This position is located at USDA, ARS, Fargo, ND, Edward T. Schafer Ag Research Center, Cereal Corps Research Unit

Research scientists have open-ended promotion potential. Research accomplishments and their impact on the duties and responsibilities of positions are evaluated periodically. The grade level is limited only by the individual's demonstrated ability to perform research of recognized importance to science and technology. *Final grade level may be determined by a peer review panel.

Duties

  • Provide basic knowledge that will facilitate understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance and pathogenicity
  • Investigation of the host-pathogen interactions of significant foliar and/or head diseases of wheat and barley
  • Research areas will include pathogen population genomic studies consisting of genome wide association studies and comparative studies
  • Leads investigations of the molecular basis of host-pathogen interactions, particularly for economically significant foliar and head diseases of wheat and barley

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • 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 three-year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • 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.

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.

Basic Requirements
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.

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:

  • Experience producing publications as the primary author pertaining to plant diseases;
  • Experience developing information or providing technical guidance to research projects;
  • Conducting pathology, fungal or bacterial genetics, or fungal or bacterial genomics/bioinformatics research;
  • Communicating research results through technical publications and presentations (peer-reviewed scientific journals and scientific meetings);
  • Leading a research project, to include personal dissertation research or postdoc research project.

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:

  • Producing publications as the primary author that are of interest and value to the field of plant diseases;
  • Conceiving and formulating research ideas that support or produce studies by others;
  • Conceiving and formulating pathology, fungal or bacterial genetics, or fungal or bacterial genomics/bioinformatics research;
  • Making presentations related to pathology, fungal or bacterial genetics, or fungal or bacterial genomics/bioinformatics research on plant pathogens at scientific or stakeholder meetings;
  • Coordinating and managing a cooperative research program.

GS-14: Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 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-14 level of this position are

  • planning and conducting research on plant disease epidemiology to improve or modify techniques in quantitative and qualitative epidemiology; and
  • assisting with management of a research program; publishing independent research in peer-reviewed journals in the area of plant pathology by improving the understanding of important pathogens of crops; and
  • leading other employees in a research program or project.

GS-15: Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-14 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-15 level of this position are

  • Planning and conducting research, and
  • Designing experiments and data collection to develop fundamental new knowledge and concepts in quantitative and qualitative epidemiology for major crops; and
  • Managing a research project, including supervising personnel, equipment, and fiscal resources; and
  • Presenting and publishing independent research in peer-reviewed journals in the area of plant pathology.

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.

 

For more information on qualifications and/or to apply, please visit the full position description on USAJobs.

Expiration Date