Research Plant Pathologist

US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS); Frederick (MD); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

USDA Agricultural Research Service in Frederick, MD invites qualified researchers to conduct studies on invasive plant pathogens and weeds using specialized containment facilities. This role focuses on advancing understanding of foreign and emergent plant health threats and contributing to solutions for agricultural concerns.

Applicants should meet education and experience requirements in plant pathology or related fields and be prepared to engage in a rigorous research program, publish

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in plant pathology or related field with at least 20 semester hours in botany/plant science and 10 semester hours in plant pathology.
• Graduate education must focus on plant pathology or related field with emphasis on plant pathogens, diseases, or pathology-related topics.
• GS-12/13/14 eligibility includes specialized experience or doctoral degree related to plant pathology; combination of education and experience may apply.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on invasive plant pathogens and weeds using specialized containment facilities.
• Plan and execute research projects addressing foreign and emergent plant health threats.
• Communicate findings through reports and publications; collaborate with national/international teams.

Skills

Research

Plant pathology

Scientific writing

Education

Plant pathology degree

Graduate education in plant pathology

Tools

Containment facilities

Job description

Summary

These positions are located in the USDA, ARS, Northeast Area, Foreign Disease/Weed Science Research Unit in Frederick, MD. In these positions, you will conduct research of invasive plant pathogens and weeds that are foreign and/or newly emergent, utilizing unique biological containment facilities for their study.

Duties

These positions are located in the USDA, ARS, Northeast Area, Foreign Disease/Weed Science Research Unit in Frederick, MD. In these positions, you will conduct research of invasive plant pathogens and weeds that are foreign and/or newly emergent, utilizing unique biological containment facilities for their study.

Requirements

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 for Plant Pathology Series 0434 Degree: Plant pathology; or a related scientific discipline, such as plant biology, biology, botany, microbiology, genetics, agronomy, horticulture, entomology, or related fields, that included at least 20 semester hours in basic botany or plant science, and 10 semester hours in plant pathology.

Graduate Education: Graduate education must have been in plant pathology, or in a related scientific field in which the curriculum, research, thesis, dissertation, or other pattern of training placed major emphasis on plant pathology or a recognized subject‑matter field of plant pathology. Qualifying subject‑matter fields may include those addressing particular types of plant pathogens, diseases of particular crops, plant‑pathogen relationships, pathogen transmission, disease epidemiology, diagnostics, or biological or chemical controls. Graduate study in related fields such as plant biology, biology, microbiology, entomology, plant physiology, genomics, agronomy, horticulture, forestry, or chemistry may also be qualifying, provided the curriculum placed a sufficient amount of emphasis on plant pathology or a recognized plant‑pathology subject‑matter field.

Evaluation of Education: courses in botany, plant biology, microbiology, 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, courses must have been in plant pathology, or have dealt with specific plant pathology subject matter areas, such as plant pathogens; viruses, fungi (mycology), oomycetes, or bacteria; host‑plant relationships; disease epidemiology; pathogen transmission; biotic or chemical controls; environmental or physiological diseases; parasitic diseases, or similar topics.

Additional Requirements In addition to meeting the basic requirements described above, applicants must also meet additional qualification requirements as stated below. GS-12: Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service or possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or possess an equivalent combination of graduate level education and experience. Graduate education must be directly related to the work of the position and must have equipped applicants with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-12 level of this position are: experience conducting research on plant pathogens or associated plant health systems involving readily definable objectives or a limited segment of a broader investigation; applying existing scientific theory, methods, or techniques, and preparing scientific reports, presentations.

OR Education: Completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, if related. Education must be directly related to the work of the position and must have equipped applicants with the knowledge, skills and abilities to do the work. OR Combination of Education and Experience: Have a combination of Ph.D. level education and specialized experience as described above.

GS‑13: Applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 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-13 level of this position are: experience independently planning, developing, and conducting a broad and complex research program involving plant pathogens or associated plant health systems; defining research problems and objectives; selecting or adapting sophisticated research approaches; analyzing and interpreting results; and communicating findings through scientific publications, presentations, reports, or other research products.

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 independently conceiving, leading, and successfully conducting a research program addressing exceptionally difficult, complex, or emerging problems involving plant pathogens or associated plant health systems. Experience must demonstrate sustained leadership of an independent research program, including setting research direction, managing resources, supervising research personnel, and expert consultation or advisory service, leadership of major research efforts.

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. 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.

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/.