This position is located in the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Biological Control of Pest Research Unit, located in Stoneville, Mississippi. In this position, you will be participating in all phases of the research process regarding insects, fungi or row crops.

Duties

Collects, prepares, evaluates and verifies insect, fungi or row crop samples and supporting records. Maintains, calibrates and modifies complex/specialized equipment and automated systems used for test and evaluation procedures. Prepares and inoculates media with fungal pests of row crops. Keeps detailed records of experimental data. Tabulates, statistically analyzes and summarizes data using personal computers and software packages.

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 https://www.e-verify.gov/
• Training Activities - Career Intern, Student Career Experience Program.
• Motor Vehicle or Commercial Driver's License Required.
• Pesticide Applicator's License Required.
• Work outside in the fields in the heat.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Time in grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. GS-07 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-07 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-06 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 collecting, preparing, or evaluating fungal, insect, or agricultural samples; raising crops in a field or greenhouse; maintaining scientific records; and operating or maintaining scientific and agricultural equipment. OR Education: Successful completion of one full year of study leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree. Related degrees may include chemistry, plant science, agricultural science, biology, and physics. OR A combination of education and specialized experience as described above. GS-08 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-08 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-07 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 assisting in one or more phases of a research project related to fungi, insects, or row crops; planting, raising, or harvesting crops as they grow in the field or greenhouse; preparing an inventory of chemical samples; and performing the full range of techniques and studies using a variety of specialized equipment in a laboratory setting. OR Education: Successful completion of two full years of graduate level education or a Master's degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include chemistry, plant science, agricultural science, biology, and physics. OR A combination of education and specialized experience as described above. GS-09 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-09 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-08 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 participating in a research project related to insect, fungi, or row crop chemistry, chemical treatments, and their associated residues; interpreting and documenting experimental findings; tabulating or statistically analyzing data; recording and analyzing scientific data for inclusion in scientific manuscripts or technical reports; and supervising and training interns and summer workers in the field in laboratory. OR Education: Successful completion of two full years of graduate level education or a Master's degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include chemistry, plant science, agricultural science, biology, and physics. OR A combination of education and specialized 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

If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, official transcripts will be required prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

Contacts

• Address Agricultural Research Service 141 Experimental Station Road Stoneville, MS 38776 US
• Name: Tamicka Johnson
• Phone: (703) 259-9323
• Email: [email protected]