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Pathways, Student Trainee (Biological Sciences), ZT-0499-2 (PATH)

Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) with one vacancy in Ann Arbor, MI.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
04/24/2020 to 05/07/2020
Salary
$38,340 to - $68,375 per year
Pay scale & grade
ZT 2
Location
Ann Arbor, MI
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Up to 15% domestic travel may be required for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Internships
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
2
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
OAR-GLERL-2020-0005
Control number
566404400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Students who have been accepted for enrollment or are currently enrolled in an accredited educational institution in good academic standing. All applicants must demonstrate proof of enrollment for the Fall of 2020. Good academic standing is determined by the educational institution, but is typically a Grade Point Average of a 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants must provide proof of current enrollment in school or documentation indicating acceptance in an accredited educational institution.

Duties

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As a Student Trainee (Biological Sciences), you will perform the following duties:

  • Assist senior staff, analytical staff, and other staff as necessary with tasks to include the collection and recording of field samples/observations from the Great Lakes that include the following categories: nutrients, eDNA and ‘omics, zooplankton and larval fishes, phytoplankton, chlorophyll and other algal pigments, and optical properties and other physical variables.
  • Operate various types of laboratory equipment and computer software as found in a modern limnological or oceanographic laboratory supporting studies of traditional and molecular ecology and environmental chemistry.
  • Compile, summarize, and provide gathered data into reports for higher-grade biologists.
  • Execute administrative details of a wide variety of limited biological science projects.
  • Provide assistance in planning, monitoring, and conducting segments of higher-grade biological science work.

This position is in the bargaining unit.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National to apply.
  • Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
  • Must be suitable for Federal employment.
  • Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
  • Must sign a Pathways Programs Participant Agreement.
  • A minimum one year trial period will be required.

This position requires a Low Risk Security Clearance.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Intern and Interns NTE must:

  • Be accepted for enrollment or enrolled and seeking a degree or certificate in a qualifying educational institution on a half-time to full-time basis (as determined by the educational institution);
  • Meet the definition of a student throughout the duration of their appointments;
  • Meet agency-specific requirements as specified in the agency's Participant Agreement with the Intern;
  • Meet the qualification standards (e.g., series and grade) for position; and
  • Must be at least 16 years of age at the time of appointment.

Applicants must demonstrate proof of enrollment for the Fall of 2020, by submitting an official proof of enrollment letter from a qualifying educational institution or a transcript indicating courses to be taken in the Fall of 2020. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

This position is being recruited with an opportunity for non-competitive conversion eligibility to a permanent OR term position upon completion of all program requirements. Conversion is not mandatory nor guaranteed (see Other Information).

This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). This system replaced the Federal GS pay plan and structure. Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band.

The ZT-2 is equivalent to the GS-05/06/07/08. However, this position is being advertised equivalent to the GS-05.


NOTE:

This vacancy may be used to fill other Student Trainee (Biological Sciences), ZT-0499-2 positions throughout NOAA. The position must be alike (e.g.: the same qualifications and eligibility requirements as indicated in this vacancy announcement).

Applicants must meet ALL application requirements, to include a complete online resume, by 11:59 p.m. EASTERN TIME (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards.  This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy.

The ideal candidate for this internship is a degree seeking student who has completed the requirement for at least a bachelor’s degree with a major in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.  https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0400/biological-science-technician-series-0404/.

To qualify at the ZT-2 or GS-05 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZT-1 or GS-04 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

  • Assisting with collecting and sorting biological data for reports and studies;
  • Using laboratory equipment as found in limnological or oceanographic laboratory (e.g., plankton nets, microscopes for identification of plankton and benthos, fluorometers for pigment analysis, qPCR machines DNA and NRA, nutrient analyzers for nutrients, spectrophotometers dissolved organic matter, etc.)

OR

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours of courses must have been directly related to the position to be filled.

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Combination of education and experience.

Education

Definition of Student: Student is defined as an individual accepted for enrollment or enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, or certificate) in a qualifying academic institution, on a half or full-time basis.  Half-time is defined by the educational institution in which the student is enrolled.  Students do not have to be in actual physical attendance in school, online curriculums are acceptable as long as the school is accredited by the Department of Education.


Proof of Enrollment:  NOAA will use applicant's transcript as proof of enrollment in the identified college/university provided it demonstrates definition of eligible student. A letter from an educational institution indicating acceptance may be used as proof of enrollment for those students who are continuing studies at a new college or university or for those student whose transcripts do not reflect in-progress courses. An official transcript will be required before you can report to duty.

Additional information

PROGRAM COMPLETION AND CONVERSION: For both Intern and Interns NTE, agencies have the discretion to consider interns for non-competitive conversion to term or permanent positions in the competitive services, provided that the intern have met all academic and Program requirements, and are within 120 days of academic program completion. There is no guarantee for conversion.

To be eligible for conversion, an Intern or eligible Intern NTE must:
• Be a United States citizen or national;
• Complete at least 640 hours of work experience acquired through the Program while enrolled as a half-time or full-time degree or certificate seeking student;
• Complete a course of academic study, within the preceding 120-day period, at a qualifying educational institution conferring a diploma, certificate or degree;
• Meet the qualification standards for the position to which she or he will be converted;
• Receive a favorable recommendation by an official of the agency or agencies in which she or he served; and
• Meet agency-specific requirements, as specified in the Participant Agreement.

NOAA participates in e-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your resume, supporting documents and responses to the online questionnaire will be reviewed to determine if you meet eligibility and minimum qualification requirements. Veterans’ preference applies to all selections made under the Pathways authority in accordance with CFR, Part 302.
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