Research Geneticist (Plants)
Duties Summary
The incumbent is a Research Geneticist (Plants) for the Corn Insect & Plant Genetics Research Unit located in Ames, Iowa. Research projects focus on plant improvements, which may include agronomic qualities, nutritional quality, increased production, enhanced uses, or reduction of plant pathogen, pest, or abiotic stress impacts, using genetic/genomic approaches. Incumbent is responsible for devising, planning, conducting, and reporting research completed under assigned research projects.
Requirements
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 Requirements: 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.
Specialized Experience
GS-12: Conducting research related to plant genetic improvement; Presenting research findings at scientific conferences or academic meetings; Publishing research results in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
GS-13: Planning and conducting research related to improving crop productivity, disease and pest resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, or consumer quality; Presenting research findings at scientific conferences; Publishing research results as the primary author in peer-reviewed scientific journals; Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders.
GS-14: Planning, conducting, and leading team research related to improving crop productivity, disease and pest resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, and consumer quality; Presenting research findings at scientific conferences; Publishing independent research results as the primary author in peer-reviewed scientific journals; Establishing or expanding collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
GS-15: Developing, executing, and managing a research program related to crop improvement; Presenting research findings at national and international scientific conferences; Publishing independent research findings related to crop improvement as the primary author in peer-reviewed scientific journals; Serving as Principal Investigator on a collaborative research grant.
Pay
Pay grades for this position range from $60,870 to $134,820 per year based on factors such as experience, education, and certifications.
Schedule
The schedule for this position is typically full-time (40 hours per week).
Benefits
The benefits package offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture includes health insurance, retirement plans, and other perks.
Skills
Skills required for this position include expertise in genetic/genomic approaches, ability to conduct and present research findings, and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
Benefits
The benefits package offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture includes health insurance, retirement plans, and other perks.
Application Instructions
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.
About the Agency
Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in-house research agency. Our job is finding solutions to agricultural problems that affect Americans every day from field to table. What we do matters in science and the world. For more information about Agricultural Research Service, go to https://www.ars.usda.gov/.