Research Plant Pathologist

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.

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

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 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.

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.

In addition to meeting the basic requirements described above, applicants must also meet additional qualification requirements as stated below.

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.

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.

Have a combination…