Preparing your RGE Package Cara Campbell and Steve
Preparing your RGE Package Cara Campbell and Steve Hilburger, RGE-EDGE Coordinators Office of Science Quality and Integrity (OSQI) 2021 Senior Scientist Review RGE mailbox rge-edge@usgs. gov RGE Web Site www. usgs. gov/rge-edge U. S. Department of the Interior U. S. Geological Survey
Outline n Key Dates n Senior Scientist Process Revision n Expected Characteristics of the ST position n Preparing your Package 2
Key Dates n April 30: Confirm your intention to prepare and submit a package for ST review q n Email Steve and Cara June 21: Submission Deadline q Email to submit_rge-edge@usgs. gov (see slide with instructions) 3
The ST Review Process (Draft) n Peer RGE Panel 56+ Score n Scientific Merit Panel n Selection Panel n Executive Resources Board (DOI) 4
Scientific Merit Panel n Advisory to Selection Panel q n Members include q q q n Will review / provide perspectives on RGE peer panel score USGS Chief Scientist COSSA members PECASE winners External experts (as needed) RGE Coordinators / HR (non-scoring) Anticipated late summer (fingers crossed) 5
Selection Panel (DRAFT) Details pending approval by the USGS Director / ELT n Members expected to include n USGS Director q USGS Chief Scientist q ~ 3 Regional / Associate Directors q n Focus: Expected Characteristics of Senior Scientists Exemplary Scientific Contributions q Active Support of the Greater Scientific Community q Organizational Influence q Exhibiting the Highest Integrity q n Anticipated fall (fingers crossed) 6
Expected Characteristics (Draft) n Exemplary Scientific Contributions q Extended and consistent record of scientific contributions Make noteworthy impacts to science and/or society q Impacts multiple fields of study q n Active Support of the Greater Scientific Community Exemplary mentorship q Fosters diversity within USGS or their field of study q Forms new connections within and outside of USGS q Is a visionary scientific leader q 7
Expected Characteristics (Draft) n Organizational Influence q Provides vision / advice to the highest levels of management Innovates to achieve goals that require significant leaps and investments q Creates change and opportunities that support and enhance the missions of the USGS and/or Department of the Interior q n Exhibiting the Highest Integrity Holds themself to the highest standard of integrity q Actively models these behaviors and fosters them in others through their conduct in scientific endeavors q 8
What is in an RGE-EDGE package? n Research Scientist Record List of references, including supervisor and center director Three significant contributions (as attachments) Approval Sheet signed by center director and supervisor Optional supervisory letter of support Optional External Impact Statements (as attachments) Ø OF– 8 & Position Description - no longer needed! n n n 9
Preparing for your RGE review n Read carefully RGE Guide q ST checklist q These describe exactly how you will be scored. q n Give yourself time Write clearly and concisely; use plain language q Have colleagues, supervisor, center director review q Products need Bureau approval by submission deadline q (not for submitted manuscripts) 10
Scientist Record - Outline n Scientist Background n Written Narratives Research Environment q Four Factor Narratives q Three Significant Contributions (formerly Publications) q n Supporting Information q n Bibliography, Presentations, Service, Awards, etc. References 11
Scientist Background Name Classification Title, Series, and Grade Center Name Duty Station Date of Entrance to Federal Service Date of Last Promotion Review Cycle Submitted Up to 5 descriptive phrases that characterize your research and specialties (e. g. , aquatic trophic interactions, heavy metal isotopes, earthquake wave propagation… Avoid general terms such as Hydrology, Ecology, and Geology. ) 12
Research Environment New section Do not include: • A lot of detail • Project lists Very high-level summary • Accomplishments or impacts n Scope of research • Awards or recognition n Primary collaborators • Amounts of funding n Major sources of funding Consider this an abstract to your position 13
Factor Narrative Statements Tell your professional story to the panel q Allows you to directly address each of the four factors q Highlight significant aspects q Describe your complexity of assignment, originality, stature, impact, role, etc. q Be familiar with OPM Guide and ST Checklist criteria q Avoid writing to the criteria or specific levels q Statements will need to be substantiated in the Supporting Information section and in discussions with references 14
Factor I: Research Assignment Focus on: n Scope and complexity n General types of methods used n Importance of expected results n Scientific leadership – team, supervisory, and administrative responsibilities Tips: • Keep to current assignment - since last promotion or ~last 5 years • Discuss the norm of the assignments rather than atypical projects • Don’t include specific accomplishments in this section 15
