If selected, you will work at the APHIS National Plant Germplasm Quarantine Center (NPGQC), to establish and maintain foreign germplasm and cultivars under appropriate safeguarding conditions, conduct tests for pests, implement therapy if necessary, and distribute released plant propagules free of exotic and destructive pathogens. These activities prevent the introduction of damaging infectious agents and allow for gene research to improve U.S. agriculture.

Duties

The duties may include, but are not limited to: Distinguish pest damage from symptoms due to improper watering or fertilizing, pesticide injury, or adverse environmental conditions. Performs the necessary horticultural operations to propagate and grow seeds, roots, tubers, cuttings, scions, buds and plants under appropriate safeguards. Perform basic and sophisticated laboratory procedures, and reads results of biological, serological and biochemical tests, and compiles results for the project leader and/or laboratory director. Performs diagnostic procedures on samples submitted by post-entry inspectors or port officials, and test samples from emergency programs during eradication or containment efforts for novel pathogens. Monitors the structure and function of quarantine facilities to ensure plant introduction survival, validity of tests, and pest containment. Packages plant propagules, arranges for inspections, prepares invoices, ships released plant material, and arranges disposal in compliance with approved protocols and Federal and State regulations. Processing different introductions of various prohibited crops through quarantine to detect a spectrum of pathogens, while maintaining accuracy in labeling and testing. Assists in adapting, modifying and developing new techniques to improve the horticultural and testing procedures with other government and non-government agencies.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Individuals who were born male 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 E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/
• Must obtain and maintain certification as a regulatory pesticide applicator.
• Incumbent required to submit to a FBI background investigation, in accordance with the USDA Policies and Procedures for BSL-3 facilities.
• Work may be performed in a Bio-safety level 3 facility, that requires changing clothes upon entry and showering prior to exit.
• There is regular exposure to areas sprayed with pesticides, some hazardous and toxic laboratory chemicals, various dusts, and plant pollens.
• Regularly subjected to temperature extremes, sun, wind, and rain when working in the greenhouses, screenhouses, or outside in fields.
• Heavy lifting up to 50 pounds may be required.
• Protective equipment such as fume hoods, goggles, masks, gloves, and lab coats must be used in the lab.
• Protective equipment such as suits, respirators, gloves, and boots must be worn while spraying.

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 REQUIREMENT FOR THE 0434 SERIES: 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. BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR THE 0437 SERIES: Degree: horticulture; or a related discipline of basic plant science that included at least 30 semester hours in the basic plant sciences, of which at least 16 semester hours were in horticultural subjects such as those dealing with the breeding, care, management, production, and post harvest handling of horticultural crops. OR Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in horticulture or a related discipline of basic plant science that included course work as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-9 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Improving different aspects of plant care for plants. Performing and improving multiple bioassays to test a wide range of plants for plant pathogens with minimal supervision. Performing and improving multiple lab procedures to test a wide range of plants for plant pathogens with minimal supervision. Experience continually updating and improving the pathogen testing databases. OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree: 0434 SERIES: Degree: plant pathology 0437 SERIES: Degree: horticulture; or a related discipline Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified. You are qualifying for the position based on education. You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-11 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. 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 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service USDA APHIS MRPBS 250 Marquette Avenue, Suite 410 Minneapolis, MN 55401 US
• Name: MRP Human Resources
• Phone: 612-336-3227
• Email: [email protected]