Supervisory Research Plant Pathologist/Supervisory Research Geneticist

Summary

This position is located in the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Pacific West Area (PWA), at the Small Grains and Potato Germplasm Research Unit in Aberdeen, Idaho. In this position, you will help to develop new tools for disease resistance screening, genetic mapping of resistance genes, and practical application of mapped genes to resistance breeding.

Duties

• Contribute to the work of the National Small Grains Collection (NSGC) in the area of analysis of identifying new sources of disease resistance and developing genetic markers and implementing genetic marker analyses for key traits.
• Responsible for maintaining and enhancing the research creativity and productivity of the unit; hiring personnel and managing the human, fiscal, and physical resources of the unit
• Research objectives involving encompassing breeding and pathology of small grains and potatoes, cereal chemistry and genetics, small grains germplasm maintenance/evaluation, and rainbow trout genetics, nutrition, physiology, and feed technology.
• Develop, evaluate, and apply genomic tools to small grains genetics and germplasm enhancement research.
• Identify, map, and develop genetic markers for disease resistance and quality genes.
• Develop improved barley and oat cultivars meeting the needs of conventional and specialty markets for both dryland and irrigated production systems in the western U.S.

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. In addition to meeting the basic requirements described below in the education section, applicants must also meet additional qualification requirements as stated below. Specialized Experience 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 leading a research project focused on plant genetics or genomics, plant breeding, or plant pathology that contribute to genetic improvement of crops; Evaluating and enhancing data that increase the understanding of genetic control of crop productivity, quality, or biotic stress resistance; AND Presenting or publishing research results focused on plant genetics or genomics, plant breeding, or plant pathology that support genetic improvement of crops. GS-15: Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-14 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-15 level of this position are: Experience managing a team for a research project focused on plant genetics or genomics, plant breeding, or plant pathology that contribute to genetic improvement of crops; Evaluating and enhancing data that increase the understanding of genetic control of crop productivity, quality, or biotic stress resistance; Presenting or publishing research results focused on plant genetics or genomics, plant breeding, or plant pathology that support genetic improvement of crops; AND Identifying and prioritizing important plant genetic or pathology research by interacting with national commodity groups, industry representatives, university scientists or other stakeholders. 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. Supervisory/Managerial Competencies - the following KSAs will also be used to evaluate candidates in the interview and selection process. 1. Ability to lead and accomplish work through others (i.e. team building, conflict management, cultural awareness, strategic thinking, technology management, and political savvy. 2. Ability to communicate with individuals or groups from diverse backgrounds in a variety of situations. 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.

Education

Basic Requirements Plant Pathology Series, 0434 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. Genetics Series, 0440 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, pr…