This position is located with the Agricultural Research Service, Field Location, Fruit and Nut Research in Byron, GA. In this position, you will implement experiments and laboratory protocols in the entomology/plant pathology biopesticide program.

Duties

Implement experiments focused on improving entomopathogen/microbial strains, production, formulation and application techniques. Develop new production systems in vivo and in vitro (fermentation). Investigate new formulations that enhance the survival and persistence of biopesticides agents. Interact with other members of the laboratory (students, postdoctoral scholars, technicians), other scientists including Horticulturists, and stakeholders.

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

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. Time in grade: Applicants must have one year at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade (e.g. one year at the GS-9 grade level for consideration for the GS-11 grade level). Basic Requirements for the Entomology Series 0414 Degree: entomology; or a related discipline of the biological or physical sciences that included at least 16 semester hours in entomology. OR Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major that included course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Evaluation of Education: Applicants with major fields of study in biology, zoology, or invertebrate zoology may fully meet the basic educational requirements if their academic preparation included substantive instruction (including appropriate laboratory and field work) in basic general entomology, taxonomy, physiology, ecology, general and organic chemistry, general physics, and mathematics or statistics that provided some training in the analysis of variables. Basic Requirements for the Plant Pathology Series 0434 Degree: plant pathology; or a related scientific discipline that included at least 20 semester hours in basic botany or plant science, and 10 semester hours in plant pathology. Graduate Education: must have been in plant pathology, or in one of the recognized subject-matter fields of plant pathology, or have followed a curriculum or pattern of training that placed major emphasis on plant pathology or one of the recognized subject-matter fields of plant pathology, such as those dealing with particular types of pathogens, diseases of particular kinds of crops, or chemical or biological controls. Graduate study in related fields such as microbiology, entomology, plant physiology, genetics, agronomy, horticulture, forestry, or chemistry may also be qualifying, provided it placed a sufficient amount of emphasis on plant pathology. Evaluation of Education: courses in botany, plant physiology, plant taxonomy, plant pathology, agronomy, forestry, horticulture, or similar subjects may be used to meet the 20-semester-hour requirement in basic botany or plant science. To meet the specific 10-semester-hour requirement in plant pathology, the courses must have been in plant pathology, or have dealt with specific subject matter areas of plant pathology such as those concerned with viruses, fungal or bacterial diseases, host-plant relationships, biotic or chemical controls, environmental or physiological diseases, parasitic diseases, etc. AND 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: GS-09 Qualifying experience for GS-09 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-7 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 using molecular techniques to identify entomopathogens or study their biology and ecology; production including fermentation approaches and formulation of microbial biopesticides including fermentation techniques and operating and maintaining scientific equipment or performing scientific techniques. OR Education: Two years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree. Related degrees may include Entomology, Biology, Molecular Biology, Plant Pathology, and Biotechnology or any other related degree provided the coursework places an emphasis on insects. OR A combination of education and specialized experience which meets the total requirement for this occupation and grade. GS-11: Qualifying experience for GS-11 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-9 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 in farm-scale application of microbial biopesticides (such as those based on entomopathogenic nematodes, fungi and bacteria) to control insect pests and plant diseases; extraction and application of microbial metabolites for use against plant diseases or insect pests and preparing results of research findings for inclusion in manuscripts, reports or presentations at scientific meetings. OR Education: Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, if related. Related degrees may include Entomology, Biology, Molecular Biology, Plant Pathology, and Biotechnology or any other related degree provided the coursework places an emphasis on insects. OR A combination of education and specialized experience which meets the total requirement for this occupation and grade. 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 141 Experimental Station Road Stoneville, MS 38776 US
• Name: Nelly Wilson
• Phone: (703) 259-9360
• Email: [email protected]