This position is located within the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Northeast Area (NEA), at the Appalachian Fruit Research Station in Kearneysville, West Virginia. In this position, you will conduct fundamental, applied, and developmental research on critical problems of temperate fruit production.

Duties

Conceive, plan, execute, and report research results involving fundamental, applied, and developmental research on critical problems of temperate fruit production. Conduct research in the areas of chemical and molecular ecology. Discover bioactive natural products for crop pest and disease management and/or horticultural applications using appropriate analytical tools. Formulate and evaluate candidate bioactive products under controlled and field conditions and assess abiotic and biotic factors that enhance or limit performance. Optimize molecular-based tools for more precisely quantifying crop pest and disease presence and spread. Analyze, interpret, and report research results to relevant scientific communities and stakeholder groups. Collaborate with other scientists and stakeholders and contribute to an atmosphere conducive for research and consistent with project support staff availability and efficient utilization of resources. Provides leadership in planning and implementing research programs and interpreting and reporting results from research dealing the broad area of sustainable agriculture.

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.
• 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 for Biology Series, 0401 Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Basic Requirements for Chemistry Series, 1320 Degree: physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that included 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics. OR Combination of education and experience -- course work equivalent to a major as shown above, including at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience, or additional education. Additional Requirements In addition to meeting the basic requirements described above, applicants must also meet additional qualification requirements as stated below. GS-12: Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service or possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or possess an equivalent combination of graduate level education and experience. Graduate education must be directly related to the work of the position and must have equipped applicants with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-12 level of this position are: conducting research related to chemical ecology, analytical chemistry, biology, crop pest and disease management; formulating and evaluating bioactive compounds and performing field-based research aimed at improving sustainable production practices; and experience being recognized through citation and as a contributor to projects, or peer-reviewed publications related to chemistry, biology, chemical ecology and pest or disease management. GS-13: Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-13 level of this position are: conducting and coordinating a team for research related to collecting and analyzing crop pest or disease management; conducting research on chemical and molecular ecology; collaborating with internal and external stakeholders on research of mutual interest; and publishing research results as primary author in peer-reviewed journals related to chemistry, chemical ecology, biology, agriculture or related fields. 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. 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 10300 Baltimore Avenue Beltsville, MD 20705 US
• Name: Juliana Hensley
• Phone: (571) 669-3483
• Email: [email protected]