Research Geneticist (Genomics) Position Number:ER-2004-0327

The U.S. Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center (LSC), Aquatic Ecology Branch (Kearneysville, West Virginia), has advertised the permanent position of Research Geneticist (GS-12/13; Salary range: $60,638 to $93,742). The ideal candidate would specialize in functional genomics and its applications to ecological issues (i.e., ecological genomics). The selectee will preform the following duties:

--Plan, design and conduct biological research in the areas of genomics, population genetics, and recovery of declining species, with emphasis on aquatic systems.

--Develop techniques to identify and investigate the function and expression of ecologically important genes in species in need of conservation.

--Identify important genetic adaptations to changing environments, and relate population trends to ecological processes, including human interactions.

--Coordinate research work with other federal, state, and academic and private biologists, ecologists, and natural resource managers to identify needed research and plan, organize, execute and report the research results.

The successful applicant is expected to identify and investigate the function and expression of ecologically important genes in species in need of conservation. The scientist will apply genomics investigations to ongoing studies in population genetics, phylogeography, and molecular systematics currently conducted by the Branch. The scientist will also interact with ecologists in the Aquatic Ecology Branch, and with microbial geneticists, molecular biologists, and others at LSC. This interaction is expected to shed light on the relationship between genotypes and phenotypes by understanding the associated genetic and environmental interactions that affect individual fitness. Another line of productive research could extrapolate organismal biology to population and species evolution to test how regulatory gene networks evolve and how they differ among closely related species (i.e., comparative genomics).

The complete job announcement or to learn more about the position and to apply on-line:

1) Go to the USAJobs website: www.usajobs.opm.gov;

2) Select: Basic Search;

3) Select: Keyword Search;

4) Enter: ER-2004-0327; and 5) Scroll down and select: Search for Jobs.

Interested candidates may also contact Dr. Tim King [304-724-8340 (ext. 2142); tim_king@usgs.gov] or Dr. Ed Pendleton [304-724-4461; edward_pendleton@usgs.gov] for further insights.