Requisition No: 831584 

Agency: Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title: BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST I - 42001225

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 42001225 

Salary:  $38,000.04 - $41,799.94 

Posting Closing Date: 06/26/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST I
 

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES
 

DIVISION OF PLANT INDUSTRY
 

***OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY***
 

CONTACT:              
 

Dr. Felipe Soto-Adames, (352) 395-4668 or email Felipe.Soto-Adames@FDACS.gov
 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
 

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in biological, physical, natural, or agricultural sciences. 
 

Certain positions within this class require individuals to meet specific federal or state regulations as identified by the employing agency.
 

Requires possession of a valid Class E driver license.
 

EDUCATIONAL NOTE: Graduates utilizing education attained in the United States to meet the minimum requirements of a position will not be appointed until verification of the applicable degree has been obtained. Foreign trained graduates utilizing a degree attained outside of the United States to meet the minimum requirements of a position must be prepared to provide a copy of a credential evaluation conducted by an Approved Credential Evaluation Agency.  A list of approved agencies can be viewed at “Approved Credential Evaluation Agencies, Florida Department of Education.” Approved Credential Evaluation Agencies (fldoe.org) 
 

***ATTENTION CANDIDATES***
 

To be considered for a position with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services:
 

All fields in the Candidate Profile must be completed (an attached resume is not a substitution for the information required on the candidate profile). Work history, duties and responsibilities, hours worked, supervisor, and formal education fields, etc. must be filled out to determine qualifications for this position. Responses to Qualifying Questions must be verifiable in the Candidate Profile.
 

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services values
and supports employment of individuals with disabilities. Qualified
individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
 

Occasional travel, including overnight and sometimes up to two weeks at a time on an emergency program, is required.
 

JOB DUTIES:
 

General Statement: This is a professional position responsible for the identification and curation of arthropods under the direction of a Biological Scientist IV in support of the plant and plant pest regulatory activities of the Division of Plant Industry.
 

Receives, sorts, records and distributes specimens submitted by Plant Protection Specialists and others for identification. Curates arthropod specimens for regulatory identification, research purposes and curation. Specimen preparation emphasized arthropods requiring glass slide preparation. Uses rearing techniques, conducts morphological and molecular systematics and literature searches.
 

With appropriate training and approval by supervisor, performs identifications and classifications of assigned taxa to genus and species, or to the lowest taxonomic unit possible, using morphometric analysis and other scientific methods of identification, assisting with identification of specimens submitted by Plant Protection Specialists and others.
 

Section duties: Will be assigned duties related to management functions of the section. These can include tasks such as collection’s maintenance, inventories, management of labs, management of sectional database, supply organization, etc. Each individual in section will have unique tasks assigned, which may change as needs arise.
 

Assists in the preparation of manuscripts for publication and in the development of identifications tools for taxa relevant to Florida’s fauna.
 

Curates reference collections. Identifies arthropod specimens to lowest possible taxonomic unit, curates and manages the assigned section of the Florida State Collection of Arthropods. Keeps appropriate files and records for data retrieval. Prepares specimens for loans to arthropod systematists, maintains invoice files and corresponds with these scientists. 
 

Periodic travel may be required to help facilitate activities associated with current section, bureau or division duties. This may include travel associated with grant projects, farm bills and/or assisting with pest surveys, inspections, public outreach, and emergency programs.
 

Other related work as required by supervisor.
 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
 

Knowledge of current systematic practice and theory, curation and preparation procedures of entomological and arachnological specimens for museum deposition. Knowledge of basic principles in entomology, arachnology, and/or biology. Ability to use compound and dissecting microscopes and make glass microscope slides.  Ability to use computers, including database, illustration, and Microsoft Office Suite. Ability to compile, organize and analyze data and to make recommendations. Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing. Ability to work independently; conduct experiments; and plan, organize and coordinate work assignments. Ability to understand and follow technical instructions.
 

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida
 

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck.  The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:
 

Annual and Sick Leave benefits; Nine paid holidays and one Personal holiday each year; State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision and other supplemental insurance options; Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please visit www.myfrs.com;) Flexible Spending Accounts; Tuition waivers; And more!
 

For a complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.
 

For an estimate of the total compensation package for this position, please visit the “Total Compensation Estimator Tool” located above under the “Posting Closing Date.”
 

SPECIAL NOTES:

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.