Entomologist National Taxonomist - Maryland
As an Entomologist (National Taxonomist) with APHIS, Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ), you will serve as the authority in systematic Entomology, for thrips and psyllids and provide final identification of these insects and related groups, analyze pest risk, and make recommendations to management.
- Makes final taxonomic determinations of thrips, psyllids and related groups intercepted at ports of entry, in samples from domestic field surveys, export certifications, and other sources.
- Develops risk and environmental evaluations to document permitting activities related to specific invertebrates.
- Conducts literature searches, and reviews and evaluates current foreign and domestic scientific literature for data on thrips and psyllids.
- Evaluates the quarantine significance of exotic pests based on published data and/or unpublished information gained through networking with scientific colleagues.
- Serves as the Agency authority in resolving scientific problems associated with quarantining significant insects and makes recommendations to the Agency regarding procedural or policy changes.
- Provides technical guidance in areas of entomological specialization to staff and field personnel in order to exclude the entry of infested commodities or eradicate or control introduced insects.
- Initiates and cultivates working relationships with scientific colleagues nationally and internationally.
- Evaluates formal requests from field identification personnel for authority to identify insects intercepted through PPQ activities.
- Determines formal training needs for technical field personnel and develops and delivers courses in advanced quarantine taxonomy for insects in area of expertise.
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a US Citizen or US National.
- Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
- Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
- Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
- 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.
- All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions.
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: entomology; or a related discipline of the biological or physical sciences that included at least 16 semester hours in entomology. OR
Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major that included course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:
- Experience providing rapid, authoritative identifications of specimens in their focal taxa, using literature and specimen collections.
- Experience working as a subject matter expert in insect identification and taxonomy.
- Experience using an applied knowledge of insect taxonomy and ecology to conduct Plant Pest Risk Assessments.
Note: There is no education substitution 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.
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.
Education
Please see above for education qualification requirement information.
Additional information
- Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
- First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected.
- Promotion Potential: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.
- Worksite Information: This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements. Additional information regarding ad hoc, occasional, or reoccurring telework may be obtained at a later time from the hiring manager or program during the hiring process.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures and USDA policy using category rating. Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Category placement will be determined based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies:
