This position is located within the Agricultural Research Service; Southeast Area; Egg & Poultry Production Safety Research Unit, Athens, GA. In this position, you will lead efforts regarding shell egg processing to enhance product safety, collaborate with other scientists on the project allowing for holistic data, and determine the product safety and quality consequences of handling and sanitizing practices applied to eggs during processing.

Duties

Collaborating with other scientists on the project allowing for holistic data from ‘farm to fork’ to be generated. Determining the product safety and quality consequences of handling and sanitizing practices applied to eggs during processing. Identifying and assessing effective shell egg cleaning compounds for use by small and backyard egg producers, as well as by large commercial enterprises. Determining the effectiveness of various compounds in the sanitation of shell egg processing equipment and processing facility surfaces. Ascertaining the most appropriate egg handling practices to protect consumer product safety and quality when hens are reared in commercial cage-free housing systems.

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 Food Technology, Series 1382 Degree: food technology, or dairy technology, microbiology, biology, chemistry, physics, or a related discipline or field of biological or physical science. The course work must have been comprised of at least 30 semester hours in the basic biological and physical sciences, and included at least 20 semester hours in food technology and closely related subjects, or 20 semester hours in subjects that can be applied directly to food technology. OR Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major, including the course work specified, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. 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: independently conducting research in the area of food technology, with a focus on determining the product safety and quality consequences of handling and sanitizing practices applied to eggs during processing; identifying and assessing effective shell egg cleaning compounds; assessing the effects of poultry management and housing systems applied during egg production on the efficacy of microbial decontamination during egg processing; and publishing research results in peer reviewed journals related to poultry science, animal science, food technology, or food science. 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 141 Experimental Station Road Stoneville, MS 38776 US
• Name: Kendra Bledsoe
• Phone: 7032599425
• Email: [email protected]