Factor II: Supervisory Controls Focus on: n Degree of personal responsibility n Authority to act independently n Level of approval required n Technical supervision required n Leadership given to field or agency Tips: • Keep to current assignment - since last promotion or ~last 5 years • Don’t include supervision that you provide • Supervision can come from sources other than direct supervisor 16
Factor III: Guidelines and Originality Focus on: Tips: • Keep to current assignment - since last promotion or ~last 5 years Originality required • Explain how your work is original Demonstrated originality • Specific examples are highly useful to panels n Existing knowledge available n n 17
Factor IV: Contributions, Impact, Stature Focus on: n Scientific contributions – publications, datasets, tools, patents, code, presentations, testimony, strategic planning, special assignments… n Impact - society, agency, and science n Stature and standing – invitations, elected positions, awards, recognitions, selection to lead teams… Tips: • Can include your entire career • Recency is important to receive full credit • Discuss how your work is: • Changing the way people think or act • Advancing scientific understanding • Advancing the USGS and DOI Mission • Protecting and advancing the health, safety, economic vitality, or ecological integrity of society 18
Focus on Impacts n Former tendency to over-rely on numbers of publications and reputation of outlets n Panels now to consider all the scoring criteria, not just publications n Panels consider both impact and outputs 19
Three Significant Contributions Should help panel assess your recent impact and major career achievements q n n n May be publications, patents, datasets, scientific tools, code, presentations, testimony, strategic planning, and special assignments. Avoid in-press publications (impact is uncertain) Background, Role, Results, Impact Use concise, plain language OK to include pre-USGS publications Submit THREE SPECIFIC contributions 20
Narrative Length Limits Res. Env. : 2, 500 characters (~3/4 page) Factor 1: 7, 000 characters (~2 pages) Factor 2: 3, 500 characters (~1 page) Factor 3: 7, 000 characters (~2 pages) Factor 4: 14, 000 characters (~4 pages) Contributions: 10, 500 characters (~3 pages) Total: 44, 500 characters (~12 -13 pages) Including spaces n These are LIMITS, not targets n 21
Supporting Information (slide 1) A. Current and Recent Projects: a list; not long descriptions B. Bibliography include data releases, see guidance C. Presentations Invited or noteworthy (entire career) Contributed presentations (last 10 years) D. Professional and Scientific Service E. Academic Service F. Technical Training Provided 22
Supporting Information (slide 2) G. Awards and Recognition H. Special Assignments I. Inventions and Patents J. Outreach and Media Coverage K. Previous Professional Positions L. Education 23
External Impact Statements n Option to supplement the perspectives provided to panels n May be provided by external (non-USGS) scientists, collaborators, resource managers, policy makers, etc. Focus on relevance and impact q Provide specific examples q Avoid general statements of support or positions that a promotion is warranted q n See guidance document on RGE website 24
References n Supervisor (required) n Center Director (required) n List at least 6 people familiar with your research and note their professional relationship to you. n Panelists will be asked to contact at minimum CD, supervisor, and two additional • Consider including collaborators, cooperators, partners and people who have been impacted by your work. • It is recommended that you contact your references prior to listing them. You may choose to share your documentation with them. • Remember that panelists may contact people other than your references. 25
Approval Sheet and Signature Your supervisor AND center director will review your Scientist Record and verify n Accuracy n Use of clear language n Section length limits n Use of IPDS numbers n BAO approval dates 26
Ready to submit? n When package is complete Email to submit_rge-edge@usgs. gov q You will receive confirmation of receipt q n Submit all files in a single email, if possible Break into multiple emails if needed q Contact us for extreme file size issues q n Use rge-edge@usgs. gov for general questions 27
Resources usgs. gov/rge-edge n n n OPM’s RGE Guide and ST checklist Training materials (these slides) Current Scientist Record templates w/ guidance Approval Sheet Guidance for package submission via email Guidance for External Impact Statements 28
Contacts n RGE Coordinators Cara Campbell ccampbell@usgs. gov q Steve Hilburger shilburger@usgs. gov q n Shared RGE mailbox rge-edge@usgs. gov n Human Resources related to RGE q Tamara Lamb-Ghenee tlamb-ghenee@usgs. gov 29
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