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Physical Scientists, All Other

SOC 19-2099.00Job Zone 4 · Considerable PreparationSibling-inferredv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers applied physical and animal science practice across laboratory research, field extension, producer advisory, and organizational leadership contexts within Job Zone 4 occupations requiring a bachelor's degree and several years of relevant experience.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Nutritional requirements of common livestock species — identify and document under direct supervisor guidance using standard reference tables and laboratory protocols.
  2. Scientific literature on animal feed materials — read and summarize key findings using structured templates in an entry-level research support role.
  3. Basic feeding and housing protocols — follow established procedures under close oversight at a university or government research facility.
  4. Research data on animal health indicators — collect and record accurately using spreadsheet software under the direction of a senior scientist.
  5. Animal disease and parasite control guidelines — recognize and apply standard sanitation checklists in supervised field or laboratory settings.
  6. Preliminary research findings — assist in preparing written summaries and presentation slides using office suite and presentation software under review by lead researchers.
  7. Geographic information system tools — operate at a basic level to map animal production regions under structured task assignments.
  8. Database query software — retrieve and organize animal nutrition and production data sets as directed within an institutional research database.
  9. Scientific terminology and technical writing conventions — apply correctly when drafting entry-level reports reviewed by experienced physical scientists.
  10. Producer inquiries about animal feed products — respond to routine questions by referencing established guidelines under supervisor approval.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Nutritive values of diverse animal feed materials — evaluate using laboratory analysis and published databases with limited oversight in a research or extension setting.
  2. Research findings on animal nutrition and production — communicate in written reports and oral presentations to producer groups and scientific peers with moderate independence.
  3. Feeding and housing improvement practices — develop incremental recommendations based on current research data for producers operating in familiar production environments.
  4. Animal parasite and disease control protocols — adapt established sanitation and prevention strategies to address routine herd management challenges on commercial operations.
  5. Spreadsheet and statistical software — analyze animal production data sets to identify trends and draw evidence-based conclusions in a mid-level research role.
  6. Producer advisory sessions — conduct face-to-face consultations and field visits, translating research outcomes into practical husbandry recommendations.
  7. Scientific manuscripts and technical reports — draft and revise under periodic peer review for submission to extension bulletins or regional journals.
  8. CAD and GIS software — apply to model housing layouts or map regional production data in support of applied research projects.
  9. Complex problems in animal feed formulation — work through systematically using deductive reasoning and referencing current nutritional science literature.
  10. Cross-disciplinary research teams — contribute actively, sharing findings from biology, chemistry, and mathematics domains to support collaborative project goals.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Nutritional requirements and feed value research — design and execute comprehensive studies autonomously, spanning multiple species and production systems in field and laboratory environments.
  2. Non-routine animal disease and parasite challenges — diagnose contributing factors and develop evidence-based intervention strategies for producers facing novel herd health problems.
  3. Improved feeding, housing, and sanitation practices — formulate and validate new protocols by integrating experimental results, industry data, and biological principles across diverse production contexts.
  4. Research findings — communicate authoritatively to scientific conferences, industry associations, and public audiences through peer-reviewed publications and technical extension documents.
  5. Producer advisory programs — lead independently, assessing individual operation needs and tailoring science-based recommendations to improve animal production outcomes.
  6. Advanced database and GIS tools — leverage to integrate spatial, environmental, and nutritional data into multi-variable models that inform regional animal science policy.
  7. Critical gaps in animal nutrition science — identify through active literature synthesis and original experimental inquiry, generating new knowledge applicable to industry problems.
  8. Judgment in ambiguous research situations — exercise by weighing incomplete data, ethical considerations, and stakeholder impacts to reach well-reasoned scientific conclusions.
  9. Complex, multi-factorial animal production problems — resolve by applying inductive and deductive reasoning across chemistry, biology, and management knowledge domains.
  10. Technical training materials and extension resources — develop and deliver for producer groups and early-career scientists, translating specialized research into actionable guidance.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Organizational research agenda for animal nutrition and production science — set strategic direction by aligning multi-year study programs with industry needs, funding landscapes, and regulatory priorities.
  2. Institutional standards for communicating scientific findings — establish and model best practices across publications, media engagement, and stakeholder reporting at a national or organizational level.
  3. Novel animal production improvement frameworks — pioneer by synthesizing cross-disciplinary evidence from chemistry, biology, and management to drive sector-wide adoption of best practices.
  4. Senior scientists and research staff — mentor and develop, fostering intellectual curiosity, methodological rigor, and integrity across the full research team.
  5. External partnerships with producers, government agencies, and industry bodies — lead negotiations and collaborations that translate physical science research into measurable improvements in animal production systems.
  6. Policy recommendations on animal health, nutrition, and housing standards — author and advocate at regulatory and legislative forums, drawing on deep scientific expertise and organizational credibility.
  7. Large-scale research programs — oversee resource allocation, timeline management, and quality assurance using administration and management principles to deliver impactful outcomes on schedule.
  8. Emerging risks in animal disease, feed safety, and environmental sustainability — anticipate and respond to with organizational-level contingency strategies, guiding teams through complex, high-stakes decisions.
  9. Institutional use of advanced technologies — champion adoption of GIS, CAD modeling, and integrated database platforms to transform research capacity and data-driven decision-making organization-wide.
  10. Cross-sector knowledge exchange — lead by presenting authoritative research syntheses at international scientific forums and facilitating collaborative networks that elevate the field of physical and animal science.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Show O*NET source anchors38 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Inventor · Physical Scientist · Research Scientist · Wood Technologist
RAPIDS apprenticeships
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O*NET skills
Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningCritical ThinkingSpeakingWritingComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingActive Learning
Knowledge domains
English LanguageMathematicsComputers and ElectronicsEducation and TrainingBiologyAdministration and ManagementCustomer and Personal ServiceChemistry
Abilities
Written ComprehensionOral ComprehensionOral ExpressionWritten ExpressionInductive ReasoningDeductive Reasoning
Work styles
Attention to DetailIntellectual CuriosityDependabilityIntegrityAchievement OrientationCautiousness
Technology
Computer aided design CAD softwareGeographic information systemData base user interface and query softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwarePresentation software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Study nutritional requirements of animals and nutritive values of animal feed materials.
  2. Write up or orally communicate research findings to the scientific community, producers, and the public.
  3. Develop improved practices in feeding, housing, sanitation, or parasite and disease control of animals.
  4. Advise producers about improved products and techniques that could enhance their animal production efforts.
CIP education codes
30.180130.320140.9999

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.