Serves as Supervisory Research Plant Physiologist/Soil Scientist/Hydrologist of the Soil, Water, and Air Resources Research Unit at the National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment Ames, IA. The mission of the Unit is to discover and apply knowledge of biochemical and physical interactions within the soil-plant-atmosphere system to develop new and improved management practices that limit or reduce the impact of agricultural production systems on soil, water, and air resources.

Duties

Specific personal research objectives may include: Assess using field microclimate and biophysical plant canopy measurements, which are complemented with biochemical and physical modeling, the climate change adaptation potential of plants and silvopasture practices under a non-stationary climate. Develop surface renewal and modified eddy covariance energy balance flux measurement techniques that are optimized to measure and characterize energy balance components within a plant canopy at the field scale. Identify soil biochemical compounds contributing to resilient soil-crop interfaces for intensively managed farming systems, with changes in soil aggregation, soil water content, soil carbon sequestration, and nitrogen supply. Supervisory duties include: Providing vision, establishing and maintaining an advisory stakeholder base and developing research programs to address stakeholder priorities. Exercising leadership and supervising personnel assigned to the unit that promotes scholarship and team effort. Maximizing the creativity and productivity of the unit. Hiring personnel and managing the human, fiscal and physical resources assigned to the unit. Serving as the Unit fund holder. Providing technical information and consultation both internal and external to Agricultural Research Service. Ensuring the proper interpretation and reporting of scientific research results.

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.
• Subject to one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary 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/.
• 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: Plant Physiology Series, 0435 Individual Occupational Requirements Degree: botany or plant physiology; or a related scientific discipline that included at least 10 semester hours in plant physiology. Hydrology Series, 1315 Individual Occupational Requirements Degree: physical or natural science, or engineering that included at least 30 semester hours in any combination of courses in hydrology, the physical sciences, geophysics, chemistry, engineering science, soils, mathematics, aquatic biology, atmospheric science, meteorology, geology, oceanography, or the management or conservation of water resources. The course work must have included at least 6 semester hours in calculus (including both differential and integral calculus), and at least 6 semester hours in physics. Calculus and physics, as described above, are requirements for all grade levels. or Combination of education and experience -- course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Soil Science Series, 0470 Individual Occupational Requirements Degree: soil science or a closely related discipline that included 30 semester hours or equivalent in biological, physical, or earth science, with a minimum of 15 semester hours in such subjects as soil genesis, pedology, soil chemistry, soil physics, and soil fertility. or Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in soil science or a related discipline that included at least 30 semester hours in the biological, physical, or earth sciences. At least 15 of these semester hours must have been in the areas specified in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Additional Requirements: In addition to meeting the basic requirements for one of the series described above, applicants must also meet the additional qualifications requirements as stated below. GS-14: Applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience (defined below) equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal Service. Planning and conducting independent research related to soil processes as it relates to crop resiliency to extreme events, or GHG fluxes and budgets within canopy, or acclimation of plants under non-stationary climate ; AND Publishing related research results as primary author in peer-reviewed scientific journals; AND Being invited to present research findings at scientific conferences, either in person or virtually; AND Managing human, fiscal and physical resources to accomplish research goals; AND Working with stakeholders to enhance research efforts. GS-15: Applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience (defined below) equivalent to at least the GS-14 grade level in the Federal Service. Leading a multidisciplinary team conducting research related to soil bioproducts as it relates to crop resiliency to extreme events, or GHG fluxes and budgets within canopy, or crop acclimation of plants under non-stationary climate; AND Publishing related research results as first or corresponding author in peer-reviewed scientific journals; AND Being invited to present research findings at scientific conferences, either in person or virtually; AND Managing personnel, materials, equipment, resources, and facilities needed to accomplish research goals; AND Developing and maintaining relationships with commodity groups or other stakeholders. 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. Supervisory/Managerial Competencies - the following KSAs will also be used to evaluate candidates in the interview and selection process: 1. Ability to lead and accomplish work through others (i.e., team building, conflict management, cultural awareness, strategic thinking, technology, management, and political savvy.) 2. Ability to communicate with individuals or groups from diverse backgrounds in a variety of situations. 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 5601 Sunnyside Ave Beltsville, MD 20705 US
• Name: Elsa Ayala
• Phone: 202-819-4681
• Email: [email protected]