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Research Soil Scientist/Microbiologist/Molecular Biologist

Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Research Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The incumbent is assigned to the USDA-ARS, Plant Science Research Unit, Saint Paul, Minnesota. The research project is to quantify the dynamics of soil and rhizosphere microbial communities with crop rotation and crop management to increase nitrogen (N) utilization in dairy crop production systems, reduce damage from pathogens, and improve crop production.



Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
06/15/2020 to 07/15/2020
Salary
$82,484 - $127,512 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Saint Paul, MN
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
15
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
ARS-D20MWA-10838802-JML
Control number
570977600

Duties

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  • Plans and executes a research program investigating the dynamics of soil and rhizosphere microbial communities with crop rotation and crop management.
  • Increases nitrogen (N) utilization in dairy crop production systems, reduce damage from pathogens, and improve crop production.
  • Works closely with unit Agronomist, Plant Pathologist, and Plant Geneticist to identify and characterize the roles of bacteria and fungi in the alfalfa rhizosphere.
  • Collaborates with other Agricultural Research Service (ARS), university and private sector scientists to build a multi-disciplinary team necessary for this research.
  • Analyzes, interprets and disseminates the findings in the form of reports, presentations and publications in scientific journals.

Requirements

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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
  • 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.

This is an interdisciplinary position and may be filled in any of the job series/position titles listed. In addition to the specialized experience requirements, applicants must submit proof that they meet the educational requirements for at least one of the series described in the announcement. Applicants may only be appointed to job series/position titles for which they meet all experience and educational requirements.

Minimum qualification requirements are found in the OPM Qualification Standards Operating Manual for General Schedule Positions.

Requirements for Soil Science Series (0470):

  • Degree: Soil science or a closely related discipline that included 30 semester hours or equivalent in biological, physical, or earth science, with a minimum of 15 semester hours in such subjects as soil genesis, pedology, soil chemistry, soil physics, and soil fertility.
OR
  • Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major in soil science or a related discipline that included at least 30 semester hours in the biological, physical, or earth sciences. At least 15 of these semester hours must have been in the areas specified in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Requirements for Microbiology Series, 0403
  • Degree: Microbiology; or biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included at least 20 semester hours in microbiology and other subjects related to the study of microorganisms, and 20 semester hours in the physical and mathematical sciences combining course work in organic chemistry or biochemistry, physics, and college algebra, or their equivalent.
OR
  • Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major in microbiology, biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included courses as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Requirements for General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences 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.
Additional Requirements

In addition to meeting the basic requirements for one of the series described above, applicants must also meet the additional qualifications requirements as stated below.

GS-12: Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree directly related to the duties of the position (i.e. soil science, microbiology, or molecular biology) OR one-year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal Service conducting research related to the dynamics of microbial communities associated with crop plants and their response to crop rotation; utilizing next-generation sequencing and established bioinformatic methods to identify microbes in soil and associated with plants; and publishing research results in peer-reviewed scientific journals related to agronomy, plant pathology, or microbial ecology; OR a combination of graduate level education and specialized experience.

GS-13: Applicants must have one-year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal Service planning and conducting independent and collaborative research related to the dynamics of microbial communities associated with crop plants and their response to nitrogen/fertilizer amendments, crop chemicals, and/or environmental conditions; developing bioinformatic methodologies for microbiome community analysis; and publishing independent research in peer-reviewed scientific journals related to dynamics of microbial communities associated with crop plants.


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.

Additional information

This position requires the selectee to undergo a pre-employment check and a full background investigation. Any offer made is considered a tentative job offer pending the outcome of the pre-employment check. Retention in the position is based upon a favorable adjudication of the background investigation. The incumbent will be subject to periodic reinvestigations.

CONFIDENTIAL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT: Federal employees are subject to prohibitions against officially dealing with outside organizations in which they have a financial interest. If hired for this position, you may be required to submit a financial disclosure report within 30 days of the effective date of your appointment and annually thereafter.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 71 out of a possible 100.

Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at time of job offer.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated in accordance with the category rating procedure as defined in the USDA Demonstration Project Plan. Applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be placed in the Eligible category. Eligible applicants will be further evaluated against criteria for placement in the Quality category. This evaluation is based on the level of your experience, education, and/or training as determined by your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire. Applicants with veterans' preference are listed ahead of applicants who do not have veterans' preference within each category.


Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.

To view the application form, visit:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10838802

Agricultural Research Service

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.

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Agency contact information

Jessica Lang
Phone
3092731525
Email
jessica.lang@usda.gov
Address
Agricultural Research Service
5601 Sunnyside Ave
Beltsville, MD 20705
US

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