Supervisory Research Microbiologist

* Duties Help Duties Summary The incumbent serves as Supervisory Research Microbiologist and Research Leader of the Agroecosystems Management Research Unit of the USDA, ARS, National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment in Ames, Iowa. The Laboratory's mission is to conduct research to develop solutions to complex problems on agricultural systems and the environment. The Unit's mission is to develop the knowledge and technology to create sustainable solutions for agricultural production and environmental benefit. Learn more about this agency Responsibilities * Determine the factors affecting soil and manure management impacts on water quality, emphasizing transport and survival of bacteria, viruses, antibiotics or antibiotic-resistant bacteria or factors affecting nutrient cycling. * Develop conservation and manure management practices that enhance nutrient retention in soils and reduce losses to surface water and groundwater. * Utilize cultural, molecular and advanced-omics approaches for microbiological analysis of microbial communities, pathogens or antibiotic resistance markers. * Use state-of-the-art analytical techniques for antibiotics and other analytes in environmental samples. * Perform, modify and improve molecular microbiology and soil ecology techniques. * Integrate large and cross-scale datasets to investigate gene flow and contaminant transport in the landscape and other pressing research concerns. * Supervisory duties include: * - Maintaining and enhancing the creativity and productivity of the Unit. * - Managing the human, fiscal and physical resources assigned to the Unit; * - Providing technical information and consultation, both internal and external to ARS; and * - Ensuring the proper interpretation and reporting of scientific research results and information. Travel Required Occasional travel - Local, domestic, and international travel is required for field work and to attend training and scientific meetings and conferences. Supervisory status Yes Promotion Potential 15 * Job family (Series) 0403 Microbiology Similar jobs * Microbiologists * Requirements Help 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. * Subject to one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period. * Successful completion of a three year probationary period. * Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/. * Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution. * Valid motor vehicle driver's license is required for travel to local field sites and research farms. 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. 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. Additional Requirements: Applicants must meet the basic requirements for the series shown above as well as the specialized experience requirements shown below to qualify for the GS-14 or GS-15 grade levels. GS-14: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience (defined below) equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal Service. * Planning and conducting independent research related to transport and survival of bacteria, viruses, antibiotics or antibiotic-resistant bacteria in soil, surface water or groundwater, or nutrient cycling and retention in soils receiving livestock manure or other organic waste application; and * Managing personnel, materials, equipment, resources and facilities needed to accomplish research goals; and * Presenting research results related to environmental microbiology, molecular biology or nutrient cycling to professional societies and others outside of organization; and * Publishing independent research results related to environmental microbiology, molecular biology or nutrient cycling in peer-reviewed scientific journals. GS-15: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience (defined below) equivalent to at least the GS-14 grade level in the Federal Service. * Leading a multi-disciplinary team of scientists conducting research related to crop or animal production systems; and * Managing personnel, materials, equipment, resources and facilities needed to accomplish research goals; and * Presenting, by invitation, research results related to environmental microbiology, molecular biology or nutrient cycling to professional societies and others outside of organization; and * Publishing independent research results related to environmental microbiology, molecular biology or nutrient cycling in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Applicants must address the specialized experience requirements in their resume (or application documents). Applications that do not reflect the specialized experience requirements will not be deemed qualified. 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. Supervisory/Managerial Competencies - the following KSAs will also be used to evaluate candidates in the interview and selection process: 1. Ability to lead and accomplish work through others (i.e. team building, conflict management, cultural awareness, strategic thinking, technology management, and political savvy). 2. Ability to communicate with individuals or groups from diverse backgrounds in a variety of situations. 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 Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

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