Position Description and Application
- Maintains inventory of chemicals, prepares solutions and reagents for use in the laboratory, field, or greenhouse, and safely disposes of waste material (both chemical and biological).
- Performs biological techniques including, cross hybridization of plants, carrying out Polymerase Chain Reactions, and chemical phenotyping analyses.
- Maintains records and locates and compiles data and other information from various sources.
- Participates as a team member with the scientist in all phases of the research process and assumes full technical and operational responsibility for specific phases of the research.
- Tabulates, statistically analyzes and summarizes data using personal computers and software packages.
- Operates and maintains a variety of highly specialized complex equipment which must be calibrated and synchronized to achieve desired results.
- Understands and is able to use equipment such as incubators, chemical safety cabinets, centrifuges, and PCR machines.
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.
- 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-08
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-08 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-07 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 conducting an experiment or research project related to plants; recording and analyzing scientific data; and preparing scientific information to be included in manuscripts or preparing reports.
OR
Education: Two full years of graduate level education or a Master's degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include Microbiology, Biology, Plant Science, Biochemistry or Genetics.
OR
A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as described above.
GS-09
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-09 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-08 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 designing and conducting biological research related to plant genetics; performing biological techniques including cross hybridization of legume plants, PCR, chemical analyses with gas chromatography or plant phenotyping; and operating and maintaining laboratory equipment or instruments used for research.
OR
Education: Two full years of graduate level education or a Master's degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include Microbiology, Biology, Plant Science, Biochemistry or Genetics.
OR
A combination of graduate level education and specialized 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
Please see above for education qualification requirement information
