Website link here: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/566653700

Open & closing dates

 05/08/2020 to 06/19/2020

Salary

$81,875 to $149,562 per year

Summary

This position is located in USDA-ARS, Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit, Corvallis, OR.

The incumbent of this position will conduct individual and team research that develops approaches to enhance the productivity and profitability of agricultural systems in the Pacific Northwest with a strong emphasis on seed cropping systems of grasses, legumes, and other cover crop species.

Responsibilities

  • Conducts individual and team research to develop approaches that enhance the productivity and profitability of agricultural systems in the Pacific Northwest with a strong emphasis on seed cropping systems of grasses, legumes, etc.
  • Works within seed cropping systems to develop and characterize production practices that simultaneously enhance soil health and improve crop productivity. Coordinates with team members to solve complex problems to conserve natural resources.
  • Develops, integrates, and evaluates production practices including residue management, sub-surface tile drainage, irrigation, soil amendments, and crop selection for their impacts on soil health and the resilience of the cropping system.
  • Participates in team research to address the tradeoffs between sustainable management practices and resilience to pests and pathogens.
  • Addresses the dynamics of soil organic matter, root- and residue-derived carbon and greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Research methods employed will include a combination of advanced analytical, computational, and ecological techniques. Advanced analytical techniques are used to assess soil health, including physical, chemical, and biological parameters.
  • Computational and ecological tools are used to study the impact of production practices on soil, roots, and crop productivity.
  • Conducts research on-farm in collaboration with growers.

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: 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.

AND

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.

The specialized experience requirements for the GS-12 level of this position are defined as experience using the principles, theories, and practices of soil science, biogeochemistry, agronomy, plant physiology, and soil ecology to conduct research on the influence of crop production practices on soil health; Experience collecting and analyzing samples with methodology used to measure, quantify, and compare soil health metrics, including chemical, physical, and biological parameters; Experience using multi-variate statistical approaches; AND Experience completing research that result in peer-reviewed publications, scientific presentations at conferences, and oral reports to commodity and grower associations.

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. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-13 level of this position is defined as experience using the principles, theories, and practices of soil science, biogeochemistry, agronomy, plant physiology, and soil ecology to conduct research on the influence of crop production practices on soil health; Experience collecting and analyzing samples with methodology used to measure, quantify, and compare soil health metrics, including chemical, physical, and biological parameters; Experience using multivariate statistical approaches; Experience integrating diverse sources of information into models or concepts; AND Experience proposing, conducting, and completing research that result in peer-reviewed publications, scientific presentations at conferences, and oral reports to commodity and grower associations that have considerable interest and value to the field of 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. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-14 level of this position is defined as experience using the principles, theories, and practices of soil science, biogeochemistry, agronomy, plant physiology, and soil ecology to conduct research on the influence of crop production practices on soil health and evaluate the connection between healthy soils, productivity, climate resilience, and environmental and economical sustainability; Experience collecting and analyzing samples with methodology used to measure, quantify, and compare soil health metrics, including chemical, physical, and biological parameters; Experience using multi-variate statistical approaches; Experience integrating information into concepts that advance the state of crop production; AND Experience proposing, conducting, and completing research that result in peer-reviewed publications, scientific presentations at conferences, and oral reports to commodity and grower associations which have had a major impact on advancing the field or are accepted as authoritative in the field.

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.