This position is located within the Agricultural Research Service; Plains Area; Center for Agricultural Resources Research; Water Management & Systems Research; Fort Collins, Colorado. In this position, you will serves as a specialist in plant science in developing and coordinating research activities and experiment plans in the field and greenhouse. This is a term, time-limited appointment with an initial duration no less than 13 months and can be extended up to a total of 4 years.

Duties

Organizes experimental layouts and sampling in the field and greenhouse. Samples plants and soil to monitor plant response to water stress. Collects and analyze data on plant productivity, physiological responses, carbon and water fluxes and balances, nutrient cycling, and soil water dynamics. Develops and coordinates research activities and experiment plans in the field and greenhouse. Analyzes, interprets, and summarizes data related to crop growth, physiological responses, and water use. Collects, reviews and corrects, and analyzes data from data loggers, including implementations of data gap-filling techniques. Participates in bringing on-line new or automated technologies that enhance research objectives or increase efficiency of the lab. Trains research aides, interns and visiting scientists in the lab in the use of instrumentation or methods being developed or used.

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
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• 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/
• Must possess and maintain a valid state motor vehicle operators license for the type of vehicle(s) operated to perform the duties of this position.
• This will require the operation of a motor vehicle on both public and private roads during daylight hours and occasionally after dark.

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: Degree: botany or plant physiology; or a related scientific discipline that included at least 10 semester hours in plant physiology. Evaluation of Education: The 10-semester-hour requirement in plant physiology is specific. Course work is qualifying if it dealt with plant physiology, some phase of plant physiology, or methods and techniques applied in plant physiology work. Other course work in borderline areas should be evaluated on the basis of content. AND In addition to the basic requirements above, all applicants must also meet the following minimum qualification requirements: GS-11: Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-11 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-09 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience conducting a research experiment related to plants or crops; collecting and analyzing plant or crop data; operating and maintaining laboratory or greenhouse equipment; and training research aids or interns. OR Education: 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, if related. Related degrees may include plant science, botany, or plant physiology. OR A combination of Ph.D level education and experience as described above. 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.

Education

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

Contacts

• Address Agricultural Research Service 2150 Centre Avenue Building D, Suite 300 Fort Collins, CO 80526 US
• Name: Michelle Malott
• Email: [email protected]