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Student Trainee (Research Physical Science)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Goddard Space Flight Center
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is in NASA's Pathways Intern Employment Program (IEP) which provides students with opportunities to explore NASA careers and gain meaningful developmental work experience.

To learn more about NASA's Pathways Program, click here: NASA Pathways Internship Program.

For information on Center-specific Requirements, click here Center-Specific Requirements.

Please read the entire announcement before applying.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
09/13/2021 to 09/17/2021
Salary
$34.86 to - $45.32 per hour
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Greenbelt, MD
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Internships
Work schedule
Multiple Schedules
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
NSSC-21-PW-11217648-1399-CM
Control number
613612600

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Duties

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  • This vacancy is open to students pursuing: Astronomy, Astrophysics, Atmospheric Science, Biochemistry, Geography, Geology, Geophysics, Hydrology, Meteorology, Oceanography, or Physics majors.
  • Work under the guidance of senior engineers/scientists to support NASA mission operations in groundbreaking design, development, test and evaluation, and/or research work that align to your academic studies and interests.
  • Specific duties will be dependent upon the assigned occupational specialty in preparation for more difficult tasks as a professional trainee after graduation.
  • Disciplines include, but are not limited to: Space Sciences, Earth Sciences, Life Sciences and Systems, Materials and Structures, Measurement and Instrumentation Systems, and Operations.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
  • If you are a male born after December 31, 1959, you must be registered with the Selective Service to be eligible for federal employment and this program.
  • At the time you apply for this announcement, you must be a degree or certificate seeking student who is enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an accredited educational institution on at least a half time basis as defined by the institution.
  • At the time you apply for this announcement, you must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.9 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).
  • The expected start date is either January 18, 2022, or June 6, 2022.
  • You must be able to work a minimum of 640 hours after your start date and before you complete your academic program requirements.
  • Applicants must have a graduation date no earlier than December 1, 2022.
  • If you are selected, you must be at least 16 years old at the time of your start date.
  • If you are selected, you must maintain your enrollment at your current educational institution during periods you are not working at NASA. You must also maintain a GPA of at least 2.9 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).
  • If you are selected, you will be required to sign a Pathways Participant Agreement which outlines the conditions of employment.
  • Positions are subject to a pre-employment background investigation or higher level clearance. The level of investigation/clearance may differ and be required based on the duties/location-NASA Center requirements.
  • Financial Disclosure, Drug Testing, and/or the Risk Designation for this position may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.

Qualifications

Starting GS grade levels are determined by education level COMPLETED at this time:

  • For GS-11: Accepted into a doctorate program OR in the first year of a doctorate program (physical or biological science research major)
*An academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 academic year of full-time study.

Education

To be eligible for this position, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree in:

  • Astronomy
  • Astrophysics
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Biochemistry
  • Geography
  • Geology
  • Geophysics
  • Hydrology
  • Meteorology
  • Oceanography
  • Physics
Science programs from institutions within the United States: Science and other related degree programs within the United States must be from colleges or universities that are accredited by recognized accrediting organizations. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, go to http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

Science and other related degree programs from institutions outside the United States: If you are currently enrolled in a degree program at a foreign college or university, your degree may need to be evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs, in order for you to be eligible for conversion to a permanent or term position. Your degree must be deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit must be given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

College Transcript: Applicants must submit a copy of their most recent college transcript that lists the school's name, student's name, degree program, major, GPA, college courses, course title, and number of credit hours completed. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted, however should you be selected, official transcripts will be required prior to your appointment date.

Accepted for Enrollment: If you have been accepted for enrollment in an institution but have not yet begun coursework, you must submit an Acceptance Letter from the institution AND your most recent academic transcript from your previous program.

Additional information

PLEASE TAKE CARE IN PREPARING AND SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION.

When completing the Questionnaires, please pay close attention to the selections and inputs you are making. Entries regarding your eligibility made in error cannot be modified after the announcement closes, and you will lose consideration if you are determined to be ineligible based on the answers to the questionnaire.

This announcement is for positions at the following Center: Goddard Space Flight Center

If we find that you do not meet Center-specific eligibility requirements after referral to the hiring manager, you may not receive further consideration.

Interns may be promoted to higher grades based on the amount of education completed and acceptable performance. However, promotions are not guaranteed. Special rate tables may apply for graduate students.

You will serve a trial period for the duration of the Intern appointment.

Interns may be considered for conversion to a Term or Permanent appointment within 120 days of completion of degree requirements provided they:

  • Successfully completed an academic course of study with a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.9 (on a 4.0 scale);
  • Complete a minimum of 640 hours of work experience before completing degree requirements;
  • Meet the qualification requirements for the position to which they are converted (including any required coursework); and
  • Maintain acceptable performance.
Eligibility for conversion does not guarantee that NASA will offer conversion to a Term or Perm job.

The Intern may be converted to a position with promotion potential to the GS-13 level.

As identical vacancies are identified, additional selections may be made.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated for this position based on the eligibility requirements listed in this vacancy announcement. To determine your referral status, we will rely on your responses to the vacancy questionnaire. Your eligibility will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents) and the responses you provide on the application questionnaire.

You will be assessed on the following competencies: Accountability, Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Decision Making, Flexibility, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Reading, Self-Management (Achievement), Stress Tolerance, Teamwork.

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. Overstating your responses may result in your removal from consideration.

Under NASA's category rating process, applicants will be assessed on the position competencies and placed in one of three categories identified and defined below:

  • Best Qualified Category - Applicants who demonstrate a superior level of all evaluation criteria.
  • Highly Qualified Category - Applicants who demonstrate a satisfactory level of the evaluation criteria.
  • Qualified Category - Applicants who demonstrate the basic qualifications, with general knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Names of all qualified candidates in the Best Qualified category will be sent to the hiring official for employment consideration (unless a sufficient number of qualified veterans are found - in which case only those names will be initially certified). Candidates within the Best Qualified category who are eligible for veteran preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligibles.

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