Entomologist

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS); Ames (IA); On-site; USD 91,000 - 118,000; Full time

Job summary

USDA – Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, located in Ames, IA, seeks an Entomologist at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories to definitively identify external parasites affecting domestic animals and wildlife, aiding animal health programs.

The role involves training, consultation, and providing ecological information on parasites, plus directing the National Tick Surveillance Program report and coordinating with tick and foreign disease programs.

Qualifications

• Degree in entomology or related science with at least 16 semester hours in entomology.
• Experience identifying arthropod parasites and pests to the lowest taxonomic level based on morphology, host, geography, season, and other info.
• Combination of education and experience as described; transcripts required.

Responsibilities

• Train in parasite identification, tick and screwworm ID, and vectors of foreign animal diseases.
• Serve as entomology consultant to agency staff, field personnel, and cooperating universities.
• Provide complex biological and ecological information about native and exotic parasites of economic importance.
• Direct the compilation and publishing of the National Tick Surveillance Program Report.

Skills

Arthropod identification

Specimen cataloging

Field investigations

Education

Entomology degree or related field with 16 semester hours in entomology

Job description

Find Your Future With Us at USDA – Animal Plant Health Inspection Service

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.

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 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.

Major Duties

• Conducts training in parasites and parasite identification, tick and screwworm identification and eradication, and biology, ecology, and identification of arthropod vectors of foreign animal diseases.
• Entomology consultant to agency staff, field personnel, and cooperating university faculties.
• Provides complex biological and ecological information about native and exotic parasites that are of significant economic importance.
• Directs the compilation and publishing of the annual National Tick Surveillance Program Report.
• Maintains communication with program staff personnel in the tick and screwworm eradication programs and foreign animal disease surveillance and eradication programs.
• Conducts field investigations, developmental studies, and literature reviews to provide information on specific questions about parasites of concern.
• Curates the program Parasite Reference Collection.

Position Start Date

11/03/2026

Position Close Date

11/09/2026

Salary Offered

90937 - 118221 USD Per Year

You can make a difference! The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) needs bright, energetic and committed professionals to facilitate the domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural products and to protect the health and care of animals and plants in the United States. We operate in domestic and global markets. Be part of an organization that protects the health and agriculture of the American people. Join our team! To learn more about what it's like to work at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, what the agency does, and the types of careers, please visit the APHIS careers site. APHIS is an emergency response agency. This means that all Agency employees may be asked or assigned to participate in rotating temporary duty assignments to support emergency programs at some time during their careers with APHIS. For details click: APHIS Emergency Response