Exam Bulletin - Research Scientist

State of California

Exam Code: EX-4860

Examination Plans Included:

  • RESEARCH SCIENTIST - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

RESEARCH SCIENTIST : $7,625.00 - $9,799.00 per Month

View the RESEARCH SCIENTIST classification specification.

Application Instructions

This is not a timed exam. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the exam until the request is processed.

A Scientific Specialty may be selected in the Work Type Preferences on the Optional Conditions of Employment Selections section found in the exam application's "Application Package" tab. The selected Scientific Specialty indicates the types of experience and educational background you have obtained.

To view detailed descriptions of the specialties, please refer to the Classification Specification link provided above.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • RESEARCH SCIENTIST - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

    4860

For RESEARCH SCIENTIST , once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-04860

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

00105582 - RESEARCH SCIENTIST

Education: The required degree must be in one of the specified scientific specialties or closely related field obtained from an accredited United States college/university or from a foreign institution that is officially recognized by the appropriate national education authority as reflected in the International Handbook of Universities or a comparable reference. If recognition cannot be confirmed, the degree must be evaluated for equivalency to accreditation through a foreign credential evaluation service recognized by the California Department of Education, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, or a similar authority.

A “closely related field” refers to a scientific specialty that significantly overlaps in subject matter, methodologies, and principles with one of the scientific specialties listed above. It typically involves comparable coursework, research techniques, and professional applications. Appointing authorities should determine whether a field qualifies as “closely related”, based on factors such as the relevance of the knowledge, skills, and abilities obtained, the degree of similarity in methodologies, and the applicability of the experience to the specialty. An analysis of coursework may be required to make a determination if the degree is in a closely related field.

Click here to view approved closely related specialities.

Minimum Qualifications

Possession of a bachelor’s or graduate degree in any of the above stated scientific specialties or closely related specialty.

Registration as a senior student in a recognized institution will admit applicants to the examination, but they must produce evidence of successful completion of the curriculum and the prescribed degree before they may be considered eligible for appointment.

 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

FDA-Related Positions:
For Positions involved in conducting inspections and collecting samples under contract to United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), operating under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act or reviewing confidential FDA investigative and other non-public information, the candidate must meet the requirements to be commissioned by the FDA which may include a background check prior to appointment.

Veterinary-Related Positions:
Positions involving the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery, or any branch thereof, will require a valid license issued by the Board of Examiners in Veterinary Medicine for the State of California to practice as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine prior to appointment.

Clinical Laboratory Positions:
For positions involving testing that is regulated by the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA), the incumbent must meet the education, experience, certification, or licensing requirements specific to applicable essential job functions.

Federal Select Agent Program Positions:
Positions that are involved with testing of pathogens, toxins, or chemicals regulated by the Federal Select Agent Program will require a background check and compliance with the California Department of Public Health Select Agent Personnel Suitability Assessment Program.

Position Description

00105582 - RESEARCH SCIENTIST

This is the entry through first journey level in the series. Under supervision, incumbents plan, organize, and carry out scientific research studies of limited scientific scope and complexity; may serve as a team member on projects and investigations or act as a 5 technical scientific consultant on a specific phase of a more complex scientific study; make independent decisions in a very limited or restricted area of a specific scientific specialty; solve problems using standard principles, procedures, and techniques for their scientific area of expertise, and perform other related work.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1Online ExamContinuous100%

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
  1. Current scientific research literature and trends applicable to the scientific research area
  2. Principles and procedures of scientific research and investigation planning, design, methodology and analysis
  3. Methods of preparation of scientific research reports
  4. Scientific and statistical methods and procedures
  5. Data processing techniques
  6. Bibliographic survey or previous related scientific research techniques
  7. Determination and qualification of variables and mechanization of compilation of scientific data
Ability to:
  1. Evaluate the adequacy of proposed scientific research and investigation designs and techniques
  2. Think independently and creatively
  3. Establish and maintain cooperative relations with professional staff and with officials of Federal, State, local, university and private research organizations
  4. Communicate effectively, prepare scientific articles for publication
  5. Prepare scientific reports
  6. Provide persuasive and skilled guidance to other staff in scientific research, principles and methods
  7. Apply professional scientific knowledge and administrative ability to resolve a variety of situations
  8. Analyze situations accurately and take effective action
  9. Participate as a team member on research or scientific investigation projects
  10. Make independent decisions in a very limited area of a scientific specialty
  11. Provide information to higher-level scientists in support of decisions on scientific research
  12. Interpret scientific findings and present to higher-level scientists
  13. Apply established guidelines and scientific techniques
  14. Lead small scientific projects

Eligible List Information

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the RESEARCH SCIENTIST Classification will be established for:

  • State of California

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Research Scientist Training and Experience Evaluation Preview

  • “Length of Experience”

  • Candidate will indicate the length of experience they have at performing the task. 


  • “Level of Skill”

  • Candidate will indicate the type of skill they have while performing the task.


Tasks:
  1. Planning and organizing scientific research studies of limited scientific scope and complexity.
  2. Carrying out scientific research of limited scientific scope and complexity.
  3. Serving as a team member on health related projects and investigations on a specific phase of a more complex scientific study.
  4. Acting as a technical scientific consultant on health projects and investigations on a specific phase of a more complex scientific study.
  5. Making independent decisions in a very limited or restricted area of a specific scientific field.
  6. Solving problems using standard principles, procedures, and techniques for their scientific area of expertise when fully trained.
  7. Collecting scientific data in support of health research.
  8. Interpreting scientific data in support of health research.
  9. Developing and maintaining a current understanding of latest scientific methods and statistical techniques relevant for the type of studies undertaken.
  10. Accumulating and maintaining scientific literature relevant to scientific investigations and statistical methods.
  11. Presenting findings at internal and external agency meetings and conferences.
  12. Contacting other parties when necessary for retrieving data for study purposes.
  13. Applying principles and procedures of scientific research, planning design, methodology, and analysis.
  14. Using methods of preparation of scientific research reports.
  15. Determining, qualifying, and compiling variables of scientific data.
  16. Using current scientific statistical methods and procedures, including both qualitative and quantitative.
  17. Using data processing and analysis techniques, specifically knowledge of data analysis software in addition to Microsoft Excel.
  18. Establishing and maintaining cooperative relationships with professional staff and with officials of Federal, State, local university, and private research organizations.
  19. Communicating effectively, both verbally and in writing, to peer, management, and lay audiences.
  20. Preparing and drafting detailed scientific reports for publication.
  21. Applying professional scientific knowledge and administrative ability to resolve a variety of situations.
  22. Analyzing situations accurately and taking effective action.
  23. Providing information to higher level scientist in support of decisions on scientific research.
  24. Interpreting scientific findings and presenting to higher-level scientist.
  25. Applying established guidelines and scientific techniques.
  26. Applying security and privacy polices when using confidential and sensitive data.

Testing Departments

  • State of California

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

State of California
CalCareer Service Center
1810 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@calhr.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

State of California reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.
Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)