This position is with the Livestock, Forage, and Pasture Management Research Unit at the Oklahoma and Central Plains Agricultural Research Center, El Reno, OK. Research scientists have open-ended promotion potential. Research accomplishments and their impact are evaluated periodically. The grade level is limited only by the individual's demonstrated ability to perform research of recognized importance to science and technology. *Final grade level may be determined by a peer review panel.

Duties

Perform research to broaden the understanding of soil-plant-ecosystem level water dynamics, energy/carbon/water balances, and associated linkages to forage and livestock production and management practices; Collaborate and communicate environmentally and economically sustainable forage and livestock production practices with individuals, government officials, scientific and academic communities, scientific organizations, and groups; Collect, analyze, and summarize technical information pertaining to forage and livestock production with an emphasis on using remote sensing and eddy-covariance data; Prepare written work products based on research to be reviewed and/or published in professional articles, publications, and technical abstracts.

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

The mission of the Unit is to develop and transfer environmentally and economically sustainable forage and livestock production practices based in fundamental ecological principles and realized through improved technologies, management strategies, strategic and tactical planning tools, and improved plant germplasm for integrated crop, pasture, and livestock systems under variable climate, energy and market conditions. As a member of a multi-disciplinary team, incumbent develops knowledge and guidelines for grazing-based livestock production systems. Specifically, the incumbent seeks to broaden the understanding of soil-plant-ecosystem level water dynamics, energy/carbon/water balances, and associated linkages to livestock production related to climatic variability and extremes, and management practices. This Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Transcripts are required to determine if you meet the education requirement. Minimum qualification requirements are found in the OPM Qualification Standards Operating Manual for General Schedule Positions. Basic Requirements Plant Physiology (0435) - Degree in 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. Agronomy (0471) - Degree in agronomy or related discipline of science that included at least 30 semester hours of course work in the basic plant sciences, including at least 15 semester hours in agronomic subjects, such as those dealing with plant breeding, crop production, and soil and crop management OR Combination of education and experience: at least 30 semester hours in the basic plant sciences, including a minimum of 15 semester hours in agronomic subjects, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Graduate Education: Agronomy, or one of the related disciplines or fields of science, such as plant physiology, soils, or genetics, where the curriculum or pattern of training placed major emphasis on field crops or agronomy. Graduate study in related fields, such as botany, plant pathology, and biochemistry may also be qualifying, provided it placed a sufficient amount of emphasis on agronomy. Evaluation of Education: Course work in such subjects as botany, plant taxonomy, plant physiology, plant breeding or genetics, plant ecology, plant pathology, microbiology, agronomy, or those dealing with basic soil-water-plant relationships of an agronomic or ecologic nature may be used to meet the 30-semester-hour requirement in the basic plant sciences. Agronomy courses include agronomy, fieldcrops, field crop production or management, soil and crop management, plant breeding and development, weed control, and similar courses, including those in soils, biochemistry, plant physiology, etc., provided they dealt with principles, methods, or procedures that are applied directly in agronomic work and in the solving of agronomic problems. Specialized Experience In addition to meeting the basic requirements described above, applicants must also meet additional qualification requirements for each grade as stated below: 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. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-13 level of this position are: Research experience with eddy-covariance (EC) equipment deployed in forage and livestock production systems and integration of these EC data with remote sensing; Producing publications as the primary author that are of interest and value to the field of research; Conceiving and formulating research ideas that support or produce studies by others; Developing products in the identified field of research that solve important scientific problems; Being invited to present information to professional societies within and outside of the organization on technical matters and practices in the area of specialization. GS-14: Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-14 level of this position are: Producing publications as the primary author for those that impact the advancement of the field or are viewed as authoritative; Conceiving and formulating research ideas that advance the field of science or is used as a reference by other scientists; Experience participating in Symposia that define the state of the discipline or introduce new areas in the field; 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 2150 Centre Avenue Building D, Suite 300 Fort Collins, CO 80526 US
• Name: Kent Amott
• Phone: 970-492-7037
• Email: [email protected]