U.S. nationals: Student Trainee (Physical Science)

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Lawrence, KS, USA 🇺🇸

Overview

  • Accepting applications
  • Open & closing dates 03/01/2023 to 03/14/2023
  • Salary$15 – $18.97 per hour
  • Pay scale & gradeGS 3
  • LocationFEW vacancies in the following location:
  • Remote jobNo
  • Telework eligibleYes—as determined by the agency policy.
  • Travel RequiredNot required
  • Relocation expenses reimbursedNo
  • Appointment typeInternships – Temporary appointment not to exceed 12 months that may be extended as long as the individual continues to meet the eligibility requirements of the Pathways Intern Program and the employing office has a continuing need.
  • Work schedulePart-time – 16 to 20 hours per week
  • ServiceExcepted
  • Promotion potentialNone
  • Job family (Series)1399 Physical Science Student Trainee
  • Supervisory statusNo
  • Security clearanceNot Required
  • Drug testNo
  • Position sensitivity and riskNon-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
  • Trust determination processCredentialing
  • Announcement numberUSGS-RES-23-11799089-TI-DG
  • Control number709288700

Summary

General Information

In order to be eligible to receive consideration for this position, you must be able to: (1) report to the duty station location listed in this vacancy announcement, if selected; and (2) be available to work the schedule identified.

Summary Continued Under Duties

Learn more about this agency

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Open to all qualified students who are U.S. Citizens and meet the eligibility requirements for the Pathways Internship Program as described below.

Duties

The USGS Kansas Water Science Center Science Center is seeking a high school, associate, undergraduate, graduate level student working towards a degree in Physical Science to gain practical experience into gain practical experience in geologic sampling, mapping, analysis, and interpretation of geologic data within GIS software, etc.

As a Student Trainee (Physical Science) you will serve in a trainee capacity, performing routine and recurring development assignments to acquire knowledge and understanding of functions, principles, practices, and methods used in the area of physical science.

Duties include:

  • Sample Receipt and Login
  • Basic Wet Lab Duties: sample filtration, pH, weighing, derivatization of samples
  • Quantified data result data entry
  • Maintain laboratory supply inventory and supply purchasing

Physical Demands/Work Environment: Laboratory work requires prolonged periods of standing and manual dexterity to operate equipment. Laboratory work also requires lifting of sometimes heavy coolers, unpacking of samples, and re-arranging bins of samples stored in walk-in freezers or refrigerators. Laboratory work involves exposure to moderate risks or discomforts such moving supplies and samples, and exposure to irritant fumes and chemicals. Work requires protective clothing, gear, and observance of safety precautions.

Summary Continued
This is a temporary appointment not to exceed 12 months that may be extended as long as the individual continues to meet the eligibility requirements of the Pathways Intern Program and the employing office has a continuing need.

Salary: $15.00/hr (Step 01) to $18.97/hr (Step 10); NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired atthe Step 01.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Key Requirements:

  1. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
  2. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
  3. The entire period served under the Intern Program counts as a trial period.
  4. Housing will not be provided.
  5. Selectee must provide a valid state driver’s license & safe driving record.
  6. Selectee subject to successful completion of a pre-employment medical exam.

Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?

  • If selected you may be asked to provide information regarding your COVID-19 vaccination status for the purposes of implementing workplace safety protocols, such as those related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.
  • Driver’s License/Driving Record – You will be required to operate a government-owned or -leased vehicle in the performance of your official duties. Applicants for this position must meet the following requirements: (1) possess a valid State license, and (2) possess a safe driving record. If selected, you will be required to provide proof of a valid State license & a copy of your driving record.
  • Pre-Employment Medical – Taking and passing a pre-employment medical examination at Federal expense is required due to the physical demands of this job.
  • If selected, you will be required to provide official transcripts &/or letter from the school stating you are enrolled in a degree/certificateprogram on at least a half time basis in good standing and your expected graduation date.
  • A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant’s successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.

Qualifications

This position is being filled under the Pathways Internship Program which is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with paid work opportunities in agencies to explore Federal careers while still in school.

Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible for an appointment under the Pathways Internship Program:

  • You must be a student accepted for enrollment or enrolled in a degree or certificate program on a full- or half-time basis as defined by the school (certificate program means post-secondary education, in a qualifying educational institution, equivalent to at least one academic year of full-time study that is part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum); AND
  • Enrollment is with a qualifying educational institution such as a high school or state-approved homeschool; or accredited technical or vocational school; a 2- or 4-year college or university; a graduate or professional school (e.g., law school, medical school); or a post-secondary home school curriculum; AND
  • Students currently enrolled must be in good academic standing maintaining a 2.0 grade point average on a cumulative basis; AND
  • You must continue to meet these eligibility requirements throughout the duration of your appointment under the Pathways Internship Program.

Qualification Requirements

This internship is geared toward students majoring in one of the following areas of study: physical science, engineering, or mathematics

For the GS-03: Applicants must meet one of the following to qualify:

At least 1 year of study above high school that included at least 6 semester hours in subjects such as engineering, industrial technology, construction drafting, surveying, physical science, biology or mathematics
**OR**
6 months of general experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation.
**OR**
Have a combination of post-high school education and general experience that together equates to 100% of the qualification requirement.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

  • Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g. Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
  • Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/how-foreign-education-evaluated-federal-jobs .

