined as experience performing at least one of the following functions: (1) Interpreting and applying intermediate biological sciences and/or scientific principles, theories, concepts, and methodologies related to the application of life processes and transitions, problems of living matter as they related to human issues; preserving and repairing the natural environment; and/or research and development, regulatory activities, testing and analysis of laboratory samples; (2) Planning and conducting technical research to draft technical papers; or (3) Applying appropriate references and case law to claimed inventions.

OR B) Have a combination of education and experience.

Possess at least a bachelor's degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry AND have experience applying biological sciences principles and theories in the biological sciences field.

OR C) Have at least two years of graduate level education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree from an accredited college and/or university in the fields of study as described in the Basic Qualification Requirements.

If the number of credit hours representing one year of full-time study cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours will be considered an academic year of graduate study.

OR D) Have less than the full amount of education described in "C" above and less than the amount of experience described in "A" above but have a combination of the type of graduate education described in "C" above and experience described in "A" above.

OR A) Candidates for the GS-11 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position is defined as experience performing at least one of the following functions: (1) Interpreting and applying advanced biological sciences and/or scientific principles, theories, concepts, and methodologies related to the application of life processes and transitions, problems of living matter as they related to human issues; preserving and repairing the natural environment; and/or research and development, regulatory activities, testing and analysis of laboratory samples; or (2) Planning and conducting technical research to draft technical papers; or (3) Applying appropriate references and case law to claimed inventions.

OR B) Have three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D.

degree or Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree as stated in the Basic Qualification Requirements.

OR C) Have less than the full amount of graduate education as described in "B" above and less than the amount of experience described in "A" but have a combination of the type of graduate education in "B" above and experience described in "A" above.

Education If this position requires proof of higher education, or you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned.

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements.

Please refer to for more information.

You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S.

colleges and universities.

Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree.

A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website - US Department of Education.

Another listing of services that can perform this evaluation is available at the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) website.

You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application.

Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.

NOTE: Only education and experience acquired before the filing deadline will be considered.

Report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S.

Department of Education.

Additional information If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System.

If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption.

Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.

This is a Bargaining Unit position and represented by Patent Office Professional Association (POPA). This is a Public Trust position and has a risk level designation of "moderate." Background Investigation - If selected for this position, you may be required to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306), which includes a fingerprint and credit check, to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.

The USPTO participates in E-Verify.

For more information on E-Verify, please visit the Department of Homeland Security Website.

All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.

Relocation Expenses are not authorized and will not be paid.

CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a "well qualified" rating of 85 out of 100.

Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: OPM CTAP/ICTAP.

CTAP/ICTAP documentation requirements are listed