This position is located within the Agricultural Research Service, Pacific West Area, Small Grains and Potato Germplasm Research Unit in Aberdeen, ID. In this position, you will serve as a Molecular Biologist or Plant Pathologist and will be responsible for germplasm maintenance, evaluation, and improvement in small grain crops, particularly barley and oats, and genetic improvement of potatoes and trout broodstock.

Duties

Perform experiments either by applying established analytical methods and procedures or by operating automated analytical systems according to established operating procedures. Review pertinent scientific literature and selects methods and procedures most appropriate for the research goals, including modifying protocols when necessary to optimize collection of useable data. Maintain equipment and instrumentation in top working condition, performing routine maintenance and minor repairs, and promptly reports signs of malfunction or need for major repairs. Maintain official laboratory notebooks recording the methods and procedures used, and modifications of methodology applied, and the results. Prepare results from experiments for inclusion in manuscripts, technical reports, oral presentations, posters, and progress reports. Carry out experiments on the National Small Grains Collection (NSGC) to assess genetic diversity of the collection, improve genebank maintenance and operations, and evaluate or diagnose pathogens affecting the crops within the collection.

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. Basic Requirements for Management and Biological Sciences Series 0401 1. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR 2. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Basic Requirements for 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. In addition to meeting the basic requirements described above, applicants must also meet additional qualification requirements as stated below. GS-09 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-09 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-07 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 participating in a molecular biology or plant pathology research project; conducting research that involves DNA fingerprinting or genotyping of plants; conducting data analysis and operating laboratory equipment or instruments to carry out PCR or qPCR methods on plant samples. 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 plant pathology, crop science, microbiology, genetics, molecular biology, molecular genetics, bioinformatics, population genetics, biotechnology, or plant breeding. OR A combination of graduate level education and experience as described above. GS-11 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-11 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-09 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 planning, implementing, and independently conducting research projects related to small grain crops such as: wheat, rice, barley, oats, or rye; conducting experiments to determine the mechanisms associated with disease resistance or disease progression; independently performing and interpreting genotyping and sequencing data analysis on germplasm and bioinformatics; and preparing written summaries and other work products for publication in professional journals. OR Education: Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. Related degrees may include plant pathology, crop science, microbiology, genetics, molecular biology, molecular genetics, bioinformatics, population genetics, biotechnology, or plant breeding. OR A combination of graduate level education and 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 800 Buchanan Street Albany, CA 94710 US
• Name: Chirag Patel
• Phone: 5716693542
• Email: [email protected]