THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE IS AN EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

ANNOUNCEMENT NO: RA-04-094L

POSITION: Research Entomologist/Ecologist

LOCATION: Honolulu, HI

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES: This position is located at the USDA, ARS, U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, Tropical Plant Pests Research Unit, in Honolulu, Hawaii. The incumbent serves as a Research Associate assigned to provide research support to the Areawide Fruit Fly IPM program. Specifically, the incumbent will conduct research to improve the mass-rearing of tephritid fruit flies and their parasitoids and develop methods to evaluate the impacts of augmentative parasitoid releases on fruit fly control alone or in combination with sterile insect releases. Incumbent helps in the insect rearing unit to improve mass-rearing of fruit flies as hosts for mass-rearing of multiple species of parasitoids to meet the needs of scientists for fruit flies and/or parasitoids, and works with production staff so as to meet these needs with insects of good quality. In concert with or independently of other scientists, the incumbent designs and executes research experiments to improve mass-rearing technology for both fruit flies and their parasitoids. Incumbent develops knowledge for improving and streamlining rearing operation including handling systems for fruit flies, parasitoids and other crop pests for efficiency of production at minimum costs. This research will encompass field cage and open field evaluation of sterile flies and parasitoids for melon fly and oriental fruit fly control in cropping systems.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: Ph.D. in Ecology, Entomology, or a related field of science is required. In addition, knowledge of insects and ecology, experimental statistics, integrated pest management systems design and implementation, and current technology used in pest management is desirable.

FOR INFORMATION ON SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS, SALARY, BENEFITS, OR APPLICATION FORMS, CONTACT:

Rita Atta
Lead, Human Resources Specialist
USDA/ARS/Human Resources Division
5601 Sunnyside Avenue
Beltsville, MD 20705-5106
Phone: 301-504-1550
Fax: 301-504-1586
E-mail: ratta@ars.usda.gov

FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS POSITION OR TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION, CONTACT:

Dr. Roger Vargas
U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center
Tropical Plant Pests Research Unit
P.O. Box 4459
Hilo, HI 96720
Phone: 808-959-4329
Fax: 808-959-5470
E-mail: rvargas@pbarc.ars.usda.gov