• Job Description

  Req#: 778225200
  This position is located within the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Pacific West Area (PWA), at the Crop Improvement and Protection Research Unit in Salinas, CA.
  
  In this position, you will study soilborne fungal pathogens of strawberry and vegetable crops. Research will focus on understanding the basic biology and evolution of fungal pathogens and developing novel methods for disease control.
  
  Duties
  
  
  • Develops various procedures, devises new or improved methods, or designs specialized equipment.
  • Maintain inventory of chemicals.
  • Actively participates in one or more phases of the research process.
  • Keeps exact, detailed records of experimental data.
  
  
  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.
  
  GS-08
  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-08 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 experience maintaining greenhouse or laboratory records; participating in one or more phases of a research process; collecting or analyzing plant samples; and operating basic greenhouse equipment.
  OR
  Education: Two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related. Related degrees may include Plant Pathology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Horticulture, Plant Science, Entomology, and Crop Science.
  OR
  A combination of specialized experience and graduate level education as described above.
  
  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-08 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 experience overseeing greenhouse operations including monitoring temperature, lighting, or equipment; participating in one or more phases of a crop research process; collecting or analyzing crop samples; and operating laboratory or greenhouse equipment.
  OR
  Education: Two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related. Related degrees may include Plant Pathology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Horticulture, Plant Science, Entomology, and Crop Science.
  OR
  A combination of specialized experience and graduate level education 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.

• About the company

  The United States Department of Agriculture, also known as the Agriculture Department, is the federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food. It aims to meet the needs of commercial farming and livestock food production, promotes agricultural trade and production, works to assure food safety, protects natural resources, fosters rural communities and works to end hunger in the United States and internationally.

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