Biological Science Technician
USDA
Full-Time
Salary: $43,120 to $56,060 / per year
Job Overview
Summary
Find Solutions to Agricultural Problems that Affect Americans Every Day, From Field to Table.
USDA is a great place to start or continue your career. USDA is ranked as one of the top 10 "Best Places to Work in the Federal Government" by the Partnership for Public Service (http://bestplacestowork.org/BPTW/rankings/overall/large). Rankings are based on employee feedback regarding satisfaction with their work experience.
The Horticultural Crops Research Unit, located in Corvallis, Oregon of the Agricultural Research Services, United States Department of Agriculture, has an opening for a Biological Science Technician. The incumbent will assist the unit in its research program which focuses on soilborne pathogens of the ornamental nursery industry. The overall goal is to more fully understand pathogen biology, epidemiology, and ecology in order to develop and refine successful, non-chemical disease management strategies. Specifically, our objectives are to develop practices to manage soilborne diseases; quantify and qualify cultural, biological, and chemical practices on disease management and soil microbial populations; and investigate how environmental factors (both abiotic and biotic) affect disease control. This position will function as part of a team that characterizes soilborne plant pathogens affecting berry, forest nursery, and ornamental crops and develops disease control measures.
This is a term, time-limited appointment with an initial duration no less than 13 months and can be extended up to a total of 4 years.
Duties
Major Duties may include, but are not limited to:
The incumbent will be involved in a combination of laboratory and field-based work. Primary laboratory work includes isolation, quantification, identification, and maintenance of soilborne plant pathogens (fungi and oomycetes) from soil and plant samples using specialized media, Andersen samplers, cloning, PCR, quantitative PCR, and DNA sequencing (DNA extractions, gel electrophoresis, and DNA sequence analysis).
The incumbent will:
-Conduct in vitro fungicide sensitivity assays.
-Prepare pathogen inoculum and inoculates plant hosts with pathogens.
-Install, maintain, and operate irrigation equipment and environmental data loggers to meet appropriate soil moisture targets and monitor environmental data.
-Determine soil moisture holding capacity and calculate plant water requirements.
-Monitor and collect data from greenhouse and field experiments.
-Maintain and update database with experimental results, summarize and analyze data.
Some field work requires overnight travel (typically around 3 times a year) and the incumbent is expected to be able to lift heavy objects, such as potted plants, soil samples, and soil sampling and other heavy equipment, and be able to work, stoop, bend, kneel, and navigate rough outdoor terrain.
Supervisory Status
No
Promotion Potential
09
Travel Required
- Occasional Travel
- Occasional travel to and from field sites. Some field work requires overnight travel
Relocation Authorized
Job Requirements
Key Requirements
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- A 1-year probationary period is required.
- You must be a US Citizen or US National.
- Satisfactory background investigation and/or fingerprint check
Qualifications
GS-0404-07:
At least one full-time year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service. For this position, specialized experience is:
1) Experience assisting with isolating, identifying and characterizing soilborne pathogens and conducting research to develop disease control methods;
2) Experience in operating, calibrating, and modifying specialized laboratory and field equipment such as microscopes, autoclaves, centrifuges, incubators, laminar flow hoods, thermal cyclers, irrigation equipment, and environmental data loggers;
3) Experience utilizing basic and molecular biology laboratory techniques such as aseptic technique, PCR and qPCR, cloning, electrophoresis, preparation of samples for sequencing, and sequence analysis;
4) Experience with in vitro fungicide sensitivity testing; and
5) Experience collecting, analyzing, and summarizing data using spreadsheet, word processing, PowerPoint, and statistics software.
-OR-
Education: One full year (18 semester hours) of directly related progressively higher level graduate education leading to a masters or equivalent graduate degree. Related degrees include plant pathology, microbiology, horticulture, and molecular genetics. (Must submit transcripts)
-OR-
Combination of Education and Experience: Applicants must have an appropriate combination of successfully completed graduate education and experience. To determine your combination, first compute your experience as a percentage of the experience listed above; then determine your graduate education as a percentage of the education listed above; then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent. (Must submit transcripts)
In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We may not make assumptions regarding your experience.
- Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected you may be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report inquiry.
How to Apply
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/476186500#btn-how-apply
Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin. You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
Applying online is highly encouraged. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m., Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, contact the Agency Contact listed below well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon ET on the closing date of the announcement in order to be entered into the system prior to its closing.
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; contact the Agency Contact to request this.
To begin, click "Apply Online" and follow the instructions to complete the Assessment Questionnaire and attach your resume and all required documents.
NOTE: You must verify that uploaded documents from USAJOBS transfer into the Agency's staffing system. Applicants may combine all like required documents (e.g., all SF-50s) into one or more files and scan for uploading into the application. Each file must not exceed 3MB. Grouping like documents into files will simplify the application process. Documents must be in one of the following formats: GIF, JPEG, JPG, PDF, PNG, RTF, or Word (DOC or DOCX). Uploaded documents may not require a password, digital signature, or other encryption to open.
How You Will Be Evaluated
Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Managements (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures using category rating. Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications will be placed in one of two or three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Category placement will be determined based on applicants quality of experience and the extent they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies:
- RESEARCh
- BIOLOGY
- APPLIES TECHNOLOGY TO TASK
Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.
Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. 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.
Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply Online" button to the right.
