USDA APHIS NBCI

Employment

National Science Program Leader/AQI and Port Technology

Recruitment notice #24-77-013 is available to all sources. This announcement opened October 4, 1999 and closes November 26, 1999. The announcement is also available on: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/wfjic/jobs/BN3922.HTM

Recruitment notice #6-77-004-0 is available to government wide & CTAP eligibles. This announcement opened October 4, 1999 and closes November 29, 1999. This announcement is also available on: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/mb/mrphr/6770040.html

Entomologist Position

Announcement Type: ALL SOURCES/ALTERNATIVE MERIT PROMOTION
Position Title: Research Entomologist
Series/Grade: GS-0414-12
Salary: $51,144 - $66,488 per annum
Type of Appointment: Permanent
Location of Position: Western Regional Research Center, Exotic & Invasive Weeds Research, Albany, California
Announcement Number: ARS-X9W-9433
Opening Date: October 1, 1999
Closing Date: November 15, 1999
Area of Consideration: All U.S. Citizens

DUTIES: The incumbent has full responsibility for initiating, developing and managing independent research projects addressing the biology and biological control of weeds. Research may include host plant and herbivore developmental biology, temporal and spatial population dynamics, and natural enemy interactions with abiotic and biotic factors affecting population dynamics, biological control and pest management. Incumbent is expected to apply a combination of field and laboratory studies to aid in improving the biological control of significant weed pests through the use of insect natural enemies. Emphasis will be placed on the development of classical and other biological control strategies for use in rangeland protection with special emphasis on the control of yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis), medusa head rye (Taeniatherum caput-medusae), and Russian thistle (Selsola iberica). Objectives are to improve our mechanistic understanding of the biotic and abiotic factors involved in natural and manipulated host/natural enemy/environment life systems and to effectively alter these biological systems to increase biological control effectiveness.

QUALIFICATIONS: All candidates must have a degree in entomology or a related scientific discipline of the biological or physical sciences that included at least 16 semester hours in entomology. IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS, applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal government that has provided:

  1. Knowledge of entomology and experimental ecology including insect population dynamics, host/plant interactions and biological control technology.
  2. Knowledge, skills and abilities to conceive, plan, and conduct laboratory and field experiments based on testable hypotheses, document research results in technical publications, and make presentations at scientific meetings and conferences.
Selective Placement Factors:
  1. Knowledge of the location, collection, testing and use of arthropod natural enemies of weeds.
  2. Knowledge of the required documentation associated with the evaluation, release and assessment of weed natural enemies.
  3. Knowledge of entomological quarantine procedures and methods of conducting host specificity testing of insect biological control agents of weeds.
CONTACT:

For a copy of this vacancy announcement and/or applications forms, call 301-504-1484.

For specific questions regarding this vacancy only, call:

USDA, ARS, PWA
WRRC Location Support Staff
800 Buchanan Street
Albany, CA 94710
510-559-6014

Submit applications to:

USDA, Agricultural Research Service
Human Resources Division
ATTN: Western Services Branch
5601 Sunnyside Avenue
Beltsville, MD 20705-5106

FAX applications to: 301-504-1535
E-MAIL applications to: scirecruit@ars.usda.gov
 For employment information and current job opportunities:

INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ars.usda.gov
DIAL-A-VACANCY: 301-504-1482
DC RELAY SERVICE: 202-855-1234 (TDD)

(If submitting applications via E-mail, be sure to mail college transcripts separately and include the announcement number of the position vacancy.)

This announcement and other related announcements are posted at: http://www.ars.usda.gov/afm/hrd/resjobs/index.html
This particular announcement is posted at: http://www.ars.usda.gov/afm/hrd/resjobs/X9W-9433.HTM

Biological Control Position

The position is a 80/20 split of research and extension responsibilities, respectively with emphasis on biological control of exotic range, forest, agriculture and noncrop land weeds in Idaho.

Contacts:

Sanford Eigenbrode
Phone: 208-885-2972 or

Joe McCaffrey
Department of Plant, Soil, & Entomological Sciences
University of Idaho
Moscow, ID 83844-2339
Phone: 208-885-7548
FAX: 208-885-7760
Web Page: http://ets.uidaho.edu/pest/

Graduate Student Needed

Immediate opening for a graduate student to work towards an MS degree in Entomology on a newly funded USDA NRI project examining the role of disturbance and refuges in conserving carabid communities in agricultural landscapes. Project will evaluate the role of carabids in weed seed predation. Student must be interested in working in an interdisciplinary team environment. Interest/experience in identifying carabids, and/or a strong ecology background a plus.

Contact:

Douglas A. Landis
Associate Professor of Entomology
Insect Ecology and Biological Control
204 Center for Integrated Plant Systems
Michigan State University
E. Lansing MI 48824-1311

Phone: (517) 353-1829
FAX: (517) 353-5598
E-Mail: landisd@pilot.msu.edu

RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIP AVAILABLE: MASTER'S LEVEL

Biological Control of Cabbage Pests

Research assistantship toward the master's degree in entomology is available to develop augmentative biological control strategies against imported cabbageworm (Pieris rapae) and cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni) using Trichogramma parasitoids. Components of the project include: (i) laboratory studies of Trichogramma host suitability, (ii) field studies evaluating Trichogramma release strategies, and (iii) comparisons between Trichogramma releases and other control measures.

Earliest start date: May 1, 1999

Contact:
George Heimpel
Department of Entomology
University of Minnesota
St. Paul, MN 55108
USA
E-Mail: heimp001@tc.umn.edu

PHONE:
(612) 624-3480 (office)
(612) 625-7055 (lab)

FAX:
(612) 625-5299

Home Page: http://www.ent.agri.umn.edu/Faculty/heimcv.htm


POSTDOC RESEARCH ASSOCIATE AND GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP POSITIONS

Openings available for fall 1999 for one Postdoctoral Researcher and one Ph.D. level student to work on a newly funded USDA-NRI project examining the potential impacts of transgenic (lectin-expressing) sugarcane on the fitness and performance of stemborer parasitoids (Braconidae), and on biological control of stem borers. The project involves laboratory work at the Texas A&M University campus and lab/field work at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in Weslaco. A strong background in biological control, behavioral ecology, and ecology is highly desirable. The postdoctoral and the student are expected to interact with various faculty and researchers on the A&M campus and at the Weslaco research station.

Interested individuals should send brief resume including the names of 2 references to:

Dr. Julio Bernal
Assistant Professor of Entomology
Biological Control Laboratory
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-2475
E-Mail: jsb7473@unix.tamu.edu or
p-gillogly@tamu.edu
Phone: 409-862-8378

Or

Dr. Susie Legaspi
Assistant Professor of Entomology
Texas Agricultural Experiment Station
Weslaco, TX 78596
E-Mail: s-legaspi@pop.tamu.edu
Phone: 956-968-5585

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