Research Plant Pathologist
Job Location:
Frederick, MD - USA
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
These positions are located in the USDA ARS Northeast Area Foreign Disease/Weed Science Research Unit in Frederick MD.
In these positions you will conduct research of invasive plant pathogens and weeds that are foreign and/or newly emergent utilizing unique biological containment facilities for their study.
- Develops and conducts an independent research program on foreign invasive and/or newly emerging plant pathogens and associated plant health threats including their biology transmission host range emergence and survival.
- Investigates interactions among plant pathogens host plants vectors seeds weeds associated microorganisms and environmental factors as appropriate to the assigned research program.
- Plans and conducts laboratory greenhouse growth chamber field and/or biocontainment studies to characterize pathogens and associated plant health systems including pathogen transmission survival and/or biological significance.
- Develops adapts validates and applies advanced scientific methods and technologies to characterize plant pathogens and associated risks and develops tools to support research detection monitoring and/or risk assessment.
- Develops or evaluates approaches to reduce plant health risks including pathogen exclusion detection mitigation transmission interruption management of pathogen reservoirs or alternate hosts and/or suppression of pathogen-associated weeds.
- Analyzes and communicates research findings through reports presentations publications diagnostic or reference resources technology transfer activities and collaborations.
- Conducts applicable research involving foreign regulated and/or high-consequence pathogens in specialized biocontainment facilities and supervises assigned support personnel.
- 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. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information.
- 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 Testing Required (pre-employment and random testing).
- Financial Disclosure Required.
- Position is located at a Biocontainment Facility.
- Incumbent escorts visitors in the laboratory area and/or works with high consequence pathogens.
- Requires Select Agent Clearance and full background investigation required for position working in BSL-3 facilities.
- To prevent the transmission of disease out of biocontainment and retention of the position you must meet medical standards in a pre-employment medical examination conducted after the receipt of a preliminary job offer and on a periodic basis.
- Successful completion of a three year probationary period.
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 Requirements for Plant Pathology Series 0434
Degree: Plant pathology; or a related scientific discipline such as plant biology biology botany microbiology genetics agronomy horticulture entomology or related fields that included at least 20 semester hours in basic botany or plant science and 10 semester hours in plant pathology.
Graduate Education: Graduate education must have been in plant pathology or in a related scientific field in which the curriculum research thesis dissertation or other pattern of training placed major emphasis on plant pathology or a recognized subject-matter field of plant pathology. Qualifying subject-matter fields may include those addressing particular types of plant pathogens diseases of particular crops plant-pathogen relationships pathogen transmission disease epidemiology diagnostics or biological or chemical controls. Graduate study in related fields such as plant biology biology microbiology entomology plant physiology genomics agronomy horticulture forestry or chemistry may also be qualifying provided the curriculum placed a sufficient amount of emphasis on plant pathology or a recognized plant pathology subject-matter field.
Evaluation of Education: courses in botany plant biology microbiology 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 courses must have been in plant pathology or have dealt with specific plant pathology subject matter areas such as plant pathogens; viruses fungi (mycology) oomycetes or bacteria; host-plant relationships; disease epidemiology; pathogen transmission; biotic or chemical controls; environmental or physiological diseases; parasitic diseases or similar topics.
Additional Requirements
In addition to meeting the basic requirements described above applicants must also meet additional qualification requirements as stated below.
GS-12: Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service or possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or possess an equivalent combination of graduate level education and experience. Graduate education must be directly related to the work of the position and must have equipped applicants with the knowledge skills and abilities necessary to do the work. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-12 level of this position are: experience conducting research on plant pathogens or associated plant health systems involving readily definable objectives or a limited segment of a broader investigation; applying existing scientific theory methods or techniques and preparing scientific reports presentations.
OR
Education: Completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree if related. Education must be directly related to the work of the position and must have equipped applicants with the knowledge skills and abilities to do the work.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: Have a combination of Ph.D. level education and specialized experience as described above.
GS-13: Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-13 level of this position are: experience independently planning developing and conducting a broad and complex research program involving plant pathogens or associated plant health systems; defining research problems and objectives; selecting or adapting sophisticated research approaches; analyzing and interpreting results; and communicating findings through scientific publications presentations reports or other research products.
GS-14: Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-14 level of this position are: experience independently conceiving leading and successfully conducting a research program addressing exceptionally difficult complex or emerging problems involving plant pathogens or associated plant health systems. Experience must demonstrate sustained leadership of an independent research program including setting research direction managing resources supervising research personnel and expert consultation or advisory service leadership of major research efforts.
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.
To further support your qualifications it is strongly recommended that you submit a one-page abstract of your MS thesis and/or Ph.D. dissertation. Failure to do so could result in loss of your consideration/referral. Also please submit a list of names addresses and phone numbers of persons familiar with your stature contributions recognition; any honors or awards received; memberships in professional or honor societies; invitations to make presentations at scientific/technical meetings; scientific society office and committee assignments; presentations (other than invitation); and publications.
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.
Please see above for education qualification requirement information.
- This position requires the selectee to undergo a pre-employment check and a full background investigation. Any offer made is considered a tentative job offer pending the outcome of the pre-employment check. Retention in the position is based upon a favorable adjudication of the background investigation. The incumbent will be subject to periodic reinvestigations.
- 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.
- 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 individuals demonstrated ability to perform research of recognized importance to science and technology. *Final grade level may be determined by a peer review panel.
- To prevent the transmission of disease out of biocontainment and retention of the position the incumbent must meet the following medical standards in a pre-employment medical examination conducted after the receipt of a preliminary job offer and on a periodic basis:
- Ability to shower out of biocontainment one or more times per day.
- Not have any skin condition which would prevent this.
- Body piercings must be able to be removed prior to entry.
- External medical assist devices must have the ability to be removed prior to entering or not impede the ability to enter biocontainment and the individual must still be able to shower out safely without assistance.
- Ability to follow instructions regarding decontamination from biocontainment.
- Any medical condition which could create an unsafe environment for the individual or his/her co-workers such as: insufficient control of a medical disorder which could result in sudden loss of consciousness; and inadequate vision and hearing required for safety in a laboratory environment.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
