Enable America Jobs

Summary The incumbent is a Research Plant Pathologist/Geneticist/Molecular Biologist and Lead Scientist in the USDA-ARS Cereal Disease Research Unit located at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN. The incumbent conducts research on wheat and barley resistance to rust pathogens, caused by the fungi Puccinia graminis, P. triticina, and P. hordei. The goal of the incumbent is to seek solutions to prevent yield losses caused by these pathogens. Responsibilities Identify and characterize resistance in wheat and barley to stem rust and leaf rust. Investigate the genetics of rust resistance utilizing traditional phenotyping as well as modern molecular genomics tools. Improve resistance in the United States wheat and barley to Ug99 stem rust by screening advanced breeding lines in East Africa and the United States. Incorporate combinations of rust resistance genes through genetic/genomic/molecular methods into adapted U.S. germplasm and release to the breeding programs. Monitor, collect, and characterize the P. hordei populations in the United States for virulence to barley leaf rust resistance genes. Analyze, interpret, and disseminate the findings in the form of reports, presentations, and publications. Provide technical and administrative supervision to research staff. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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 Qualification Requirements for General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series, 0401: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0400/general-natural-resources-management-and-biological-sciences-series-0401/ A. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Basic Qualifications for Plant Pathology Series, 0434: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0400/plant-pathology-series-0434/ A. Degree: plant pathology; or a related scientific discipline that included at least 20 semester hours in basic botany or plant science, and 10 semester hours in plant pathology. Graduate Education: must have been in plant pathology, or in one of the recognized subject-matter fields of plant pathology, or have followed a curriculum or pattern of training that placed major emphasis on plant pathology or one of the recognized subject-matter fields of plant pathology, such as those dealing with particular types of pathogens, diseases of particular kinds of crops, or chemical or biological controls. Graduate study in related fields such as microbiology, entomology, plant physiology, genetics, agronomy, horticulture, forestry, or chemistry may also be qualifying, provided it placed a sufficient amount of emphasis on plant pathology. Evaluation of Education: courses in botany, plant physiology, plant taxonomy, plant pathology, agronomy, forestry, horticulture, or similar subjects may be used to meet the 20-semester-hour requirement in basic botany or plant science. To meet the specific 10-semester-hour requirement in plant pathology, the courses must have been in plant pathology, or have dealt with specific subject matter areas of plant pathology such as those concerned with viruses, fungal or bacterial diseases, host-plant relationships, biotic or chemical controls, environmental or physiological diseases, parasitic diseases, etc. Basic Qualifications for Genetics Series, 0440: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0400/genetics-series-0440/ A. Degree: genetics; or one of the basic biological sciences that included at least 9 semester hours in genetics. Graduate Education: Genetics, or a curriculum or pattern of training that placed major emphasis on genetics. Graduate study in related fields such as agronomy, horticulture, animal, dairy, or poultry husbandry, entomology, microbiology, plant pathology, chemistry, molecular and cellular biology, and physiology that involved cross-training in genetics is qualifying, provided it placed sufficient emphasis on genetics. Evaluation of Education: Most students in the field take graduate work because specific training in genetics may be limited at the undergraduate level. Under these circumstances, it may be necessary to evaluate undergraduate course work in genetics in one of two ways, as described below, to determine whether or not it is qualifying. Courses dealing with genetics, some phase of genetics, or specific techniques that are applied in genetics work are acceptable. This includes courses in genetics, plant or animal genetics, molecular and cellular biology, mathematics and statistics (as they apply to genetics), population dynamics, and certain techniques such as those dealing with irradiation. Course work consisting of an appropriate combination of basic courses in genetics and cytology or statistics are also acceptable. Additional Requirements: In addition to meeting the basic requirements for one of the series described above, applicants must also meet additional qualification requirements as stated below. GS-12: Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree directly related to the duties of the position (i.e., plant pathology, plant genetics, plant molecular biology, plant genomics/bioinformatics) OR one-year (52 weeks) of specialized experience (defined below) equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal Service OR a combination of graduate level education and specialized experience. GS-13: Applicants must have one-year (52 weeks) of specialized experience (defined below) equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal Service. GS-14: Applicants must have one-year (52 weeks) of specialized experience (defined below) equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal Service. 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 at the GS-12 level are: Conducting research on the resistance of wheat and barley to rust pathogens; AND Publishing research in peer-reviewed scientific journals; AND Presenting research at scientific conferences or meetings. The specialized experience requirements for this position at the GS-13 level are: Planning and conducting independent and collaborative research on the resistance of wheat and barley to rust pathogens; AND Publishing research in peer-reviewed scientific journals; AND Presenting research at scientific conferences or meetings; AND Supervising staff to accomplish research objectives. The specialized experience requirements for this position at the GS-14 level are: Leading group efforts and planning and conducting independent and collaborative research on wheat and barley resistant to rust pathogens; AND Publishing research as the senior author in peer-reviewed scientific journals; AND Being invited to present research at scientific conferences or meetings; AND Supervising staff to accomplish research objectives. 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. 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. Education Please see above for education qualification requirement information. Additional Information Research scientists have open-ended promotion potential. Research accomplishments and their impact on the duties and responsibilities of positions are evaluated periodically. The grade level is limited only by the individual's demonstrated ability to perform research of recognized importance to science and technology. *Final grade level may be determined by a peer review panel. Vacant research positions may be filled at one of several grade levels depending upon the scientific impact of the person selected. For this reason, you are encouraged to apply at all grade levels. A peer review will be required for selections made at grades GS-13 and above and the selectee will be required to submit supplemental materials. CONFIDENTIAL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT: Federal employees are subject to prohibitions against officially dealing with outside organizations in which they have a financial interest. If hired for this position, you may be required to submit a financial disclosure report within 30 days of the effective date of your appointment and annually thereafter. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 71 out of a possible 100. Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at time of job offer. 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.