This position is located with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Pacific West Area (PWA), Crops Pathology and Genetics Research Unit in Davis, CA and will provide scientific field and laboratory support to the units Research Microbiologist.

Duties

Duties listed represent the full performance level of the position. Independently organizes and manages the design of field research in small fruits for improved plant health and productivity. Develops and implements methods to support field research. Maintain field research plots including establishment, irrigation, fertilization, pest/disease management, pruning, and yield data collection. Independently performs laboratory methods including isolation of pathogens, sterile technique for culturing fungi and bacteria, long-term storage of pathogens and DNA extraction. Collaborates and cooperates with stakeholders in on-farm research trials.

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/

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. All applicants must meet the basic requirement(s) identified below. Basic Requirements GS-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. In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement as stated above, applicants MUST also meet the following minimum qualification requirements: Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled and which provided the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position. GS-09: Experience: The qualification requirements for this position at the GS-09 grade level includes one-year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level, or its non-Federal equivalent participating in research experiments involving plant pathology or tree crops; operating and maintaining laboratory equipment; preparing reports for presentation of experiment results; and documenting scientific data. OR Education: 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in a related field. Example(s) of a related fields include microbiology, entomology, molecular biology, plant physiology or horticulture, provided it placed an emphasis on plant pathology. OR A qualifying combination of graduate education and experience as described above. GS-11: Experience: The qualification requirements for this position at the GS-11 grade level includes one-year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level, or its non-Federal equivalent assisting with research experiments involving plant pathology or tree crops and performing the following duties related to that research; ordering, operating and maintaining laboratory equipment, supplies and chemicals; preparing reports and documenting scientific data in a form suitable for oral presentations to stakeholders. OR Education: 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. Example(s) of qualifying academic disciplines include, microbiology, entomology, molecular biology, plant physiology or horticulture, provided it placed a sufficient amount of emphasis on plant pathology. OR A qualifying combination of graduate education and experience as described above. Below information applies to both grade levels of the position: Physical Demands: Physical demands depend on the particular task. Field work requires time spent standing, walking, and bending in and around plants. Cold storage research requires time spent in the cold environment. Laboratory tasks are usually repetitive in nature and may require incumbent to remain at a work station for extended periods of time. The incumbent may be occasionally required to lift items 40 lbs. or more. Work Environment: Work is performed primarily in the laboratory of the Supervisory Research Microbiologist and at times, intermittent in the field to apply preharvest treatments, collect samples and assist in harvest for yield measurements. Incumbent also will conduct research in the cold storage facility. Adequate safety training and personal protection are provided. 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 800 Buchanan Street Albany, CA 94710 US
• Name: Melissa Smith
• Phone: 510-559-6312
• Email: [email protected]