This employee supports the Pacific Southwest Research Station, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry and will be located in Volcano or Hilo, HI. The employee performs a variety of professional entomology tasks. For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Tracy Johnson at [email protected]

Duties

Conduct field experiments to evaluate different insect trap designs, semio-chemical attractants for insect detection and monitoring, insect host preference, biocontrol, and/or efficacy of systemic insecticides for controlling forest insect pests Participate in laboratory bioassays to determine insecticide toxicity, insect attack densities, parasitism, feeding preferences and performance on different host species. Communicate and collaborate with university partners and Federal, State, and private land managers. Communicate with and direct the activities of technicians and seasonal employees during field assignments and laboratory research. Use computers and software to input, analyze, and manage research data. Follow basic safety practices to prevent injury to yourself or others. Use operational tools, strategies, or techniques for insect survey, evaluation, or control. Duties listed are at the full performance level.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• 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.
• The work involves considerable walking over rough and/or mountainous terrain, and cutting and lifting logs. Some work is performed in a laboratory or an office setting.
• Work in a forest environment includes exposure to weather conditions and risks associated with working with pesticides, chainsaws, drawknives, chisels, insecticide application equipment. Use of personal protective equipment is required.

Qualifications

Work Experience: Your resume must clearly document the following for each block of work experience; the month and year the work assignment started and ended; the hours worked per week; position title, and series and grade if applicable; and description of duties performed. Provide this for each permanent, temporary or seasonal appointment/work assignment or volunteer work experience and document each experience as a separate block of time. Incomplete, inaccurate or conflicting work history may not be credited for qualifications purposes. This can result in an applicant not being considered for the position. To qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide university course descriptions to clarify content of coursework as necessary. Basic Requirement: 0414 Entomology Series Degree: entomology; or a related discipline of the biological or physical sciences that included at least 16 semester hours in entomology. or Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major that included course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Evaluation of Education: Applicants with major fields of study in biology, zoology, or invertebrate zoology may fully meet the basic educational requirements if their academic preparation included substantive instruction (including appropriate laboratory and field work) in basic general entomology, taxonomy, physiology, ecology, general and organic chemistry, general physics, and mathematics or statistics that provided some training in the analysis of variables. In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below. Minimum Qualifications: For the GS-7 level: At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level. To meet the specialized experience requirements for this GS-7 position, your resume must demonstrate at least 3 of the following: Conducting entomology research projects related to insect management; Conducting laboratory bioassays or experiments related to entomology research; Assisting with data analysis and/or managing datasets; or Preparing written contributions and/or data visualization for scientific reports. OR one full year of graduate level education directly related to the work of the position, with coursework in entomology, forestry, plant pathology, wildlife biology, or a related discipline with coursework in entomology. OR a combination of specialized experience and graduate level education described above. OR Superior Academic Achievement (to determine if you are eligible, go to: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work For the GS-9 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level. To meet the specialized experience requirements for this GS-9 position, your resume must demonstrate at least 3 of the following: Developing, coordinating, and conducting Entomology research projects related to insect management Planning, organizing, and conducting laboratory bioassays or experiments related to Entomology research Conducting data analysis and/or managing datasets Preparing complete and comprehensive scientific reports OR a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related, in Entomology, Forestry, Plant Pathology, Wildlife Biology or a related discipline with coursework in Entomology. OR an appropriate combination of specialized experience and education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. 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, knowledge, and skills 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

See above for education that may be required or qualifying for this position.

Contacts

• Address USDA Forest Service HRM Contact Center DO NOT MAIL IN APPLICATIONS, SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT. Albuquerque, NM 87109 US
• Name: HRM Contact Center
• Phone: 1-877-372-7248 X2
• Email: [email protected]