NRES Career Information
Resources related to careers in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences

  • Biological Science Technician (Recent Graduate), Agricultural Research Service, Soil Management Research Unit (Morris, MN; due May 26)

    May 17, 2023 9:30 am by Taylor SiglerJobs

    Position Description and Application Information

    Summary

    This position is located in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Soil Management Research Unit in Morris, Minnesota.

    In this position, you will provide support for research projects by performing a variety of duties in a laboratory, field, or greenhouse environment.

    This job is open to

    Recent graduates

    Individuals who have graduated from an accredited educational institute or certificate program within the last 2 years or 6 years for Veterans.


    Clarification from the agency

    Recent graduates from a qualifying educational institution having completed an academic program within the preceding two years. Note:  Veterans who were precluded by their military service obligation from meeting this requirement will have up to six years to apply. U.S. citizens and nationals and permanent residents and foreign nationals who meet immigration law and appropriations law requirements concerning employment.

    Duties

    • Assists in one or more phases of the research process by performing a variety of standardized or routine duties, in a laboratory, field, or greenhouse environment, common to the assigned area of work.
    • Maintains inventory of chemicals.
    • Prepares solutions and reagents for use in the laboratory, field, or greenhouse.
    • Safely disposes of waste material (both chemical and biological).
    • Records instrument readings, collects samples, and takes measurements.
    • Keeps detailed records of experimental data.
    • Tabulates, analyzes, and summarizes data using personal computers and software packages.
    • Performs routine and recurring techniques and studies using a variety of specialized equipment.
    • Maintains, calibrates, and modifies equipment and automated systems used for test and evaluation procedures.

    Requirements

    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
    • Satisfactory Background investigation and/or fingerprint check
    • Successful completion of one-year trial period
    • 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 https://www.e-verify.gov/

    Qualifications

    Minimum qualification requirement can be found in the General Schedule Qualification Standards (opm.gov).

    Biological Science Technician Series 0404 (opm.gov)

    To be eligible, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

    1. Completed all requirements for an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two (2) years.

    OR

    2. Individuals who, due to military service obligation, were precluded from applying to the Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period described above shall have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon release or discharge from active duty. This eligibility period cannot extend more than 6 years from the date on which the requirements for the academic course of study were met.

    In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements above, applicants must possess the education and/or experience requirements as follows:

    GS-04
    Experience: Qualifying experience for GS-04 includes at least 6 months of general experience and 6 months of specialized experience. For this position general experience is defined as (1) any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. General experience can be obtained in a laboratory, field, or greenhouse environment. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. For this position, specialized experience is experience collecting, recording and processing plant or soil samples; operating laboratory equipment; and following established research procedures.

    OR

    Education: Successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours of courses must be directly related to the position to be filled. Related fields of study include Agronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Plant Science, Soil Science, Environmental Science or Agricultural Science.

    OR

    A combination of education and experience as described above.

    GS-05
    Experience: Qualifying experience for GS-05 includes one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-04 which is directly related to the work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. For this position, specialized experience is experience collecting, preparing, and evaluating plant or soil samples; recording and processing plant or soil samples; operating, maintaining and calibrating laboratory equipment; and following established research procedures.

    OR

    Education: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours of courses must have been directly related to the position to be filled. Related degrees include Agronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Plant Science, Soil Science, Environmental Science or Agricultural Science.

    OR

    A combination of education and experience as described above.

    Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including experience and/or education as defined 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.


    Education

    Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

    Additional information

    Recent Graduate appointments are intended to last for 1 year. Recent Graduates who satisfactorily complete all the USDA Recent Graduates Program requirements may be non-competitively converted to a Term or Permanent appointment in the competitive service. Conversion is not guaranteed. Recent Graduates converted to Term appointments may later be non-competitively converted to a Permanent competitive service position. NOTE: To be eligible for conversion to a Term or Permanent appointment in the competitive service, you must be a U.S. citizen.

    If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.

    Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Department of Agriculture. Any travel, transportation and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee.

    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.