This position is located in the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center Plant Physiology & Genetics Research Unit, Maricopa, AZ. In this position, you will provide leadership in planning and conducting plant breeding and applied genetics research toward the development of improved cotton germplasm for semi-arid and arid regions.

Duties

Develop and evaluate improved cotton germplasm with adaptation to abiotic stresses (mainly drought and heat), and improved fiber yield and quality for sustainable agricultural production systems, with major focus on semi-arid and arid regions. Determine the physiological, biochemical, and molecular factors limiting cotton productivity and responses to abiotic stresses that can be targeted for cotton genetic improvement. Identify genes, alleles, and/or candidate genes controlling adaptation to abiotic stresses and other yield and quality traits in cotton, develop and validate molecular markers associated with these alleles/genes. Develop improved cotton germplasm using conventional and molecular breeding methodologies such as marker-assisted selection and genomic selection. Develop effective field-based, high throughput phenotyping platforms for use in genetic improvement of cotton.

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

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Basic Requirements for Genetics Series, 0440 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-12: Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service or possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or possess an equivalent combination of graduate level education and experience. Graduate education must be directly related to the work of the position and must have equipped applicants with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-12 level of this position are: Conducting genetic research related to plant breeding; and applying genomics-based approaches to plant genetics research projects. 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. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-13 level of this position are: Leading genetic research related to plant breeding that resulted in contributions that added to scientific and professional knowledge or support; publishing peer reviewed articles on plant breeding; and determining physiological, biochemical, and molecular factors related to cotton productivity and responses to abiotic stresses. 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. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-14 level of this position are: developing improved cotton germplasm using conventional and molecular breeding methodologies such as marker-assisted selection and genomic selection; developing effective field-based, high throughput phenotyping platforms for use in genetic improvement of cotton; identifying genes, alleles, or candidate genes controlling adaptation to abiotic stresses in cotton; and publishing peer reviewed articles on genetic improvement of cotton. GS-15: Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-15 level of this position are:developing and evaluating a broad range of diverse cotton populations to identify promising germplasm for genetic analysis; collaborating with government scientists and universities in ongoing research topics focused on application of high-throughput phenotyping platforms in cotton production identifying genes, alleles, or candidate genes controlling adaptation to abiotic stresses in cotton; publishing in scientific peer-reviewed journals related to genetic improvement of cotton; presenting at local, national, and international communities; and leading research programs objectives, and goals. 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. 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. 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 800 Buchanan Street Albany, CA 94710 US
• Name: Kendra Bledsoe
• Phone: 7032599425
• Email: [email protected]