This position is located in the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Foreign Disease Weed Science Research Unit in Frederick, Maryland. In this position, you will actively participate in the maintenance and care of plants and insects in a greenhouse or laboratory environment. This is a term, time-limited appointment with an initial duration no less than 13 months and can be extended up to a total of 4 years.

Duties

Perform routine and recurring techniques and studies using a variety of specialized equipment. Maintain plants and insect colonies in growth chambers and greenhouses according to established procedures. Keep detailed record of experimental data. Adapt, modify or develop new techniques or procedures for plant and insect colony maintenance and research to satisfy the needs of the research project. Independently initiate action to resolve or correct technical difficulties. Determine the frequency and kind of tests or observations to be made, and the amount of data to be recorded.

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 trial period.
• 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/
• Drug test required.
• Position is located in a Biocontainment Facility. Incumbent escorts visitors in the laboratory area and/or works with high consequence pathogens.

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. GS-05: 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-05 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-04 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 includes experience assisting in experiments in a greenhouse or laboratory setting; and operating common laboratory equipment. OR Education: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study above the high school level leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, microbiology, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours of courses must have been directly related to the position being filled. Related degrees may include Plant Biology, Entomology, Botany, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, or Agricultural Science. OR A combination of graduate level education and experience as described above. GS-06: 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-06 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-05 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 includes experience maintaining or evaluating insect or plant samples; keeping detailed records of experimental data; and performing routine and recurring techniques using a variety of specialized equipment. OR Education: Successful completion of one full year of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related. Related degrees may include Plant Biology, Entomology, Botany, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, or Agricultural Science. OR A combination of graduate level education and experience as described above. GS-07: 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-07 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-06 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 includes experience participating in a research project involving plants or insects; maintaining and analyzing plant or insect samples; statistically analyzing or summarizing data; and maintaining equipment and automated systems used for test or evaluation procedures. OR Education: Successful completion of one full year of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related. Related degrees may include Plant Biology, Entomology, Botany, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, or Agricultural Science. OR A combination of graduate level education and experience as described above. GS-08: 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-08 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 includes experience participating in one or more phases of a research process related to plants or insects; maintaining and analyzing plant or insect samples; and operating, maintaining, calibrating, or modifying specialized equipment. OR Education: Successful completion of two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related. Related degrees may include Plant Biology, Entomology, Botany, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, or Agricultural Science. OR A combination of graduate level education and experience as described above. GS-09: 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-08 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 includes experience setting up and conducting an experiment or research project related to plants or insects; maintaining, preparing, and evaluating plant or insect samples; and contributing to the planning of various steps in a project by independently developing new procedures or methods related to plants or insects. OR Education: Successful completion of two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related. Related degrees may include Plant Biology, Entomology, Botany, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, or Agricultural Science. OR A combination of graduate level education and 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 10300 Baltimore Avenue Beltsville, MD 20705 US
• Name: Kayleigh Pfeiffer
• Phone: 703-995-9645
• Email: [email protected]