Agricultural Research Service, Department of Agriculture

Madison, WI | #government

This position is located in Agricultural Research Service (ARS), U.S.

Dairy Forge Research Center, in Madison, WI.

The incumbent will provide microbiological professional support to the research team studying animal genetics.

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

Time in grade:nApplicants must have one year at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade (e.g.

one year at the GS-11 grade level for consideration for the GS-12 grade level).

Basic Requirements: Degree: microbiology; or biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included at least 20 semester hours in microbiology and other subjects related to the study of microorganisms, and 20 semester hours in the physical and mathematical sciences combining course work in organic chemistry or biochemistry, physics, and college algebra, or their equivalent.

OR Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in microbiology, biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included courses as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Evaluation of Education: Microbiology is a broad field of science encompassing a number of scientific disciplines or areas of science, the fields in which this science is applied, and related fields where the work is concerned with or involves microbiology.

The scientific disciplines or areas of this science include bacteriology, immunology, serology, algology, mycology, parasitology, protozoology, rickettsi-ology, tissue culture, virology, and similar disciplines or areas of science.

The applied fields include environmental, food, dairy, soil, industrial, public health, clinical, and agricultural microbiology, and similar areas in which microbiology is applied.

Related fields include taxonomy and systematics, plant, animal, or human physiology or pathology, infectious diseases, epidemiology, ecology, and similar areas of science where the work is directly related or applies to microbiology.

Except where the course work deals with a limited and specific segment of the science, where it might be limited in usefulness, most of the work, including that dealing with the development and use of microbiological methods, procedures, and techniques, is qualifying.

In interpreting the substantive value of the course work, credit may be given for courses in related fields, depending on the degree to which the courses are related to micro-biological work.

AND Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled.

Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised.

The specialized experience requirements for this position are:nQualifying experience for GS-11 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-09 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

For this position, specialized experience is experience participating in research related to genetics or animals; maintaining and operating scientific equipment or instruments used for research; and keeping or interpreting records or experimental data.

OR Education: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D.

degree or Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree, if related.

Related degrees may include microbiology, pathology, animal science, or genetics.

OR An appropriate combination of education and experience as described above.

At The GS 12:nQualifying experience for GS-12 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-11 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

For this position, specialized experience is experience participating in research related to genetics or animals; maintaining and operating scientific equipment or instruments used for research; keeping or interpreting records or experimental data; and developing new procedures or protocols for research.

Selective Placement Factor(s): In addition to the specialized experience requirement above, this position has a selective placement factor (SPF).

Selective Placement Factors are special requirements, in addition to the minimum requirements, that are essential in successfully performing the duties of this job.

If SPF experience is not documented in your resume, you will not receive further consideration under this announcement.

Research experience using long read DNA sequencing systems (ie.

Oxford Nano technology, Pacific Bio) 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.

Physical Demands: The work sometimes requires standing for prolonged periods of time.

Work Environment: Work is performed primarily in a laboratory.

Incumbent is exposed to irritant chemicals on an irregular basis; on such occasions, special safety precautions are required and the microbiologist uses protective clothing and gear such as laboratory coat, safety glasses and gloves.