Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Student Trainee (Biological Sciences)

Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is part of the R3-Midwest Fisheries Center. As a Student Trainee (Biological Sciences) you will be responsible for compiling GIS map data to produce maps supporting regional invasive species and fish pathogen monitoring, data management of spatial and non-spatial geographic information databases, data assessment and validation, and geographic data discovery.

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
02/13/2019 to 02/22/2019
Salary
$33,394 to - $43,414 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 5
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Onalaska, WI
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Multiple - Multiple Appointment Types
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
5
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Announcement number
R3-19-10368426-MT-DE
Control number
524370800

Duties

Help

Duties include, but are not limited to:

*Use GIS to identify, compile, analyze, and review information related to specific immediate and long-term threats to the survival of aquatic species and/or the ecological integrity and viability of the habitats and ecosystems upon which these species depend.
*Maintains a GIS for the Midwest Fisheries Center Region 3 Fisheries, using computer, hardware, software, and peripherals to collect, compile, review, and present to a higher level graded specialist, cadastral, biological, natural resource, and other geographic data using GIS and GPS.
*Identifies methods, using cartographic knowledge (map scale, projection, datum, and design) to integrate GIS into Regional and individual office processes (land use analysis and change analysis, biological and environmental evaluations and surveys, mapping, etc.) thereby recommending improvement to the effectiveness and efficiency.
*Documents the sources and procedures (create metadata) used in data collection, compilation, transformation, application, analysis, and presentation.
*Creates maps, charts, graphics, statistical, reports, etc. of aquatic species distribution and other pertinent cadastral, biological, and natural resource information for the Regional Directorate, GIS professionals, managers and field biologist, and the public.
*Operates GIS hardware including computer, plotter, digitizers, GPS receivers, and data back up devices; maintains this equipment as necessary.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
  • Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • Must meet Pathways eligibility requirements
  • Selectee will be required to sign a Pathways Agreement form
  • Wearing the Service uniform is required.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 02/22/2019 will be considered.

OPM's Qualification standard: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/final-groupcoveragequalificationstandardforpathwaysprogramschedule-20d.pdf)

Education:
Completion of 4 academic years of post-high school leading to a bachelor's degree or equivalent degree (as determined by the educational institution attending).

OR
Experience:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to a GS-04 level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is defined as experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Examples of qualifying experience include: analyzing data sets, using maps and other geographic tools, setting up databases, preparing reports or presentations.

OR
Combination of Education and Experience:
For GS-05 levels positions, only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours in a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to 1 year of specialized experience. Determine your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the year of specialized experience required at the GS-05 level. Then determine your education as a percentage of the education that meets the requirements for the GS-05. Add the two percentages together. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for the GS-05 based on a combination.

Special Provisions for Interns with Previous Related Education or Experience: Previous education and/or experience may be evaluated to determine the highest grade level for which the individual is qualified.

Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirement, and provide documentation such as a copy of your official transcript and/or veteran's documentation by the closing date of the announcement to be considered:

Current students in an accredited high school, college (including 4-year colleges/universities, community colleges, and junior colleges); professional, technical, vocational, and trade school; advanced degree programs; or other qualifying educational institution pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate.

Education

PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts.

PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

To register or verify your registration go to the Selective Service System at https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx

  • FWS has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework situational and for emergency telework with supervisor approval.
We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 90 days of 02/22/2019; OR More than one position may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area

A PCS move is not authorized.

Pathways Intern

The Department of the Interior Internship Program (Pathways) is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school and while getting paid for the work performed.

To be eligible for a Pathways Program internship program, you must meet the following requirements:
  • You must be a student accepted for enrollment or enrolled in a degree or certificate program on at least a half-time basis and in good standing who will be continuing my education into the next semester have received a notice of acceptance for enrollment. (You are required to submit a copy of your transcript or notice of acceptance.)
  • Enrollment must be with an accredited educational institution or state-approved home school. These may include high schools, colleges, universities, technical, trade, vocational, or business schools, and state approved home school secondary and post-secondary programs.
  • Qualifying certificate programs are post-high school programs 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.
  • Educational institutions must be accredited by organizations recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. To see if your school is accredited, please visit: http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/
Pathways Intern NTE

This is a Pathways Internship Program position not to exceed 1 year. This position may be terminated at any time or may be extended at management's discretion without further competition if the employee remains eligible for employment in the Pathways Intern Program.

The position requires the selectee to work a full-time work schedule during the summer time. The student will also be required to work part-time during the school year.

The work schedule is part time or full time, pay status to be determined upon student availability and the needs of the office.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

DRIVER'S LICENSE: You must possess and maintain a valid State driver's license at all times
during your tenure.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the basic qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you meet the basic qualifications your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience which resulted in you being listed in the highest quality category, you may lose consideration, or be assigned to a lower quality category for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

Knowledge of of current concepts and methods in geospatial, cartographic, or geographic principles (e.g., map scale, projections, datums, designs).
Ability to use Geographical Information System (GIS).
Ability to communicate technical information.
Ability to use the the internet and/or GIS Software to acquire, present, and/or distribute digital data.
Ability to use computer hardware, networks, various operating systems and associated peripherals (printer, plotter, digitizing tablet, scanner).


If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must attach a copy of your DD-214 showing you were honorably discharged. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must attach an SF-15," Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" in addition to the proof required by that form.

Unranked list: Applicants who meet basic eligibility criteria are listed by veterans' preference category: 10 percent or more compensably-disabled veterans, 10-point preference eligible veterans, 5-point preference eligible veterans and non-preference eligible veterans. Agencies must consider the candidates in the highest preference group first. Agencies cannot select nonpreference eligible veterans until the preference eligible veterans are exhausted or the agency has gone through the proper pass over procedures with respect to the remaining preference eligible veterans
§ 302.302 Examination of applicants.
(a)Eligibility. An evaluation of the qualifications of applicants for positions covered by this part may be conducted at any time before an appointment is made. The evaluation may involve only determination of eligibility or ineligibility or may include qualitative rating of candidates. If the evaluation involves only basic eligibility numerical scores will not be assigned and eligible candidates will be referred in accordance with the procedures described in paragraph (b)(5) of § 302.304.

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.