Research Agronomist/soil Scientist/ Agricultural Engineer

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Job description

Summary

This position is located in the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), Adaptive Cropping Systems Laboratory, in Beltsville, MD.

Incumbent will use and improve models to evaluate and assess long-term sustainability of agricultural systems and processes associated with the USDA-ARS Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) network.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates
  
  10/26/2021 to 11/23/2021
• Salary
  
  $87,198 - $134,798 per year
• Pay scale & grade
  
  GS 12 - 13
• Help
  Location
  
  1 vacancy in the following location:
  
  • Beltsville, MD
• Telework eligible
  
  Yes-as determined by the agency policy.
• Travel Required
  
  Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
• Relocation expenses reimbursed
  
  No
• Appointment type
  
  Permanent
• Work schedule
  
  Full-time
• Service
  
  Competitive
• Promotion potential
  
  15
• Job family (Series)
  
  0470 Soil Science
  
  0471 Agronomy
  
  0890 Agricultural Engineering
• Supervisory status
  
  Yes
• Security clearance
  
  Not Required
• Drug test
  
  No
• Position sensitivity and risk
  
  Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
• Trust determination process
  
  Suitability/Fitness
• Announcement number
  
  ARS-DEMO-22-NEA--SC
• Control number
  
  

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This job is open to

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
  
  Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
• The public
  
  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

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Duties

• Use and improve models to evaluate and assess long-term sustainability of agricultural systems and processes associated with the USDA-ARS Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) network.
• Create new process-level mechanistic and artificial intelligence modeling algorithms into existing crop and soil models that better distinguish effects of genetics (G), environment (E), and management (M) components from long-term field plots.
• Identify long-term trends associated with G, E, and cultivar components on yield, grain quality, and physical/chemical soil characteristics.
• Develop adaptation strategies based on management and genetic selection that can lead to long-term improvement of soil health and sustainable high yields in response to future climates.
• Apply crop models to address management questions around issues such a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, weed pressure, nutrient and water management, and crop rotations.
• Large scale modeling and incorporation of remotely sensed data will be investigated.
• Analysis of spatial variability will be conducted to analyze optimal management prescriptions that lead to yield stability analysis over the regions of interest.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check
• Direct Deposit ? Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at
• Successful completion of a three year probationary period.
• Federal employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of their duty location. If selected, you will be required to submit documentation of COVID-19 vaccination by November 22, 2021 or before appointment, if after November 22.
• The agency will provide additional information regarding what COVID-19 vaccination information or documentation will be needed and how you can request of the agency a legally required exception from this requirement.

Qualifications

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

Additional Requirements
In addition to meeting the basic requirements described below, 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:

• Conducting research focused on soil ecosystems in the context of crop production and sustainability; AND
• Conducting research in at least one of the following areas:

• Creating or improving computer-aided soil lifecycle or crop models to evaluate current soil health and conditions and predict future soil conditions; OR
• Developing calculation tools focused on soil lifecycles and crop yield predictions, to aid farmers in making crop yield predictions.

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:

• Conducting research focused on soil ecosystems in the context of crop production and sustainability; AND
• Conducting research in at least one of the following areas:

• Creating or improving computer-aided soil lifecycle or crop models to evaluate current soil health and conditions and predict future soil conditions; OR
• Develping calculation tools focused on soil lifecycles and crop yield predictions, to aid farmers in making crop yield predictions; OR
• Independently cnceiving, conducting, and leading research focused on soil ecosystems.

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.

Education

Basic Requirements: Applicants must meet the basic requirements for at least one of the 3 series listed below in addition to the minimum qualifications.

0470, Soil Sciences Series:
Degree: soil science or a closely related discipline that included 30 semester hours or equivalent in biological, physical, or earth science, with a minimum of 15 semester hours in such subjects as soil genesis, pedology, soil chemistry, soil physics, and soil fertility.

OR

Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in soil science or a related discipline that included at least 30 semester hours in the biological, physical, or earth sciences. At least 15 of these semester hours must have been in the areas specified above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

0471, Agronomy Series:
Degree: agronomy; or related discipline of science that included at least 30 semester hours of course work in the basic plant sciences, including at least 15 semester hours in agronomic subjects, such as those dealing with plant breeding, crop production, and soil and crop management.

OR

Combination of education and experience: at least 30 semester hours in the basic plant sciences, including a minimum of 15 semester hours in agronomic subjects, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Graduate Education: Agronomy..... click apply for full job details