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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #290619
Title: A career in government: my experiences working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service

Author
item Schmer, Marty

Submitted to: CSA News
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2013
Publication Date: 2/11/2013
Citation: Schmer, M.R. 2013. A career in government: my experiences working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service. CSA News. 58(2):46-49. Available: https://www.soils.org/publications/csa/articles/58/2/46.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The agricultural sector provides highly diverse career opportunities that include private companies, academic institutions, non-government organizations, and government agencies. One possible career path is with the Federal government which is one of the largest employers of scientists and engineers in the U.S. Although employment opportunities with the Federal government are generally grouped into one large entity, in reality the Federal system consists of numerous government agencies with a distinct mission and culture. I have had the opportunity to work for the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) first as an undergraduate biological science aide, then a biological science technician, and now as a research scientist. This article discusses how Federal employment provides a multitude of employment opportunities, how USDA-ARS differs from other institutions, and steps in applying for a Federal job.