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Student Intern (Physical Science), GS-1399-04 (PATH)

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

Summary

Please note that if you are a Spring or Summer 2022 graduate, you will not be eligible for this Internship opportunity unless you are accepted for enrollment at a qualifying educational institution seeking an additional degree (diploma, Certificate, degree program, etc.) or an advanced degree.  You must submit proof of acceptance along with your current transcripts for consideration.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
02/25/2022 to 03/10/2022
Salary
$36,542 to - $47,503 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 04
Location
Silver Spring, MD
3 vacancies
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Internships - Not to Exceed (NTE) December 31, 2022. This position may be extended in 1 year increments based on continued needs and funding for the position.
Work schedule
Multiple Schedules - Interns may work full-time during the summer and flexible part-time work schedule during the school year (based on agency needs) while continuing their education.
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
04
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
NWS-2022-0090
Control number
639133500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Students who are currently enrolled in an accredited educational institution in good academic standing. 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 and documentation indicating acceptance in an accredited educational institution (if applicable).

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Duties

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Due to the current global situation, applicants may be eligible to work remotely. This is depending on the hiring office's needs and will be worked out on a case by case basis.

*Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid.  All travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the sole responsibility of the selected employee.

NOAA is seeking bright, innovative, results-oriented students who are pursuing a degree or certificate program in an accredited educational institution for our Student Intern Program with the National Weather Service (NWS) Office of Observations (OBS).  The NOAA Student Intern Program targets students currently enrolled (or currently enrolled and accepted for enrollment) in a degree-seeking or Certificate program at least on a half-time basis. (Applicants who do not meet the definition of student by the closing date of the announcement will not be considered).

NWS OBS serves as the primary office responsible for the collection of space, atmosphere, water, and climate observational data owned or leveraged by the NWS. The Office is responsible for the development, acquisition, and management of cost-effective observing technologies, hardware and software enhancements, maintenance and repairs, logistics, cost management, technical data verification, and life-cycle replacements of NWS observational platforms. Read more at https://www.weather.gov/organization/obs. This is not an internship at a NWS forecast office.

NWS OBS will be selecting students pursuing degrees in the physical sciences for an internship in the NWS Office of Observations Front Office  in Silver Spring, MD, during 2022 on science, technical, and/or program management projects related to meteorology, oceanography, space weather, and the operation of the agency. Successful student interns will have the opportunity to gain experience in one of more of the following tasks, depending on the interests and skills of the applicant:

  • Understanding how operational meteorologists apply observational data as part of providing NWS services
  • Assisting with the preparation of reports and presentations for OBS staff and NWS leadership on the value of weather observations to the agency
  • Conducting technical analyses to determine the benefit of new products and developing techniques that improve the use of operational satellite imagery and products
  • Integrating new weather satellite imagery and products into the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS), the primary weather software application used throughout the NWS
  • Conducting technical analyses to determine the value chain and benefit associated with NWS-owned and leveraged observational data.
  • Learning about NWS products and services by assisting the National Service Programs in documenting their observation requirements

Students may be allowed to continue their internship experience remotely during their fall academic semester pending successful summer performance if they continue to meet all eligibility requirements.

NOTE:

This vacancy may be used to fill other Student Trainee (Physical Science), GS-1399-04 positions throughout NOAA. The position must be alike (e.g.: the same qualifications and eligibility requirements as indicated in this vacancy announcement).

This position is not in the bargaining unit.

This position requires a Low Risk Security Clearance.

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.

·     To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement Safer Federal Workforce Task Force 2 pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to Executive Order 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

  • Due to COVID-19, the agency is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement within 45 days. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework one or more days a pay period depending upon the terms of the agency’s telework policy. 

 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

The Intern NTE must:
• Be accepted for enrollment or enrolled and seeking a degree or certificate in a qualifying educational institution on at least half-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 and;
• Meet the qualification standards (e.g., series and grade) for the position.

Applicants must demonstrate proof of enrollment for the Spring 2022, by submitting an official proof of enrollment letter from a qualifying educational institution or a transcript indicating courses to be taken in the Spring 2022. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

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

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcement 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-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1300/physical-science-technician-series-1311/

The ideal candidate for this internship is a degree seeking student who is pursuing a bachelor's degree with a major in physical science, engineering, or mathematics.  To be eligible for conversion to a term or career conditional appointment a candidate must meet the requirements for the 1301 series. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1300/general-physical-science-series-1301/

To qualify at the GS-04 level:

Successful completion of 2 years of post-high school study that included at least 12 semester hours in physical science, engineering, or any branch of mathematics, except financial and commercial mathematics.

OR

6 months of general and 6 months of specialized work experience.

General experience is defined as any type of work that demonstrates the applicant’s ability to perform the work of the position, or experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation.

Specialized experience is defined as experience collecting physical science data.

OR

Equivalent combinations or 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.

All academic degrees or course work must be completed in an educational institution that has obtained accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.  For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx

College Transcript:  Applicants must submit a copy of their college transcript that lists college courses, course title, and number of credit hours. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process, but an official certified copy must be received before you can report to duty.

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.   Additional information can be found here:  https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.


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: This position offers non-competitive conversion to a permanent or term position in the competitive service upon completion of academic degree or certificate program.   Conversion is at management's discretion and is not guaranteed. 

This temporary not to exceed (NTE) one year appointment may be extended without further competition. In addition, within (120) days after the Intern NTE’s successful completion of an academic degree or certificate program, the supervisor may convert the Intern NTE non-competitively from the Pathways Internship Program to a term or permanent position in the competitive service.  The Intern NTE must meet all terms of 5 CFR 362.204.  Additionally, the agency must have an available position.  Conversion to a permanent or term position is not mandatory or guaranteed. 

To be eligible for conversion, an 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 the supervisor; and
• Meet agency-specific intern program 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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