Entomologist

US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; Ames (IA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) is seeking an Entomologist at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories to definitively identify external parasites affecting domestic animals and wildlife. You will support animal health programs by providing accurate taxonomic identifications based on morphology, host association, and geographic location.

Candidates must meet the basic education requirements in entomology and have relevant specialized experience, with

Qualifications

• Minimum degree in entomology or related discipline with at least 16 semester hours in entomology.
• Combination of education and experience may be used to qualify.
• GS-12 requires one year of specialized experience identifying arthropod parasites and pests, assessing threat, geography, and maintaining cataloged specimens.

Skills

Identifying arthropod parasites and P​

Providing organism information on risk

Maintaining specimen collections

Education

Entomology degree with 16 semester hours in entomology

Job description

As an Entomologist at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories you are responsible for definitively identifying a wide range of external parasites affecting all species of domestic animals and wildlife to support animal health programs. 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 REQUIREMENT:

Degree: entomology; or a related discipline of the biological or physical sciences that included at least 16 semester hours in entomology.

OR Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major that included course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

AND FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: (1) Identifying arthropod parasites and pests to the lowest taxonomic level that can be made with certainty based on morphology, host association, geographic location, season, and other pertinent information; (2) Providing information about an identified organism such as: the threat posed by an organism, whether it is a native species or exotic, disease vectoring capability, geographic distribution, and potential for spreading in the environment; (3) Maintaining, organizing, and cataloging specimen collections. Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level.

TRANSCRIPTS are required:

• This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified.
• You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education.
• This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university.

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.