Agriculturalist (Risk Analyst)/Biological Scientist

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 in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR Combination of education and experience: post high school education with courses equivalent to a major, which is defined as 24 semester/36 quarter hours, in the biological sciences, agriculture, natural resources management, chemistry or related disciplines appropriate to the position, PLUS appropriate experience or additional course work.

FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Applying scientific background to support basic laboratory, diagnostic, field activities, risk analysis, or other analytical work that addresses plant pest issues and contributes to plant-health safeguarding efforts.

Supporting scientific or program activities related to assessing plant pest risks or safeguarding plant health. Assisting with evaluations or analyses that contribute to understanding the likelihood of plant pest introduction, establishment, movement, or program impacts. Interpreting, evaluating, or analyzing scientific, technical, or programmatic information such as datasets, reports, publications, or operational materials related to plant pests.

Preparing technical documents, reports, or presentations related to plant pest issues or program needs. OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in biological sciences, or closely related. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified.

You are qualifying for the position based on education. 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. COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-11 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements.

The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. 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.

The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.,The duties may include, but are not limited to:,Provides scientific leadership in qualitative and quantitative analyses supporting the management of invasive species, including arthropods, diseases, and other plant pests.,Determines, from a scientific standpoint, the likelihood of invasion, establishment, and movement of quarantine significant exotic pests in the United States.,Obtains, validates, and analyzes biological, ecological, molecular, or program data related to pest identification, diagnostics, or risk analysis.,Develops scientifically and statistically sound sampling procedures for surveys of quarantine significant pests, including estimates of detection probabilities as a function of sampling effort and pest population size.,Estimates spatially dependent probabilities of presence or absence of pests using multivariate statistical analyses, spatial methods, or modeling tools.,Designs, evaluates, and optimizes strategies for detecting incipient pest populations, including the use of modeling tools, simulation methods, laboratory analyses, or field studies.,Reviews work plans, research proposals, experimental designs, manuscripts, and proposed PPQ protocols to ensure that procedures are scientifically valid and meaningful.,Prepares reports, memoranda, technical documents, and scientific materials in accordance with agency, PPQ, and program policies,