Sugarcane Research Technician - Plant Science & Genomics

US-Agricultural-Research-Servic; Houma (LA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Sugarcane Research Unit in Houma, Louisiana, under the Agricultural Research Service, seeks researchers to lead sustainable breeding, genomics, and plant science programs. This role requires completing specialized experience and/or graduate education as outlined for GS-07 through GS-09, with duties spanning laboratory analysis, field trials, and data management.

Applicants must meet the qualifications by the posting closing date and will contribute to crop program development and intramural

Qualifications

• Specialized experience for GS-07 includes one year at GS-06 level directly related to the work.
• Education: one full year of progressively higher level graduate education leading to master's or equivalent.
• For GS-08: one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-07 in crop research, sample collection, field raising, and operating basic farm/pesticide equipment.
• Education: two full years of progressively higher level graduate education.
• For GS-09: one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-08 including entomology and plant science experiments, equipment maintenance, microscope use for identification/quantification, and preparing reagents for PCR analyses.

Responsibilities

• Lead sustainable research and variety development using breeding, genomics, precision agriculture, integrated pest management, soil science, and plant physiology.
• Prepare and analyze biological samples; collect data and maintain detailed records.
• Support field and lab activities across crop research stages.

Skills

Record keeping

Lab techniques

Sample collection

Crop cultivation

PCR analysis

Education

Graduate education in Entomology/Biology/Pathology/Genetics/Agriculture/Plant Science

Two years of graduate education in related field

Tools

Microscope

Basic farm/pesticide equipment

PCR reagents preparation

Job description

The Sugarcane Research Unit in Houma, Louisiana, under the Agricultural Research Service, seeks researchers to lead sustainable breeding, genomics, and plant science programs. This role requires completing specialized experience and/or graduate education as outlined for GS-07 through GS-09, with duties spanning laboratory analysis, field trials, and data management.

Applicants must meet the qualifications by the posting closing date and will contribute to crop program development and intramural