Biologist

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: Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. AND In addition to the basic requirements above, all applicants must also meet the following minimum qualification requirements: 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-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 performing recurring tests and analyses of plant pathology, breeding and genetics; analyzing data from imaging systems; and operating field or laboratory equipment. OR Education: Successful completion of two years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to master’s degree, or master’s or equivalent graduate degree, if related. Related degrees may include Biology, Soil Science, Agronomy, Genetics, Plant Science, Horticulture, and Botany. OR A combination of graduate education and specialized experience as described above. GS-11: 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-11 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-09 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 performing microscopic imaging of biological materials; developing strategies to integrate new technologies into ongoing or proposed biological research projects; and operating field or laboratory equipment. OR Education: Successful completion of three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, if related. Related degrees may include Biology, Soil Science, Agronomy, Genetics, Plant Science, Horticulture, and Botany. OR A combination of Ph.D. 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.
This position is located in the Agricultural Research Service, Crop Genetics Research Unit in Stoneville, MS. In this position, you will provide support of the pathological tests in growth chambers and greenhouses, maintaining pathogen cultures, and preparing pathogen inocula.