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 06, 2026**
This position requires a Ph.D in Plant Sciences, Plant Genetics, Plant Breeding, Plant Molecular Biology 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. 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. BASIC REQUIREMENT Research Geneticist GS-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. Courses dealing with genetics, some phase of genetics, or specific techniques that are applied in genetics work are acceptable. This includes courses in genetics, plant or animal genetics, molecular and cellular biology, mathematics and statistics (as they apply to genetics), population dynamics, and certain techniques such as those dealing with irradiation. Course work consisting of an appropriate combination of basic courses in genetics and cytology or statistics are also acceptable.
Performs research relating to DNA sequencing, molecular marker development, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker genotyping, creation and phenotyping of bi-parental populations.
Performs research relating to quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping of traits controlling flower colors, stress resistance and other traits and gene expression analysis in Hibiscus species.
Performs genome editing, plant tissue culture and transformation (direct and indirect plant transformation), and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and other marker genotyping for breeding lines of horticultural plants.
Observes and evaluates horticultural plants breeding populations for morphological traits, physical traits, seed traits, and stress resistance in greenhouse.
Searches scientific literature for principles, methods, and procedures and selects the most appropriate for the research goals and fiscal resources.
Analyzes the results of experiments according to established principles.
Writes periodic laboratory reports including discussion on experimental design, principle, procedure, and results.
Maintains official laboratory notebooks, recording methods and procedures used, and any procedural modifications, observations, and results obtained.
Organizes experimental progress and present results in the form suitable for oral presentation or posters for scientific meetings.