An official website of the United States government
The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the United States Department of Agricultures chief scientific research agency and one of the worlds premiere scientific organizations. ARS Postdoctoral Research Associates are hired to supplement a lead scientist's research on agricultural problems of high national priority affecting American agriculture.
08/28/2018 to 02/19/2019
$66,253 - $86,132 per year
GS 11
No
Occasional travel - Travel for trainings and research.
No
Temporary
Full-Time
Excepted
12
No
No
RA-18-004-H
509265100
The incumbent will be part of a team investigating how the biological, physical and chemical environment of the wine grape production system leads to specific chemical and sensory traits in wine. The incumbent will build on existing research on the mechanisms that drive microbial composition and function of wine systems. The incumbent will examine how climate, soil characteristics and management practices affect soil microbiomes; determine if soil microbiomes are a source of grape and wine microbiomes; and develop quantitative models to examine linkages among vineyard site metrics, berry metrics, and chemical and sensorial wine characteristics. The work will occur in partnership with a major California winery, which has provided access to wine grapes of the same genotype across vineyards situated along longitudinal transect between southern California and Oregon. Two years of data pertaining to the incumbents objectives have been collected from these vineyards, including: land use history, soil and grape must microbiomes, climate and edaphic characteristics, FTIR spectra of soil organic matter; chemical analysis of grape must, fermentations and wine; and sensory analysis of the wine. The incumbent will have the opportunity to design innovative experiments related to the following topics: 1) determining the roles of soil physical and chemical attributes, microbiome composition and activity, and soil nutrient transformations and availability in supporting vine health and berry ripening; 2) identifying the functional relationship among soil microbiomes, soil organic matter composition and quantity, and management practices in these vineyards that effectively shape soil microbiomes; and/or 3) developing predictive models among rootstock genotype, soil systems and vineyard management (e.g. irrigation with degraded water sources, cover crops, compost).
• Entrance on duty is contingent upon completion of a pre-employment security investigation. The position may require a Confidential, Secret, or Top Secret security clearance or be subject to a Public Trust background investigation at the time of appointment, and may be subject to reinvestigation every five years thereafter. A favorable adjudication of the clearance or background investigation at the time of appointment and on reinvestigations is a condition of employment.
This position requires a recent Ph.D Microbiology/Geonomics, Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Environmental Microbiology, Microbial Ecology, Soil Science or a related field of study that has equipped the applicant with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position.
The incumbent must be able to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities in next generation sequencing and metagenomics, associated data management and computational analysis. Demonstrate the ability to conduct effective oral communication and publication in peer-review scientific journals. Knowledge of agriculture, wine grape production and/or plant physiology is desired, but not necessary.
Applicants must meet basic Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standard's requirements of the scientific discipline necessary to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position.
This position has a positive education requirement. You must submit a copy of your academic transcripts OR a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed, and grades received to verify education when applying for this position. If this information is not provided, your education may not be appropriately evaluated and you may lose consideration for this position. If you are selected for this position, you will have to provide an official copy of your transcripts prior to entering on duty. Application materials will not be returned.
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.
Foreign education must be evaluated by an approved organization. For additional information, refer to the U.S. Department of Education web site at http://www.ed.gov. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
• Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choosing.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your application will be evaluated to determine if you meet eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, and on the extent to which your application shows that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with the position as defined above under "Qualifications".
If application packages do not contain all of the requested information, you may lose consideration for the job. To help you ensure your application fully outlines your qualifications and eligibility for this position, please submit the following documentation as appropriate. Some of the items listed may not apply to you. NOTE: Applications received in postage paid government envelopes will not be considered.
APPLICATION PACKAGE CHECKLIST
__ Resume, Curriculum Vitae, or other document outlining your qualifications
The following information is required of all applicants:
__ Announcement number, title, and grade(s) of the position
__ Full name, mailing address (including zip code) and day and evening phone numbers (with area code)
__ Indicate country of citizenship __Copy of DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Only if claiming veterans preference. Visit the following web site for additional information: http://www.opm.gov/employ/veterans/html/vetguide.asp)
__SF-15 (Application for 10-point Veterans Preference) plus the supporting documentation required by this form (if claiming 10-point veteran's preference). Visit http://www.opm.gov/forms/html/sf.asp to obtain the form.
As an Applicant for a Postdoctoral Research Associate Position, you must also submit the following:
__ A one-page abstract of Ph.D. dissertation
__ A resume of 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 invitations); and publications.
__ A list of names, addresses, and phone numbers of persons familiar with your stature, contributions, and recognition.
If this is your first time applying for a federal job, or if you wish to view more detailed information about various aspects of applying for federal jobs, go to http://www.usajobs.gov/ResourceCenter.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Applications may be mailed, faxed, or e-mailed to the appropriate address and/or facsimile number listed below:
Mail:
USDA/ARS
RMI North 595 Hilgard Lane
Dept of Viticulture and Enology
U.C DAvis, Davis, CA 95616
E-mail: Kerri.steenwerth@ars.usda.gov
Fax: 530-752-0382
If sending your application as an attachment to an email, do not send zipped files. They will be removed in accordance with standard electronic security procedures.
Applications will be received and reviewed for consideration until a selection has been made.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/509265100. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
