This position is located in the Crops Pathology/Genetics Research Unit for the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), in Davis, CA. In this position, you will participate in one or more phases of the research process by performing a variety of complex technical duties, in a laboratory, field, or greenhouse 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 10 years.

Duties

Maintains inventory of chemicals, prepares solutions and reagents for use in the laboratory. Keeps detailed records of experimental data. Collects, grows, or preserves bacterial isolates. Adapts, modifies, or develops new techniques or procedures to satisfy the needs of a microbiology, molecular biology, or crop disease research project. Performs routine and recurring scientific techniques using a variety of specialized equipment. Maintains, calibrates, and modifies complex/specialized equipment and automated systems used for test and evaluation procedures.

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

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-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 perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience participating in one or more phases of a research project related to plants; keeping detailed records of experimental research data; and operating and maintaining scientific laboratory or field equipment. OR Education: 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 Genetics, Biochemistry, Plant Biology, Biotechnology, Microbiology, or Molecular Biology. OR A combination of graduate-level education and specialized 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 perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience participating in a research project related to plant pathology; isolating DNA and RNA from microbes and plants; utilizing microscopic techniques for plant related research; and performing genetic analysis on plants. OR Education: Two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include Genetics, Biochemistry, Plant Biology, Biotechnology, Microbiology, or Molecular Biology. OR A combination of graduate-level education and specialized 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 perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience conducting a research project related to genome editing of plants or plant pathogenic fungi/oomycetes; isolating DNA and RNA from microbes and plants; performing qRT-PCR techniques to detect and quantify RNA; and performing genetic analysis on plants. OR Education: Two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include Genetics, Biochemistry, Plant Biology, Biotechnology, Microbiology, or Molecular Biology. 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.

Contacts

• Address Agricultural Research Service 800 Buchanan Street Albany, CA 94710 US
• Name: Sydney Teague
• Phone: 703-259-9455
• Email: [email protected]