Additional information

  • USGS has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework in accordance with the DOI Telework policy and with supervisor approval. The official worksite for the selectee is the duty station identified in this vacancy announcement. The selectee will typically report to this duty location on a regular and recurring weekly basis.
  • For additional information on our internal telework policy, please reference the Department of the Interior Telework Handbook at: https://www.doi.gov/telework/policies.
  • Students who successfully complete the internship program may be eligible for conversion to a permanent appointment or a term (1-4 years in duration) appointment. Eligibility requirements for conversion: must be a U.S. Citizen; complete at least 640 hours of work experience acquired through the Internship Program (*may waive up to a total of 320 hours under specific conditions); successfully complete your degree or certificate requirements from a qualifying institution; meet the qualification requirements for the position to which you will be converted; meet agency-specific requirements as outlined in the Participant’s Agreement; and must have performed successfully in your position as documented through performance evaluations. *NOTE: To learn more about the conditions under which a portion of the work experience hours may be waived, visit http://www.usgs.gov/humancapital/sw/studentinterns.html.
  • Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.
  • Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. Agencies are permitted to hire non-citizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position.
  • USGS employees are subject to Title 43, USC Section 31(a) and may not: (a) have any personal, private, direct or indirect interest in lands or mineral wealth of lands under survey; (b) have any substantial personal, private, direct or indirect interests in any private mining or mineral enterprise doing business with the United States; or (c) execute surveys or examinations for private parties or corporations.
  • The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.
  • DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
  • The Department of the Interior (DOI) places a high value on diversity of experience and cultural perspectives and encourages applications from all interested eligible candidates. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are fundamental principles that guide the Department and allow us to successfully achieve our mission.
  • THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

Additional Information continued under How To Apply

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

–Basis of Rating: All applicants who meet the basic eligibility and qualification requirements will be referred to the selecting official in veterans’ preference order.

To preview the announcement questionnaire, click here https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11799089

Required Documents

Required documents may be: (1) uploaded directly from your desktop; or (2) uploaded directly from your USAJOBS stored attachments.
All applicants must submit the following documentation by the closing date of this job announcement to be considered:

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.
2. Other supporting documents:

-TRANSCRIPTS for all schools/universities that you have attended (AA, BS, MS, PhD, etc.). You may submit official or unofficial transcripts. Please ensure that all documentation is legible.

-PROOF OF ENROLLMENT FOR THE CURRENT OR UPCOMING SEMESTER. This may be documented on your official/unofficial transcripts, a course schedule, an acceptance letter from your university for future enrollment, or an official letter of enrollment from the university registrar’s office or a university counselor, as long as your enrollment for the current or upcoming semester is clearly documented. If you do not provide proof of enrollment for the current or upcoming semester, you will be disqualified from further consideration.

-IF YOU ARE IN YOUR LAST SEMESTER/QUARTER of completing your degree/certificate requirements, you must show proof of acceptance to a continuing degree/certificate program. This may be documented by an acceptance letter for future enrollment in a degree/certificate program. If you do not provide proof of continuing education, you will be disqualified from further consideration. If selected, you will be required to provide official transcripts.

Veterans Preference: If you are claiming veterans’ preference you must provide a legible copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, member 4 copy or any official documentation from the Armed Forces that confirms your dates of service and that your separation, discharge, or release from active duty was under honorable conditions (i.e., Honorable or General Discharge).

Note: If you have more than one DD-214 for multiple periods of active duty, submit a copy for each period of service.

If you are currently on active military duty, you must provide documentation (e.g., campaign document, award citation, etc.), that verifies entitlement to veterans’ preference and that your character of military service is honorable.

If you are claiming 10-point veterans’ preference, in addition to the documents specified above, you must also submit documentation that supports your claim, e.g., an official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs (dated 1991 or later) or from a branch of the Armed Forces certifying the existence of a service-connected disability, or the award of the Purple Heart, etc. The overall rating must be identified on your certification letter or separation orders.

Documentation must be received by the closing date shown in this vacancy announcement.
If you fail to submit any of the required documentation, you will not be granted veterans’ preference. Additional information on veterans’ preference can be found in the VetGuide.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

–Applications (resume and application questions) for this vacancy must be received on-line via USAJOBS BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington, D.C. time) on the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to submit a complete online resume, you will not be considered for this position. Requests for extensions will not be granted. Most libraries, employment offices, and all USGS personnel offices can provide access to the Internet. If applying online poses a hardship for you, you must speak to someone in the Servicing Human Resources Office listed on this announcement PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE for assistance.

–Instructions for Applying Online for this Vacancy Announcement: 1) Click the blue “Apply Online” button. 2) If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please create a new account and follow the instructions to complete your application process. If you are a registered user, login to access your existing USAJOBS profile. 3) As a registered user, select a stored resume and select one or more of your stored documents to attach to your application. 4) Check the “Certification” box and click the “Apply for this position now!” button located at the bottom of the screen. 5) Address the eligibility questions as well as the questionnaire containing questions and/or task statements that address the knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies for this vacancy. 6) Submit required documents using one of the available methods listed below. 7) If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk.

Additional Information continued
Agency Benefits:

Agency contact information

 Domenik Gonzalez-Santos

Phone

703 648-7416

Email

dgonzalez-santos@usgs.gov

Address

KANSAS WATER SCI CTR
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Mail Stop 600
Reston, VA 20192
US

Learn more about this agency

Next steps

–If you are one of the most highly qualified candidates, you will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 30-45 days of the closing date of this announcement. You will be notified via email of the outcome. You can also go to “My Account” within USAJOBS to review your Application Status.

Fair & Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.


POSITION TYPE

ORGANIZATION TYPE

EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

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