Website link here: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/570605300?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Open & closing dates

06/11/2020 to 07/09/2020

Salary

$81,875 to $149,562 per year

Summary

This position is located with the Agricultural Research Service, Horticultural Crops Research Unit in Corvallis, OR.

The incumbent is responsible for developing and applying fundamental concepts essential to improving the control of virus diseases in small fruit crops.

Responsibilities

  • Determine the causal agent(s) of virus diseases of small fruit crops in the U.S. and define the importance of each virus in cases of mixed infections.
  • Determine the impact of virus infection on fruit quality in cases where quality is more important than yield.
  • Collaborate with molecular and traditional breeders to evaluate the utility of vector resistant germplasm for controlling viruses in small fruit crops or develop novel biotechnological approaches to virus disease control.
  • Use genomic approaches to characterize viruses and develop and validate diagnostic tests for small fruit viruses.
  • Develop strategies for managing virus diseases based on integrating diagnostics, applied, genomics, breeding, and/or biotechnological approaches.
  • Collaborate with other ARS, university, and private sector scientists to build multi-disciplinary team necessary for this research.
  • Analyze, interpret, and disseminate research findings in the form of reports, presentations and publications in scientific journals.

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:

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.

In addition to meeting the basic requirements described above, applicants must also meet additional qualification requirements as stated below.

At The 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 defining research problems, developing and executing a research plan, and evaluating results related to plant viruses.
  • Experience using plant pathological, microbiological or virology techniques such as: virus isolation and purification, taxonomic, genetic, genomics and/or molecular characterization; and inoculations and disease and host range evaluations to assess variability and diversity of plant viruses.
  • Experience publishing original research in peer-reviewed scientific journals in plant pathology, molecular biology, genetics, or virology dealing with plant viruses.

At The 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:

  • Conceiving, planning and conducting independent and collaborative research related to plant viruses or pathogens which includes using plant pathological, microbiological, molecular or virology techniques;
  • Presenting research results at scientific meetings;
  • Publishing independent research results in peer-reviewed journals;
  • Supervising undergraduate students or technicians to accomplish research.

At The 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:

  • Producing publications related to plant viruses or pathogens as the primary author that impact the advancement of the field or are viewed as authoritative;
  • Conceiving and formulating research ideas pertaining to the field of plant viruses that advance the field of science or are used as a reference by other scientists;
  • Experience participating in Symposia or technical conferences that define the state of the discipline or introduce new areas in the field;
  • Experience managing a research project, including personnel, equipment, facilities and fiscal resources

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 be considered for this position, you must submit a one-page abstract of your MS thesis and/or Ph.D. dissertation. Also, 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.