Position Description and Application Information
This position is located in the Agroecosystem Management Research Unit for the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Lincoln, NE.
In this position, you will be participating in microbiological research and analyses related to soil in a laboratory and field environment.
- Collects, prepares, evaluates, and verifies soil samples and supporting records.
- Performs routine soil laboratory techniques using specialized equipment for microbiological analyses.
- Tabulates, statistically analyzes and summarizes data using personal computers and software packages.
- Prepares solutions and reagents for use in the laboratory, field, or greenhouse.
- Maintains detailed records of experimental data.
- Assists in one or more phases of the research process by performing a variety of technical duties, in a laboratory, field, or greenhouse environment.
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.
- Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
- Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
- Subject to one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary 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 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-05
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-05 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-04 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 collecting, preparing, evaluating, or verifying soil samples for microbiological analyses and supporting records; performing routine soil laboratory techniques using specialized equipment for microbiological analyses; and maintaining a detailed record of experimental data.
OR
Education: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree in the Biological Sciences with at least 24 semester hours or the equivalent in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours of courses must have been directly related to the position to be filled. Related courses may include microbiology or soil science.
OR
A combination of education and experience 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.
Education
This position does not have an education qualification requirement.
