The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Stored Product Insect and Engineering Research Unit in Manhattan, Kansas seeks a Research Agricultural Engineer ($76,721 to $118,603, plus benefits, hiring at GS12/13 level with promotion potential to the GS15). The research assignment addresses difficult fundamental problems related to automated, rapid measurement of grain and insect characteristics. Research is expected to have regional, national, and international impact and the incumbent will provide national and international leadership in solving current and emerging problems related to food safety, food security and the preservation of quality after harvest. A primary objective for this position is to develop instruments and analytical procedures to rapidly and non-destructively detect attributes that relate to end-use functionality of grain such as fungal damage, transgenic seeds, protein quality, toxins, and insect infestations. Of particular significance is development of technology to help breeders rapidly develop new grain varieties to address agronomic and food safety concerns or to respond to consumer preferences. Ability to expand the application of these new technologies to other commodities or systems is also desirable. This research may involve development of (1) novel technologies or applications of near-infrared, ultraviolet, visible, laser systems, nuclear magnetic resonance systems to measure chemical or physical attributes of grain at the single seed or bulk level; (2) predictive models to measure or classify biological materials using statistical, artificial intelligence, or other analytical techniques; and (3) mechanisms to acquire and prepare samples for automated analysis and sorting. Position will be open from Wednesday May 6, 2020 to Wednesday, May 27, 2020. Please contact Jim Campbell (785-776-2717, james.campbell@usda.gov) if you have any questions about the position. Refer to: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/566842600 for the full text announcement, further information, and complete application instructions.
Refer to the link at USAJobs for full description of requirements
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Additional Salary Information: Hiring at GS12/13 leve, but position has promotion potential to the GS15
Internal Number: 566842600
About USDA ARS
The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in-house research agency. Our job is finding solutions to agricultural problems that affect Americans every day from field to table. The mission of the Stored Product Insect and Engineering Research Unit is to develop economical, effective, and ecologically sound methods for managing insect pests of grain and processed commodities, improve post-harvest management practices, and develop methods to rapidly evaluate grain quality. Successful completion of the mission will contribute to ensuring the availability of high-quality grain and grain-based food products for the growing global population.
