This position is located in Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Field Organization, Midwest Area, Corn Insect and Crop Genetics Research in Ames, IA. The position works with the Maize Genetics and Genomics Database (MaizeGDB). The MaizeGDB is a community-oriented, long-term federally funded service to researchers focused on the crop plant and model organism Zea mays.

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 Requirement:

Degree:

genetics; or one of the basic biological sciences that included at least 9 semester hours in genetics. In addition to meeting the basic requirements described above, applicants must also meet additional qualification requirements as stated below.

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: Qualifying 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 collaborating with laboratory and computational scientists to develop improved data warehousing approaches supporting crop genetics research. Providing technical guidance to researchers and scientists on computational biology methods, data formatting standards. Conducting genomic studies to characterize genome structure and regulation.

OR Education:

Successful completion of three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include Plant Pathology, Genetics, Genomics, Molecular Biology, Biology, or related fields. OR A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as described above. 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.