Support Scientist

ICF•Reston, VA

About The Position

ICF is seeking an experienced Support Scientist to provide scientific and technical leadership for federal research solicitations and rigorous peer-review activities. This senior, non-management role works with federal program officials, researchers, panel chairs, reviewers, and operational teams to ensure proposals are evaluated fairly, consistently, securely, and in accordance with established scientific and technical protocols. The position is contingent upon contract award. The Support Scientist applies scientific judgment throughout the review lifecycle so federal program officials receive credible technical evaluations, well-supported recommendations, and clear information for program decisions. The role is responsible for planning, organizing, performing, and delivering the technical aspects of solicitation and peer-review support for assigned tasks. Work includes identifying and recruiting qualified reviewers, administering mail and panel reviews, managing conflict-of-interest processes, advising government stakeholders on panel operations and technical results, and capturing technical actions arising from review decisions. Work may be performed at an ICF or other contractor facility, a rented facility, or a client site in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, depending on program needs. Domestic travel and on-site support for peer-review panels, workshops, scientific conferences, and program meetings may be required. No classified security clearance is required. The employee must successfully complete a federal background investigation and obtain and maintain a Personal Identity Verification credential for required facility and system access.

Requirements

Master's degree in a scientific or technical field relevant to NASA's scientific or technical areas.
At least 10 years of professional experience in a scientific or technical field relevant to NASA's scientific or technical areas.
Willingness and ability to travel domestically and provide on-site support for peer-review panels, workshops, scientific conferences, and program meetings when required.
Successfully complete a federal background investigation and obtain and maintain a Personal Identity Verification credential for required facility and system access.
Strong scientific and analytical judgment, with the ability to assess technical content and reviewer expertise across multidisciplinary research areas.
Ability to analyze, synthesize, and clearly communicate complex scientific or technical information, panel findings, and program status.
Clear and professional written and verbal communication with researchers, reviewers, panel chairs, federal program officials, and multidisciplinary delivery teams.
Ability to manage multiple deadlines, reviewer communities, and concurrent mail or panel reviews in a structured, fast-paced environment.
Strong facilitation and interpersonal skills, including the ability to support technical deliberations and resolve issues while preserving reviewer independence.
Sound judgment and discretion when applying scientific protocols and handling confidential, proprietary, conflict-of-interest, or pre-decisional information.

Nice To Haves

Doctorate in a scientific or technical field relevant to NASA's scientific or technical areas.
Experience supporting scientific merit review, mail reviews, reviewer recruitment, or complex multidisciplinary peer-review panels.
Experience with NASA or another federal organization that sponsors, evaluates, or manages scientific research and technology programs.
Experience using grants-management, proposal-processing, reviewer-management, peer-review, or virtual collaboration systems; familiarity with Grants.gov is a plus.
Experience with scientific portfolio analysis, active-grant tracking, research-program reporting, technical briefings, or research-community engagement.

Responsibilities

Plan, organize, perform, and support technical aspects of solicitation and peer-review activities throughout the lifecycle of assigned tasks.
Identify qualified candidates to serve as panel chairs, panelists, and reviewers based on the scientific and technical expertise required for each review.
Support recruitment and communication with panel and reviewer candidates endorsed by government program officials, including participation commitments and review expectations.
Document and maintain evaluation criteria and prepare scientific evaluation forms, instructions, and orientation materials for reviewers and panelists.
Administer mail reviews and other scientific or technical review activities, including reviewer assignments, technical submissions, reminders, and completion tracking.
Administer conflict-of-interest and nondisclosure processes, maintain required records, and promptly elevate potential or actual conflicts for government determination.
Advise government stakeholders on panel operations, progress, and technical results, and help ensure proceedings follow established scientific and technical protocols and policies.
Facilitate panel chairs and reviewers during technical deliberations, support conflict resolution, and assist with accurate panel summaries and technical evaluations.
Capture and compile technical actions arising from panel deliberations, review findings, and follow-up decisions for project and government program leadership.
Support science-program activities, including tracking active grants, developing briefing materials on program status, and representing program officials at scientific conferences or agency meetings when requested.
Protect proposal, reviewer, conflict-of-interest, panel-deliberation, and pre-decisional information while coordinating with project management, solicitation, logistics, data, and technology staff.