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Research Soil Scientist (Research Associate)

Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Research Service
Water Management Research Unit
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the United States Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency. ARS Postdoctoral Research Associates are hired to supplement a lead scientist's research on agricultural problems of high national priority affecting American agriculture.

This position is located at the San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center in Parlier, CA.

**ANNOUNCEMENT IS OPEN UNTIL FILLED OR JUNE 26, 2023**

Overview

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Job closed
Open & closing dates
01/25/2023 to 06/26/2023
Salary
$69,107 to - $89,835 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Parlier, CA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Term - 2 years
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
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-23-RA-PWA-11818467-mds
Control number
702330200

Duties

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  • This position is to conduct research on carbon and nitrogen dynamics including greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in orchards influenced by whole orchard recycling (WOR) which incorporates all tree biomass into soil.
  • The objective of the project is to determine the benefits of WOR to reduce GHG emissions, increase C storage and nutrients availability in soil, and improve orchard production using field and laboratory experiments and model simulations.
  • PLEASE REFER TO THE "HOW TO APPLY SECTION" BELOW, TO FIND WHERE YOU WILL NEED TO SEND YOUR APPLICATION TO ENSURE CONSIDERATION FOR THIS POSITION.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • 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/
  • Appropriations Law and Immigration Law requirements must be met

Qualifications

This position requires a Ph.D in Soil or Environmental Science or a related field of study that has equipped the applicant with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position. The candidates must have obtained their Ph.D. within the last 4 years.

Applicants must meet basic Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standard's requirements of the scientific discipline necessary to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position.

Applicants must possess the Basic Qualification requirement below.

GS-0470
1. 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
2. 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.

In addition to the requirement(s) identified above, the following qualifications are needed to be considered for this position:
Research experience especially on greenhouse emission and nutrient management and the ability to conduct field, lab, and/or modeling (e.g., DNDC) aspects are strongly encouraged to apply.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement. You must submit a copy of your academic transcripts OR a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed, and grades received to verify education when applying for this position. If this information is not provided, your education may not be appropriately evaluated and you may lose consideration for this position. If you are selected for this position, you will have to provide an official copy of your transcripts prior to entering on duty. Application materials will not be returned.

A Ph.D. is required that was obtained within the last four years.

Additional information

  • Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at time of job offer.
  • This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.
  • Provide the subjects with FBI's Privacy Act Notice and Privacy Rights before fingerprinting the subject in order to comply with the Privacy Act requirement found in the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 5 USC 522a(e)(3) and FBI's requirement to present the fingerprint subject with Privacy Rights. 3.2.4.1. FBI Privacy Act Notice: https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/compact-council/privacy-act-statement


How you will be evaluated

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

Your application will be evaluated to determine if you meet eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, and on the extent to which your application shows that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with the position as defined above under "Qualifications".

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.

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