This position is located on with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Cereal Crops Research Unit, Fargo, ND. In this position, you will assist a Research Geneticist (Plants) with wheat genetics and germplasm improvements.

Duties

Independently selects and carries out measurements and analyses by applying established or modified methods; performs difficult nonstandard tests and assays. Actively participates in the modification of existing methods of analysis or the development of new techniques in order to improve accuracy and efficiency, or to overcome difficulties in dealing with specific systems or genotypes. Writes periodic laboratory reports including discussion on experimental design, principle, procedure and results. Searches literature for principles and methods and selects the most appropriate for the research goals and fiscal resources. Performs a wide range of duties designed to solve complex plant genetic problems and develop wheat germplasm lines.

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/
• Motor Vehicle or Commercial Driver's License required.
• Special Physical Requirements/Demands (ability to lift 40 lbs).

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. Basic Requirement: Degree: genetics; or one of the basic biological sciences that included at least 9 semester hours in genetics. Graduate Education: Genetics, or a curriculum or pattern of training that placed major emphasis on genetics. Graduate study in related fields such as agronomy, horticulture, animal, dairy, or poultry husbandry, entomology, microbiology, plant pathology, chemistry, molecular and cellular biology, and physiology that involved cross-training in genetics is qualifying, provided it placed sufficient emphasis on genetics. Evaluation of Education: Most students in the field take graduate work because specific training in genetics may be limited at the undergraduate level. Under these circumstances, it may be necessary to evaluate undergraduate course work in genetics in one of two ways, as described below, to determine whether or not it is qualifying. Courses dealing with genetics, some phase of genetics, or specific techniques that are applied in genetics work are acceptable. This includes courses in genetics, plant or animal genetics, molecular and cellular biology, mathematics, and statistics (as they apply to genetics), population dynamics, and certain techniques such as those dealing with irradiation. Course work consisting of an appropriate combination of basic courses in genetics and cytology, or statistics are also acceptable. Additional Requirements In addition to meeting the basic requirements described above, applicants must also meet additional qualification requirements as stated below. GS-9: 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-07 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience collecting and evaluating samples related to plant genetics; recording and analyzing scientific data; and preparing scientific information to be included in manuscripts or preparing reports. OR Education: Completion of two years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include genetics, agronomy, horticulture, entomology, microbiology, plant pathology, chemistry, molecular or cellular biology, or physiology. OR A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as described above. 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 successfully perform the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience performing experiments to provide answers for specific research problems related to grain health; performing plant genetic experiments to phenotype for various complex traits, including disease, agronomic, and insects in wheat; collecting and evaluating samples; and recording and analyzing scientific data. OR Education: Completion of three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include genetics, agronomy, horticulture, entomology, microbiology, plant pathology, chemistry, molecular or cellular biology, or physiology. OR A combination of graduate level 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

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: Ehila Melton
• Phone: 5716694043
• Email: [email protected]