This position is located within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Midwest Area (MWA), National Animal Disease Center, in Ames, Iowa. In this position, you will conduct basic and applied research on selected diseases of economic importance to the U.S. livestock and poultry industries.

Duties

Collect, prepare, evaluate, and verify samples and supporting records. Prepare solutions and reagents for use in the laboratory, field, or greenhouse. Assist in one or more phases of the research process by performing a variety of technical duties, in a laboratory, field, or greenhouse environment. Maintain records and locate and compile data and other information from various sources. Perform routine and recurring techniques and studies using a variety of specialized equipment. Maintain, calibrate and modify 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 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/

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-05 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-05 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-04 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 assisting higher level technicians in one or more phases of the research process in a laboratory setting; and operating common laboratory equipment. OR Education: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study above the high school level leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as animal science, biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, microbiology, biochemistry or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours of courses must have been directly related to the position being filled. Related courses may include Microbiology, Biology, Zoology, Animal Science, Agriculture, and Molecular Biology. OR A combination of education and specialized experience as described above. GS-06 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-06 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-05 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 preparing microbiological samples; compiling and summarizing data from experiments; and using analytical techniques in a laboratory environment. OR Education: Successful completion of 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 Microbiology, Biology, Zoology, Animal Science, Agriculture, and 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.

Education

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

Contacts

• Address Agricultural Research Service 5601 Sunnyside Ave Beltsville, MD 20705 US
• Name: Juliana Hensley
• Phone: (571) 669-3483
• Email: [email protected]