This position is located in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Soybean Genomic and Improvement Laboratory, located in Beltsville, MD. In this position, you will conduct research to enhance agricultural productivity, reduce production costs and pesticide use, and ensure a sustainable supply of food.

Duties

Broaden the genetic base of common bean and concurrently decrease the vulnerability of this crop to highly variable pathogens that cause economically damaging diseases, including, but not limited to rust, anthracnose and angular leaf spot. Conduct research to enhance agricultural productivity, reduce production costs and pesticide use, and ensure a sustainable supply of food. Initiate all phases of research including collaborative research with other scientists within USDA and from academic and industrial groups in the United States and other nations. Conceive plans, conduct personal and team research, and analyze, interpret, and report research findings; prepare annual reports; and ensure that human, fiscal, and physical resources assigned to project are utilized as planned.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/
• Successful completion of a three year probationary period.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Basic Requirements for Plant Pathology Series, 0434 Degree: plant pathology; or a related scientific discipline that included at least 20 semester hours in basic botany or plant science, and 10 semester hours in plant pathology. Graduate Education: must have been in plant pathology, or in one of the recognized subject-matter fields of plant pathology, or have followed a curriculum or pattern of training that placed major emphasis on plant pathology or one of the recognized subject-matter fields of plant pathology, such as those dealing with particular types of pathogens, diseases of particular kinds of crops, or chemical or biological controls. Graduate study in related fields such as microbiology, entomology, plant physiology, genetics, agronomy, horticulture, forestry, or chemistry may also be qualifying, provided it placed a sufficient amount of emphasis on plant pathology. Evaluation of Education: courses in botany, plant physiology, plant taxonomy, plant pathology, agronomy, forestry, horticulture, or similar subjects may be used to meet the 20-semester-hour requirement in basic botany or plant science. To meet the specific 10-semester-hour requirement in plant pathology, the courses must have been in plant pathology, or have dealt with specific subject matter areas of plant pathology such as those concerned with viruses, fungal or bacterial diseases, host-plant relationships, biotic or chemical controls, environmental or physiological diseases, parasitic diseases, etc. Additional Requirements In addition to meeting the basic requirements described above, applicants must also meet additional qualification requirements as stated below. GS-12 Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service or possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or possess an equivalent combination of graduate level education and experience. Graduate education must be directly related to the work of the position and must have equipped applicants with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-12 level of this position are: Conducting research related to plant pathogens including defining research problems and developing research plans; collecting and evaluating experimental data related to plant pathogens; using plant pathological, microbiological, or plant physiological techniques; and publishing original research in peer-reviewed scientific journals in plant pathology, molecular biology, genetics, genomics, or plant physiology. GS-13 Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-13 level of this position are: Conceiving, planning, and conducting independent and collaborative research related to plant pathogens including defining research problems and developing research plans; collecting and evaluating experimental data related to plant pathogens; evaluating and using plant pathological, molecular, biological, microbiological or plant physiological techniques; presenting research results at professional meetings, and publishing independent research findings in peer-reviewed journals in plant pathology, molecular biology, genetics, genomics, or plant physiology; and providing guidance to undergraduate students or technicians in accomplishing research objectives. 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. To further support your qualifications, it is strongly recommended that you submit a one-page abstract of your MS thesis and/or Ph.D. dissertation. Failure to do so could result in loss of your consideration/referral. Also, please submit a list of names, addresses, and phone numbers of persons familiar with your stature, contributions, recognition; any honors or awards received; memberships in professional or honor societies; invitations to make presentations at scientific/technical meetings; scientific society office and committee assignments; presentations (other than invitation); and publications. Applicants must be available to report for duty at the time a selection is made. Selections are typically made within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

Education

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

Contacts

• Address Agricultural Research Service 10300 Baltimore Avenue Beltsville, MD 20705 US
• Name: Matthew Knoche
• Phone: (571) 418-0373
• Email: [email protected]