Research Plant Pathologist/Plant Physiologist/Geneticist (Research Associate) Job in Peoria, IL

Vacancy No. RA-25MWA-H-12648623-HCL Department Agricultural Research Service
Salary $73,939.00 to $96,116.00 Grade 11 to 11
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 1/7/2025 Close Date 1/6/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Peoria, IL


Summary

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the United States Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency and one of the world's 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.

**ANNOUNCEMENT IS OPEN UNTIL FILLED OR January 6, 2026**

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents seeking U.S. Citizenship

Duties

  • Lead research projects to generate a complex dataset to evaluate and identify promising plant genes associated with wheat nutritional integrity and Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) disease resistance.
  • Generate a transcriptomic dataset to accelerate wheat breeding strategies for adaptive plant defense and nutritional integrity with rising CO2.
  • Inoculate wheat with fungal pathogens and evaluate disease outcomes.
  • Conduct an integrative transcriptomic and gene co-expression network analysis of host and host × pathogen response to elevated CO2.
  • Compare wheat nutritional integrity at elevated CO2.
  • Identify plant genes associated with wheat nutritional integrity (grain protein and macronutrients) and FHB disease resistance.
  • Maintain a safe work environment for self and others in a biosafety level 2 laboratory.
  • Analyze, interpret, and report research results in the form of presentations, publications, patents, and technical reports.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • 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 https://www.e-verify.gov/.
  • Appropriations Law and Immigration Law requirements must be met.

Qualifications

This position requires a recent Ph.D. (obtained in the last 4 years) in plant pathology, plant physiology, genetics, 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.

Experience with molecular biology techniques (e.g. qPCR, RNA/DNA extractions, aseptic technique) is needed. Experience in bioinformatics, computational biology, or statistics, and handling fungal cultures in a research setting is preferred. Strong problem-solving skills, interpersonal and teamwork skills, i.e., ability to be self-motivated and to work both independently and in a team environment, and demonstrated communication skills (oral and written) is highly desired.

This position requires occasional local travel for field work. A valid motor vehicle's drivers license is highly desired, but not required.

Applicants must meet basic Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standard's requirements (noted below) of at least one of the scientific disciplines necessary to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position.

Basic Requirements for Plant Pathology Series (0434)
Degree: plant pathology; or a related scientific discipline that included at least 20 semester hours in basic botany or plant science, and 10 semester hours in plant pathology.

Graduate Education: must have been in plant pathology, or in one of the recognized subject-matter fields of plant pathology, or have followed a curriculum or pattern of training that placed major emphasis on plant pathology or one of the recognized subject-matter fields of plant pathology, such as those dealing with particular types of pathogens, diseases of particular kinds of crops, or chemical or biological controls. Graduate study in related fields such as microbiology, entomology, plant physiology, genetics, agronomy, horticulture, forestry, or chemistry may also be qualifying, provided it placed a sufficient amount of emphasis on plant pathology.

Evaluation of Education: courses in botany, plant physiology, plant taxonomy, plant pathology, agronomy, forestry, horticulture, or similar subjects may be used to meet the 20-semester-hour requirement in basic botany or plant science. To meet the specific 10-semester-hour requirement in plant pathology, the courses must have been in plant pathology, or have dealt with specific subject matter areas of plant pathology such as those concerned with viruses, fungal or bacterial diseases, host-plant relationships, biotic or chemical controls, environmental or physiological diseases, parasitic diseases, etc.

Basic Requirements for Plant Physiology Series (0435)
Degree: botany or plant physiology; or a related scientific discipline that included at least 10 semester hours in plant physiology.

Evaluation of Education: The 10-semester-hour requirement in plant physiology is specific. Course work is qualifying if it dealt with plant physiology, some phase of plant physiology, or methods and techniques applied in plant physiology work. Other course work in borderline areas should be evaluated on the basis of content.

Basic Requirements for Genetics Series (0440)
Degree: genetics; or one of the basic biological sciences that included at least 9 semester hours in genetics.

Graduate Education: Genetics, or a curriculum or pattern of training that placed major emphasis on genetics. Graduate study in related fields such as agronomy, horticulture, animal, dairy, or poultry husbandry, entomology, microbiology, plant pathology, chemistry, molecular and cellular biology, and physiology that involved cross-training in genetics is qualifying, provided it placed sufficient emphasis on genetics.

Education

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.

A Ph.D. is required that was obtained within the last four years.

Additional information

This position is designated as a bargaining unit position and is represented by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).

Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at time of job offer.

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.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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".

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

Required Documents

The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, your system failure, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

  • Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) other qualifications.
  • If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
  • If claiming veteran's preference, you must submit a DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. If currently on active duty you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. Veteran's preference must be verified prior to appointment. Without this documentation, you will not receive veteran's preference and your application will be evaluated based on the material(s) submitted.
  • If claiming 10-point veteran's preference you must provide the DD214 or certification requirements (see above bullet), plus the proof of entitlement of this preference as listed on the SF-15 Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference. The SF-15 should be included but is not required. Failure to submit these documents could result in the determination that there is insufficient documentation to support your claim for 10-point preference. For more information on veterans' preference visit FEDSHIREVETS
  • Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.

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.

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.

How to Apply

Applications may be e-mailed or mailed to Dr. William Hay at the appropriate address listed below:

E-mail:
William.Hay@usda.gov

Mail:
Dr. William Hay
USDA/ARS National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research
1815 N. University St.
Peoria, IL 61604

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.

Agency contact information

Heather Lee
Address
Agricultural Research Service
5601 Sunnyside Ave
Beltsville, MD 20705
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Applications will be received and reviewed for consideration until a selection has been made.

Under the Fair Chance Act, agencies are not allowed to request information about an applicant's criminal history until a conditional offer of employment has been made, except as allowed for access to classified information; assignment to national security duties or positions; acceptance or retention in the armed forces; or recruitment of a Federal law enforcement officer. An applicant may submit a complaint or any other information related to an organization's alleged noncompliance with the Fair Chance Act. The complaint must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged noncompliance. To make a Fair Chance Act inquiry or complaint, send an email with the appropriate information to Lisa.Porter@usda.gov, subject line: Fair Chance Act.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


© 2006-2025, exclusive of U. S. government job opportunity announcements